Steampunk Art Nouveau Tarot - hand-drawn fusion of organic and industrial
Art nouveau and steampunk seem like opposites. The first revolves around flowing lines and plant motifs, the second around rivets and steam engines. This deck brings them together.
Luca Strati drew all 78 cards by hand. No digital collage, no photo manipulation. Each image shows how gears and flowers can coexist without either one dominating. The structure follows Rider-Waite-Smith, so the symbolism remains recognizable.
What you see on the cards
The colors are saturated but not loud: lots of bronze, copper, green and cream. The figures wear clothing with Victorian elements: high collars, corsets, waistcoats with watch chains. Around them turn wheels, pipes run along walls, and structures stand that look half engine room, half greenhouse.
The art nouveau influence sits mainly in the borders and organic shapes. Many cards have rounded arches, curls and floral vines decorating the edges. The steampunk side returns in details: a figure holds a key that is half tool, half ornament. Another character stands beside a mechanism that looks like a clock with too many hands.
Each card has a title in English at the bottom. The Major Arcana follow the usual order and names. The Minor Arcana are divided into Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
How the deck feels in your hand
The cards measure 66 by 120 millimeters, which is standard tarot size. They are not especially thick, but stiff enough to shuffle easily. The finish is matte, which limits fingerprints.
The guidebook is in English. Jaymi Elford, who wrote the texts, explains for each card how the mechanical elements relate to the traditional meaning. There are also a few spreads included, though none specifically tailored to this theme.
When reading, pay special attention to the relationship between the figures and their surroundings. Do they stand above the machines or woven into them? That often adds an extra layer of meaning.
Who this deck works for
If you know Rider-Waite-Smith, you can pick up this deck without trouble. The symbolism is familiar, only the setting is different. Beginners who have never read tarot can also work with this deck, though the visual density asks for more time to get to the core of a card.
For anyone who loves Victorian aesthetics or decks with a story in every detail, this is a logical choice. The deck has its own atmosphere without becoming heavy-handed.
About Luca Strati and Jaymi Elford
Luca Strati is an illustrator and concept artist. His work is marked by attention to texture and material. For this deck he chose hand drawing instead of digital assembly, which gives the cards a craft quality.
Jaymi Elford writes about tarot and oracle systems and has more than thirty years of experience in the field. She provided the texts in the guidebook and the structure of the deck.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card size: 66 x 120 mm
- Weight: 244 g
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9780738774084
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications / Lo Scarabeo
- Artist: Luca Strati
- Author: Jaymi Elford
- Finish: Matte cardstock
Questions we often get
Does this deck differ strongly from Rider-Waite-Smith?
No. The structure, order and basic meanings are the same. Only the design is different: where RWS uses medieval and Renaissance elements, this deck chooses art nouveau and steampunk.
Are the mechanical details on the cards purely decorative?
Not entirely. Jaymi Elford describes in the guidebook how you can see the machines and gears as symbols for internal processes, such as repeating patterns or stuck energy. Whether you use that is up to you.
