Andreas Affolter

Director of the Museum und Begegnungszentrum Schloss Waldegg.

Solothurn, the cardmaking capital

Andreas Affolter 08.08.2022 In the 18th century, Solothurn was an important centre of playing card production. Throughout the Swiss Confederation almost everyone played with cards made in Solothurn, and the card designs produced there were also popular “beyond” the border.

The elite of Solothurn society gathered at tables like this one for card game evenings. This table belonged to the Glutz family, and the candlesticks belonged to the Greder-von Stäffis family. The playing cards and token boxes made of leather-covered cardboard are part of a Tarock set in book form dating from 1778.

The passions of Sir von Besenval

Andreas Affolter 29.09.2021 Peter Viktor von Besenval was born 300 years ago. A Swiss baron and a mercenary officer in the service of the French crown, Besenval was a passionate collector of objets d’art and plants, and a notorious ladies’ man.

Henry-Pierre Danloux, Le Baron de Besenval dans son salon de compagnie, 1791, huile sur toile, London, National Gallery, NG 6598