Keymaster Tarot

Keymaster Tarot - Marseille pips and fully illustrated arcana

You can see the Tarot de Marseille and the Rider-Waite-Smith as two separate worlds. One works with geometric symbols, the other with worked-out scenes. Lorenzo Gaggiotti placed them side by side in one deck.

The Major Arcana are fully illustrated with expressive figures and clear symbolism. The Minor Arcana go back to the Marseille tradition: pip cards, no scenes. What you see are swords, wands, cups and pentacles in abstract, almost graphic compositions. The contrast is deliberate.

What you see on the cards

The style is modern graphic design. Clean lines, flat colours, gold foil accents that catch light. The Major Arcana read easily for anyone familiar with Rider-Waite. The Minor Arcana ask something different: you read them through the pattern of symbols, not through a depicted story.

The back shows the same use of gold and geometry. The deck is symmetrical, so not reversible during shuffling. All cards are printed on 310 gsm Superlux paper with a matte, soft finish. They feel sturdy, not slick or glossy.

Who this works for

This deck asks for some tarot knowledge. The Major Arcana are accessible, the Minor Arcana are not. If you are used to worked-out scenes on every card, you will notice you have to read differently here. Pip cards force you to draw meanings from memory or numerology, not from an image.

The guidebook counts 96 pages and describes each card. Keywords, interpretations and an introduction to both traditions. Enough to get started, not a textbook.

Lay the Minor Arcana of one suit next to each other. The geometric structure shows how energy builds from ace to ten. That pattern helps more than individual card descriptions.

About Lorenzo Gaggiotti

Lorenzo Gaggiotti works under the name Stockholm17 and designs playing cards and tarot decks. His work is marked by attention to graphic balance and historical references. The Keymaster Tarot combines both: classical tarot iconography translated into clean, contemporary design.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78
• Card size: 65 x 120 mm
• Paper: 310 gsm Superlux
• Finish: soft-touch with double-sided gold foil
• Guidebook: 96 pages
• Language: English
• Extras: black satin storage pouch
• Publisher: AG Müller / Urania
• Designer: Lorenzo Gaggiotti (Stockholm17)

Questions we often get

Are the Minor Arcana fully illustrated?
No. The Minor Arcana are pip cards in Marseille style: geometric patterns of swords, wands, cups and pentacles. Only the Major Arcana and court cards show worked-out figures.

How do the Major Arcana differ from the classic Rider-Waite-Smith?
The symbolism is recognisable, but the design is more graphic. Flatter colours, cleaner design, gold foil accents. The essence of the archetypes remains intact.