Description
A designer sits at her desk with a blank
sheet of paper in front of her. On the wall behind her and strewn around
her desk are pictures of antique cups from which she draws her inspiration.
A coffee mug sits by her left hand. The cups depicted are (L to R,
starting at the top):
- Bristol coffee can c. 1795 decorated in green
and gilt
- Chamberlain Worcester cup decorated in lilac and gilt
- Bow coffee cup c. 1760 decorated in underglaze blue
- Derby cup decorated in gilt
- Miles Mason coffee can decorated in orange, pink & gold
- Minton cup, 1862, decorated in blue & gold
- Spode Etruscan shape cup c. 1820 decorated with Japanese vase pattern
Symbolism
Traditionally the suit of Cups is concerned with the emotions. In this case we are looking at the emotions aroused in a designer by the beautiful things of the past. Only one of the cups on this card is modern - the designer’s coffee mug, which suggests that she is also a tarot reader since it bears the logo of TABI (the Tarot Association of the British Isles).
Card Meaning
The Eight of Cups traditionally means leaving things behind. Our designer is setting out to design something new and different so, in that sense, she can be said to be leaving behind all that has gone before. But she has been influenced by the designs of the past, as has any designer, whether they design ceramics or furniture or buildings or even machinery. And so this card has the additional meaning of taking something forward into the future even while one leaves it behind.
Artistic Media
The figure of the designer was traced from a photograph and the cups from scans of photographs from “An anthology of British Cups” by Michael Berthoud which had been reduced in size on the computer. The whole was then put together and coloured with watercolour pencils and a gold gel pen.
Artist's Bio
Netzach cannot draw or paint but she’s quite good at copying and at designing needlework. If AT ever has a embroidered community tarot project, she’ll be in her element!
Go back to the project index, read the traditional card meaning, or get a free automated reading with this deck.
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