Deal A Very Hip Hand With Steampunk Playing Cards in Bronze Debossed Tuck Cases.

At the edge of industry, therein lies Steampunk.

Ripped from the pages of science fiction, the gears are turning, the steam is pumping, and the playing cards were finally born. It wasn't easy. The paper used on these tuck cases did NOT exist and Theory11 created it just for this special deck of regulation playing cards.

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Theory 11 made the bronze paper from scratch in order to perfectly print the ink that covers its surface in 19th century Victorian machinery.





The boldly stamped, debossed elements cast shadows of illusion and create a perspective of depth and weight. The vents on top of the box invite you to take a look inside.




Opening the box, you will discover 52 pieces of machinery. The depth of the playing cards is fittingly unreal.




So unreal, it beckons you to stare at it's seemingly infinite array of detail. Designed by Alex Beltechi and constructed of 12 million 3D polygons. The Jokers are morphed into jet turbines of steel.




The Ace of Spades is a window of opportunity to witness the gears of intricate beauty and complexity.




A joint creative collaboration between the United States Playing Card Company and theory11. Produced by theory11 and designed by Alex Beltechi in Romania.

Own a piece of science fiction. Where vintage industry meets reality.


information, description and photos from both Theory11 and Alex Beltechi.

$5.95 per deck.
buy them here.

Steampunk Gas Masks & Helmets So Exquisite, They'll Leave You Breathless.

It's hard to believe that Tom Banwell has no formal art training and is largely self taught when you look at his expertly crafted collection of leather and metal Steampunk Gas Masks & Helmets. The masks and helmets are an impressive display of workmanship, complete with mechanical parts, fully wearable and entirely original.

The Nautilus Peepbox Aquarium Melds Steampunk Design With Modern Materials.

Designed by George Maridakis for Spell, the Nautilus peepbox aquarium is constructed of Perspex and aluminum. The illuminated cylindrical fish tank has a Jules Verne-meets-the-new-millenium look and style.






The tabletop aquarium or fishtank measures 400mm tall, 270mm wide and 390mm deep and weighs 15kg and is available for order from Spell.

Google's 'Under The Sea' Interactive Steampunk Doodle -An Homage To Jules Verne

A minor coincidence, given that my post today featured the 15 blown glass fish bowls by Roger Arquer, but today's Google logo features an underwater view in honor of Jules Verne's birthday.


above: author Jules Verne

To celebrate Jules Verne's birthday, Google's doodle logo, which is interactive, has been transformed into an underwater vessel - a Nautilus - an homage to the author of the classic 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, of which the original cover and title page is shown below:



The interactive logo allows iOS users to control the view from a Jules Verne-esque submarine by taking advantage of accelerometers found in iOS devices like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

Check it out

More Steampunk Architecture From Dave Trautrimas - The SpyFrost Project

above: detail of The Radiant Proliferator

David Trautrimas, the Canadian artist about whose steampunk-like architectural art, The Habitat Machines, I blogged about once before, has a wonderful new series of work called The Spyfrost Project.

The Spyfrost Project illustrates David's hypothesizing the origins of modern iconic appliances by reassembling them into top secret Cold War era military outposts. These hybrids of machinery and architecture stand as colossal weaponized ancestors to common objects, such as refrigerators, lawnmowers and washing machines.

Carbon Inversion Device:

detail:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 30” x 20”. 2010. Edition of 14. $1400.00 each.

Micro Re-Instigator:

detail:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 40” x 30”. 2010. Edition of 10. $2600.00 each.

Mnemonic Doppelganger:

detail:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 22.5” x 35”. 2010. Edition of 12. $1725.00 each.

Seismic Conduction Tower (and detail):

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 20” x 30”. 2010. Edition of 14. $1400.00 each.

Storm Crown Mechanism:
detail:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 40” x 30”. 2010. Edition of 10. $2600.00 each.

Terra Thermal Inducer:

detail:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 35” x 22.5”. 2010. Edition of 12. $1725.00 each.

The Aurora Maker (and detail):

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 14” x 17”. 2010. Edition of 16. $925.00 each.

The Brilliant Device:

detail:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 30” x 20”. 2010. Edition of 14. $1400.00 each.

The Fragment Accumulator (and detail):

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 20” x 30”. 2010. Edition of 14. $1400.00 each.

The Radiant Proliferator:

Digital print on archival paper (framed). 30” x 20”. 2010. Edition of 14. $1400.00 each.

The Toronto launch of his latest series will be opening at LE Gallery on Friday April 30th and the exhibition runs from April 28th to May 30th. In Europe, The Spyfrost Series will be exhibited at the Eckhart Gallery in The Hague, Netherlands from May 2nd to June 11th.

See David's Habitat Machines And Factories here.