The Goldsmith by Kevin Cantrell (Cantrell A Priori 001) with TGW

[kevork]

I just don't like when a gilded deck starts to wear off from even the first handle. It makes me not want to buy them at all. EOTO gilded was like that, for example.

I will say the gold gilding on Parlour Dynastinae is phenomenal. More like that please.

[shunterino]

While it's perfectly fine for card manufacturers to gild decks if they want I have never associated it with luxury or better card preservation. It's just a tool to inflate prices by making something more shiny. Common practice in all sorts of products.

It's a fact though that the gilding process seals the paper fibres that become exposed after the cutting process and therefore protects them from humidity, mold and grime.
You're not wrong though either that it has been misused by some producers to crank up their margin.

I didn't mean to suggest that gilding doesn't do all that, rather that I personally don't associate those things with gilding. Because I don't live in a humid place, I wouldn't use gilded decks for much if I had any (the mockery from the other people at the card table wouldn't be worth it) so no grime from fingers, and from what I've heard the gilding tends to chip off if you play with them too much. Basically it would be for display so those aspects wouldn't be relevant (in my case).

It was my personal relationship to gilding I was referring to rather than a general statement.

[GandalfPC]

Some gilding better than others - the Butterfly gilded are superior and the latest Dante gilded deck seems to be holding up to abuse

[TheGentlemanWake]

For the record the Parlour Dynastinae and Butterfly gilding are one and the same. Done by Cartamundi. It will be used for successor, beetleBacks and this release. I have a Parlour Dynastinae deck that has not so much as shown a hint of chipping or fading and I’ve been using them off and on at my desk for years.

[Harvonsgard]

I've really beaten my Butterfly and my Astra Polaris - like a lot of riffling, springing, faro and riffle shuffles. Daily abuse over weeks; they hold up extremely well. Good gilding holds up very well and with normal gameplay there will be no chipping for a very long time.

[Adamthinks]

I just don't like when a gilded deck starts to wear off from even the first handle. It makes me not want to buy them at all. EOTO gilded was like that, for example.

I will say the gold gilding on Parlour Dynastinae is phenomenal. More like that please.

Yeah, the gilding on the Eye of the Ocean wasn't great. Mine was splotchy. He said they were hand gilded so maybe that accounts for it somehow. I have plenty of other decks where I don't have any issues though { Thirdway and Jocu gilded decks are great for example). It just seems to depend on the gilder. The worst I've seen was whoever did the black gilding for Ink Beast. Looked and felt like it was drawn on with many coats of marker. But the majority of the ones I've used have had no issues and have improved those decks.

[TheGentlemanWake]

Some more images!

So we've figured out, i think, how we are approaching this. It's going to be a limited edition run (either 1500 or more likely 1000). Its the first of many deck projects Kevin has planned for his CAP brand. All will be offered in the same package style... It will be 2 decks (white and black). That's it. Both gilded and foiled and offered as a set with a carat case and commemorative coin (that will fit in the carat case). Price will be $100 even. They will go up for pre-order on TheGentlemanWake.com when its ready. We are looking at having prototypes made to show the finished product. The decks will be printed and gilded by Cartamundi with tuck cases by Studio Pression

Goldsmith AoC.PNG (106.45 KiB) Viewed 6843 times

[Adamthinks]

I really like these cards, but being forced into a bundle at $100 pushes me to a no for these.

[Swiski66]

Looks like this will be a beautiful deck, but I don't understand why there can't be flexibility with this...where someone can purchase the $100 bundle if they want, but single decks would also be available for collectors on a budget like me.

[TheGentlemanWake]

We want to keep it simple. 1 sku. No options, no extras.

If we did away with the carat case and coin they would be scrapped. SO if enough people prefer no carat case/coin, we simply won't make them. but The decks would be priced at $45 ea/$90 for the set.

[Sir Toddalot]

I would get the carat case coin set! I understand why some people might not like that being the only option, but it doesn’t bother me personally.

[Swiski66]

We want to keep it simple. 1 sku. No options, no extras.

If we did away with the carat case and coin they would be scrapped. SO if enough people prefer no carat case/coin, we simply won't make them. but The decks would be priced at $45 ea/$90 for the set.

Cool! I didn't see that we can still buy just a deck for $45. I thought the only option was the full set or nothing. Thanks for clarifying!

[STLBluesNut]

$100 or $90 for the set is a no for me either way. perhaps i would buy 1 deck foiled with no gilding for $20 which will likely not be an option so this will just be a pass.

[Sir Toddalot]

Cool! I didn't see that we can still buy just a deck for $45. I thought the only option was the full set or nothing. Thanks for clarifying!

I’m pretty sure he’s saying that will only be an option if they don’t do a carat case.

[NativeTongue]

That tuck box is absolutely gorgeous! Kevin outdid himself on this one...

[CourtCurator]

If I have the funds at the time, I’d be in for a carat case/coin set. These are looking super nice!

[TheGentlemanWake]

Here’s a prototype of the carat case for reference.

[TheGentlemanWake]

For a preview of the cards and the updated improved courts click here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmhUv-no ... I4MTIyMDE=

[masagin303]

Some gilding better than others - the Butterfly gilded are superior and the latest Dante gilded deck seems to be holding up to abuse

Funny you mentioned Butterflies because it's a nice example where gilding really doesn't affect handling that much but it definitely affects the deck longevity. The gilding wears of very quickly and even leaves smudges on the cards.
Gilding is really only good for decks that stay in the tuck box or you are ready to throw the deck away quite quickly.

[GandalfPC]

I was speaking of the Gold and SIlver marked versions in particular - haven’t had wear or smudges myself - which decks did you have trouble with?

[TheGentlemanWake]

I have a deck of Parlour Dynastinae that I have abused. The Gilding is still going strong.

[Timmargh]

I have a deck of Parlour Dynastinae that I have abused. The Gilding is still going strong.

I'm calling the NSPCC*!


(* National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cards)

[rousselle]

[Strag]

I'm another one for whom the price would stop me. $100 for a set of two decks that aren't all that limited just doesn't work. Assume that the price doesn't include shipping, so even with increased costs for materials etc, just seems like quite a lot for me.

[justinls1]

I like the cards, but I don't buy coins or cases, and very rarely do I buy multiple decks. I pick the one I like the most and get just the one. At a $100 I am out.

[Harvonsgard]

I like when artists create a product like they envision it and follow through with it. And I even more like when they go against the grain and are not trying to be crowd pleasers. But a double deck set in a carat case with a coin feels super low budget for me, after having seen the card scene for some years now. No knock on the creators as the current market with all the increases seems to demand these asking prices but I personally value $100 more than what is offered here.

[TheGentlemanWake]

I like when artists create a product like they envision it and follow through with it. And I even more like when they go against the grain and are not trying to be crowd pleasers. But a double deck set in a carat case with a coin feels super low budget for me, after having seen the card scene for some years now. No knock on the creators as the current market with all the increases seems to demand these asking prices but I personally value $100 more than what is offered here.

Actually. Doing the math on what production costs will be for 1000 edition size of cold foil and gilded decks with a walnut carat case and a coin the profit margains dictate $110 as the asking price. If we were printing 5000 the decks would be considerably cheaper. But small print runs are very expensive.

And lastly. To defend Kevin… he’s not an average artist. Far from it. These decks might be the best work he’s done.

[TheGentlemanWake]

Heck. theory eleven just put out the lotr box set for $100 for theee decks (only one of which is foiled). No gilding. Cardboard box.

[double_left]

in all fairness, theory11 is an established brand

[Strag]

I get what the costs dictate and from that view it makes sense to me... but as a collector it's not what I personally would spend $100 on.