Ancient Relics Playing Cards by 52 MUSEE (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/52m......usee-and

Where the artwork of ancient Chinese relics have been turned into custom playing cards with holographic foil

Price: ~$13 per deck
Funding: Already funded
Kickstarter ends: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Here's how the project page describes the concept and execution:

"We have carefully selected 54 exquisite Chinese relics from dozens of museums around the world. They are transformed into illustrations on the playing cards, each carrying the textures and light of civilization.

Based on photographic references of the original museum relics, the team reorganized their structures, established a cohesive visual style, and meticulously refined the linework, ultimately bringing the entire playing card series to completion".



Here's an example of how this was executed with one card:

"Take the Mother-and-Child Elephant Zun as an example: this ceremonial vessel from three thousand years ago captures the tender moment of a mother elephant carrying her child.

We reinterpret it: the mother elephant becomes a human figure, embodying the guardian of wisdom, while the young elephant transforms into a lively `new life,' nestled by her side."



Some other examples of relics they used, and how these were adapted for playing cards:



Some of the cards produced from this kind of work:









TCC then took the result and made it look gorgeous with their iridescent holo foil. It's hard not to like the overall impact.





The Chung Feng deck is indeed the main attraction in the five deck set:





Here's a closer look at the artwork from some of the cards:









All the cards of the Chung Feng deck are fully illustrated.



The other four decks use a different color scheme for the tuck boxes and card backs.









While the court cards in these decks are all fully illustrated, the number and Aces cards just focus on customization without illustrations. These examples are from the SheJi deck.





The illustrations used for the court cards in each of the other decks are different from each other, however, so each deck is still unique besides a different color scheme. For instance, here's how the Queens look in each of those four decks:









Those illustrations are what are used on the number cards with the Chung Feng deck.

Finally, it's worth highlighting the five-deck bundle.



There's also a collector's box where all the decks have gilded edges.



A few final examples of some relics that were adapted for playing card designs:



But for me as a playing card collector it's really the iridescent foil on the cards that steals the show; I'm a sucker for shiny bling like that!





Kickstarter link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/52m......usee-and