Welcome to the World of Tasha Tudor

Tasha Tudor - American Illustrator

Illustrator Tasha Tudor lived in New England her entire life, 1915-2008. Her paintings of farm life began before World War II with five small pocket size books about farm life of the past.

Her nostalgic lifestyle and pictures inspired world-wide admirers to want to live as Tasha lived. They longed for that long-gone New England landscape. Tudor painted what she knew and loved: antique furniture and clothing, dolls, corgi dogs, the tulip ware and pink luster dishes which she owned. Her pictures appear in 100 books.

Cellar Door Books is a specialty book shop devoted to Tasha Tudor. We have her books, art prints, Christmas cards and any other thing created by this talented artist. We carry her original art. And we can help you dispose of your Tudor art – part of some 15,000 original watercolors, oils and drawings.

Proprietors John and Jill Hare founded Cellar Door Books in 1971. We are also the authors of two comprehensive reviews of Tudor’s art: Tasha Tudor: the Direction of Her Dreams (1998) describes some 1200 books associated with Tudor; and Christmas Card Designs of Tasha Tudor (2012) shows 1400 Christmas and other greeting cards Tudor painted.

EFFIE FENNO, A Tasha Tudor Doll from 1994/95

Effie Fenno is one of about a dozen dolls crafted by Tasha Tudor and most likely, the last.   She is different in several aspects from the others that came before.

She was constructed in 1994-95 for a fund-raiser at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. A Tasha Tudor Christmas exhibit in 1995.   She was modeled and named after Tasha Tudor’s great-grandmother making her that much more personal.

Similar to her other doll projects, Tudor’s Effie comes with a collection of about 120 “go withs”: furniture, books, miscellaneous household objects.

Tudor wrote a two line authentication on the back of the carved wooden shoulders:  “Effie Fenno, my great grand mother.”   And at the top back of the suede body:  “Made by Tasha Tudor 1994/95.”

Effie was purchased at the 1995 auction, sold to a doll dealer/museum in 2003, and to a descendant of Effie Tudor in 2012.

Effie’s wardrobe is limited, but her possessions include many household necessities.  You will find a library, a wingback chair made and signed by Marjorie and Seth Tudor, a Seth Tudor corner cupboard, rocking chair and plant stand, other tables, chairs and miscellaneous objects – about 120 pieces in all.  The largest is a four-poster bed with canopy.

Long distance shipping on this collection will be a challenge.  Pick-up at our shop in New Hampshire  would be ideal.    Call or email for more details.   See below for parts of the collection.

ITEM #   28701                 $15,000

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WHITE SALE

Dolls were only one manifestation of Tasha Tudor’s art.  Click on the ART button at left above for examples of her watercolor paintings.   Many are at reduced prices during our White Sale through February 15.  Find WHITE SALE SPECIALS throughout our inventory.