✦Introduction

Did you know that tarot cards come in a huge variety of designs?

Some designs are based on the classic tarot imagery, others take on fantastical themes like angels and fairies, and some transform the artwork into natural motifs like animals and trees.

There are decks with bright colors, decks with calm, muted tones, and decks with vivid colors that leap out at you. Even when the underlying imagery is the same, each creator brings a completely different atmosphere to their deck.

These days there are also many wonderfully cute illustrated decks, making tarot more approachable and easier to read than ever.

Cards made overseas offer especially rich variety, and the materials used tend to be high quality with sturdy construction.

Europe, in particular, is a major producer of tarot cards, and many of you have probably seen a European-made deck at some point.

The origins of the tarot are said to lie in Egypt, Judea, or Northern Italy, though its true birthplace remains unknown. Despite its mystical reputation today, tarot was originally used as a playing-card game much like a deck of cards.

For a deeper look at the history of tarot, we recommend reading our full article on the subject before continuing here.

Today, we'll be introducing the many designs of tarot cards. Let's take a close look at the birthplace of tarot design and the details of Italian-made decks.

The front artwork is beautiful, of course, but the intricate designs on the back of the cards are just as captivating. Many tarot enthusiasts choose their deck based on the back design alone — that's how much beauty these cards contain.

We hope this journey through the mystical designs of tarot brings you a moment of calm and healing.

☾The Birthplace of Tarot Design

Northern Italy is considered the true home of tarot design.

The oldest tarot deck in the world is the "Tarot of Charles VI," dating to 1392. This particular deck no longer exists today.

The oldest surviving tarot deck is the "Visconti-Sforza" deck, commissioned by the Duke of Milan in the mid-15th century. Although it isn't a complete deck, its individual cards are held by libraries, museums, and private collectors around the world.

The fact that the cards are scattered among so many different owners is fascinating in itself, and it sparks the imagination. It only deepens the sense of mystery that surrounds tarot, whose true origins remain unknown.

(Image reference: Visconti-Sforza deck, Wikipedia)

All of the cards in this deck were hand-painted, and it was originally composed of around 15 decks. Some numbering is missing from the Major Arcana, but the deck nonetheless had the structure of a true tarot.

Northern Italy continues to produce beautifully designed tarot decks today, ones so refined that professional fortune tellers rely on them. There's a huge selection to choose from, and plenty of specialty tarot shops in the region.

The design quality and paper texture are excellent, making these decks a great recommendation for beginners and professionals alike who want a deck that will last for years.

Lo Scarabeo, based in the art-and-tradition-rich region of Northern Italy, sells hundreds of different tarot decks worldwide.

Among their designs are truly unusual decks you may never have seen before — you might just find the fated card you've been searching for.

✧Featured Italian-Made Tarot Designs

Let's look at three recommended decks made in Italy, the true home of tarot.

Being the birthplace of tarot, Italy offers an enormous range of designs, some rarely seen elsewhere — the kind you could lose track of time admiring. The artwork is delicate and the colors so beautiful that Italian-made decks are truly captivating.

The decks introduced below include one based on the oldest surviving tarot, one beloved around the world, and one featuring animals as its central theme.

Let's take a closer look at each, so Italian-made decks feel a little more familiar to you.

Visconti Tarot

(Image reference: Amazon)

This deck is based on the "Visconti-Sforza" deck, the oldest surviving tarot mentioned in the section above on the birthplace of tarot design.

Its golden tones shine brilliantly, giving the deck a dignified, composed impression. The colors and design are understated, yet the cards carry a striking presence.

The Minor Arcana are illustrated with only the suit symbols, evoking tarot's origins as a playing-card game — a design that calls to mind an ordinary deck of playing cards.

Because it's based on the oldest surviving tarot deck, using this deck feels like touching the history of tarot itself.

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

(Image reference: Amazon)

This deck was created by British artist Pamela Colman Smith.

It's the signature tarot deck of Lo Scarabeo, the famous Northern Italian publisher, and one of the most popular decks in the world.

When people picture "tarot cards," this is often the design they imagine — a deck beloved by users all over the world. You've likely seen this design at least once yourself.

Built around reds and yellows, the gentle artwork makes the story of each card easy to read. It's a deck that beginners and professionals alike can use for years.

Tarot of White Cats

(Image reference: Amazon)

A charming deck centered on white cats. It uses a rich range of colors for a bright, refreshing overall feel.

The poses and expressions of the white cats are wonderfully varied, giving the cards a real sense of movement.

This deck is also published by Lo Scarabeo in Northern Italy.

A distinctive feature of this deck is that a dog appears only on the Fool card. It's fun imagining what kind of story unfolds as the Fool's dog meets the white cats.

Each card's white cat has such an expressive face — cute yet touched with mystery — making this deck a perfect fit for cat lovers.

⧗The Backs of Tarot Cards Are Just as Delicately Crafted

What makes tarot so captivating is the world created by its imagery — and that includes not just the front of the cards, but a beautifully crafted "back" design as well.

Some decks feature geometric patterns or motifs on the back, while others display artwork drawn from the tarot itself — there's a wide variety of styles.

The front and back designs together form a single world, so if you haven't paid much attention to the backs before, we encourage you to take a closer look. You may discover a whole new side to tarot.

One thing to check before purchasing is that some card backs are symmetrical while others are asymmetrical. If you're concerned about accidentally revealing whether a card is upright or reversed before you lay it out for a reading, be sure to check this before you buy.

As you grow more accustomed to a particular tarot deck, you'll find that even if the back design reveals whether a card is upright or reversed, it stops bothering you. That's proof of how much trust you've built with that deck.

Let's look at examples of decks with symmetrical and asymmetrical back designs.

Tarot Decks with Symmetrical Back Designs

This is the back of the Tarot de Marseille (mini edition).

It features finely detailed artwork and beautifully crafted imagery. Set against a reddish-brown background, the white line work gives it a calm, composed impression.

The Tarot de Marseille's artwork is intricate and mystical, with the Minor Arcana depicted using only suit symbols. The geometric patterns even evoke a cosmic, otherworldly feeling.

Because this card's back is symmetrical, you can focus fully on your reading without worrying about accidentally spotting whether a card is upright or reversed.

This design is a great choice for anyone who loves finely detailed artwork.

Tarot Decks with Asymmetrical Back Designs

This is Doreen Virtue & Radleigh Valentine's "Fairy Tarot."

The back design features one of the tarot's own card illustrations, the same one used on the deck's cover.

A beautiful fairy gazes out at you, as if watching over you. Delicate decorative details surround the central image.

Because this deck's back design is asymmetrical, shuffling and laying out the cards will reveal whether each card is upright or reversed.

This deck is recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy their readings while feeling watched over by a fairy.

When it comes to back designs, choose whichever style speaks to you.

Pick your favorite front design first, then look at the back design as a second step in choosing your deck.

That way, you're sure to find the tarot deck that's the perfect match for you.

If you love the back design, the time you spend shuffling or laying out your cards becomes a favorite ritual — a moment to center yourself.

The artwork and colors on the back can also calm your mood or lift your spirits. Choosing a tarot deck based on its back design, depending on how you feel that day, might become one more way to enjoy your practice.

☀Beautiful Tarot Decks Worth Discovering

Here, we introduce a selection of beautiful decks that feel healing just to hold.

Decks with rich colors, finely detailed artwork, and a mystical atmosphere can bring a sense of calm to your readings.

Since everyone has their own idea of what counts as "beautiful," please take the following as simply examples of beautiful tarot design.

Moonchild Tarot

(Image reference: Amazon)

A beautifully designed tarot deck created by Canadian artist Danielle Noel. The edges of the cards are finished in gold, adding a touch of glamour.

This deck includes 3 bonus cards, bringing the total to 81 cards. Drawing one of these three cards adds a fresh, different flavor to your readings.

The back design also features gold artwork on a white background, evoking the phases of the moon. It has a way of quietly settling the mind.

The imagery makes it easy to read the intention of each card, letting you draw deep messages from the artwork alongside the traditional meanings.

Tarot Art Nouveau

(Image reference: Amazon)

Composed of artwork by Italian artist "Antonella Castelli," this is one of the longest-beloved tarot decks. Its soft imagery, drawing on motifs of nature and the human form, gently guides readers into the world of tarot.

The colors are muted, and the artwork is rendered in smooth curves and delicate ornamentation. The lifelike imagery feels as though you could reach out and touch it — as if it might move at any moment.

Each card has its own distinctive facial expressions and color palette, making it easy to draw inspiration and read the meaning of each card.

This deck feels like it could double as a protective charm if displayed as art.

Spirit Song Tarot

(Image reference: Amazon)

This deck was designed by Canadian artist Paulina Cassidy.

Every image is based on animals and nature, creating a gentle, expansive world. The depictions and color choices are so delicate that you may find yourself completely absorbed in them.

A distinctive feature is that each Minor Arcana suit is represented by an item from the animal world.

The suits are made up of acorns (Wands), feathers (Swords), shells (Cups), and crystals (Pentacles). It may not click immediately, but once you grow used to these suits, reading with this deck becomes a real joy.

Each of the decks introduced here has its own shine, so we hope you'll take the time to look closely at every single card.

There are many more beautifully designed tarot decks out there, so use these as a starting point for your own search.

♡Summary

So, what did you think of this look at tarot card designs?

Within Europe, Northern Italy stands as the true home of tarot, and Italian-made tarot decks are sold all over the world.

The reason so many people love these decks surely comes down to their rich history. There are so many different tarot designs out there that it's hard to choose just one.

With themes spanning people, culture, animals, plants, and fantasy, every artist brings their own worldview to the cards, so we recommend exploring as many decks as you can.

Among them, Italian-made decks are especially beloved by users worldwide. Their design and materials are so wonderful that people keep using them long after they've become well-worn.

The more you use a deck, the more you'll feel it becoming a true part of you.

We've also covered the designs found on the backs of tarot cards. The backs are every bit as captivating as the fronts, often featuring designs that rival the front artwork in beauty.

The world of tarot may truly be made whole by the combination of front and back design. After all, when you're doing a reading, the back is the first thing you see.

If the front design inspires focus and motivation during a reading, the back seems to play a role in bringing relaxation and a sense of calm.

When choosing a tarot deck, be sure to pay attention to the back design as well.

We've also shared some of our recommended beautiful tarot decks — we hope something here resonates with you.

We hope you continue to enjoy exploring the world of tarot even further.