Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot
The Ceccoli Tarot was published by Lo Scarabeo and distributed through Llewellyn Worldwide. The artwork is by Nicoletta Ceccoli, a celebrated illustrator born in 1973 in the Republic of San Marino, who studied animation at the Institute of Art of Urbino in Italy. Ceccoli has been working as a professional illustrator since 1995, illustrating children's books, magazine covers, and editorial work. She won the prestigious Andersen Prize as Italy's best children's book illustrator in 2000, and a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York in 2006. The tarot deck was created using whole works or parts of works from Ceccoli's existing portfolio, adapted to the tarot framework. Lo Scarabeo later also released a Nicoletta Ceccoli Oracle deck.
Official Website →Art Style & Visual Character
Ceccoli's signature style is one of "provocative enchantment" — surreal, dreamlike imagery featuring doll-like young girls with oversized heads and small bodies in strange, bittersweet fairytale settings. The artwork overflows with imagination, blending the innocent with the unsettling in a manner reminiscent of Dali paintings or Tim Burton's aesthetic. Human, animal, and plant forms morph and mix in bizarre, whimsical compositions. The palette ranges from soft pastels to deeper, more ominous tones. Cards are standard Lo Scarabeo size (66 x 120mm) on good, heavy stock with a smooth, lightly glossy finish. The overall effect is simultaneously enchanting and disquieting — beautiful but deeply strange.
Core Concept & Symbolism
Because the cards were adapted from Ceccoli's existing body of work rather than created specifically for tarot, the imagery offers very loose, highly unconventional interpretations of the traditional arcana. The deck moves between harmony and madness, capturing an eerie innocence that evokes subconscious archetypes, childhood dreams, enchantments, and terrors. The symbolism is more intuitive and associative than structured — the deck rewards readers who work with feeling and imagination rather than fixed correspondences. The included Little White Book provides snippet meanings in five languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German).
Reading Experience
Angelorum's review describes it as "firmly embedded in the world of subterranean Tarot explorations" that "equally delights, surprises, terrifies and exalts the mind and imagination." Patchwork Soul and Fables Den both highlight its unique beauty and surreal depth. The community consensus is that this is NOT a deck for beginners — it requires tarot experience and a willingness to engage intuitively with unconventional imagery. Some reviewers find it challenging for everyday use, noting it demands commitment and dedication. The deck is highly valued by collectors and by readers who use tarot as a tool for deep psychological and creative exploration. The art alone makes it a coveted collectible.
Best Used For
- Experienced intuitive readers who work beyond traditional symbolism
- Deep psychological exploration and shadow work
- Meditation and creative visualization
- Art collectors and fans of Nicoletta Ceccoli's work
- Readers who appreciate surrealist, dreamlike, and fairytale aesthetics
- Opening subconscious and imaginative layers in readings
Not Ideal For
- Beginners still learning traditional tarot meanings and correspondences
- Readers who need clear, recognizable RWS-based symbolism
- Those seeking a practical, everyday workhorse reading deck
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The 22 trump cards representing life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
The 56 suit cards reflecting day-to-day events and practical influences
Wands
Fire element — passion, creativity, ambition, and spiritual growth
Cups
Water element — emotions, relationships, intuition, and inner feelings
Swords
Air element — intellect, conflict, truth, and mental clarity
Pentacles
Earth element — material world, finances, health, and practical matters
