The Collections Of Artist Tamar Stone

Corset Art Book By Tamar Stone

Conversing with artist Tamar Stone, several times, I’ve not only become quite smitten (especially with her corset and bed books), but have more than a sneaking suspicion that she’s got a lot of stuff… With all her projects and interests, she must have a lot of stuff! So I had to ask her what she collected…

Over the years, my collections have changed, and in some ways, I’ve kind of cut back somewhat. But what I have collected are: cameras and photography “how to” consumer guides to better photography, postcards, travel guides, cooking pamphlets and food display things.

I used to collect all kinds of dishes, glassware, kitchen appliances, which is ironic – I don’t even cook.

One of my favorite things I got in the past few years was at an auction — a corset box, but inside was someone’s blonde hair “fall.” I was the only person that day who stepped up and yelled I’ll take that — for a $1.00 — and they were glad to get rid of it… It’s sort of disgusting, yet amusing I guess.

Back to my collecting — cow things. (I love cows, I like to get out of the car just to pet them. A reason to travel with Wet Ones — which we do.) Although I do not collect Hallmark cow things… I’m sort of picky — I prefer folk art cows to butter packaging with nice illustrations etc.

Stone's Art Studio

I collect salesman sample things, although they have gotten expensive, so now I just look at them or take photos of them here and there.

Although I work with the doll beds, I don’t collect dolls or anything like that — except for some corset stuff, but I’ve never been a doll person. Although I really love the metal doll houses — I have a few of those. I wish I had the wall space to take them apart and open them up to put up on the walls… There’s just something intriguing about having the walls of a doll house as simulated walls in wood grain and brick — in tin — up on your home wall.

Shadow Box By Tamar Stone

I love Joseph Cornell etc. and I wish I was more 3-d mechanically inclined…

I have a bunch of these old clock boxes I got at an auction. A whole cart of them for $1.00. Sure I had to scrape out some dead animals and their nests, but it was worth it — once I got past being disgusted. But now I have a whole bunch of clock workings, springs and such and these old wood boxes — and I’m sort of stumped of how to use them… I made this first shadow box and haven’t really gotten to working on the others. I wouldn’t mind selling it, but it’s not something my dealer handles… So I seem to have it, and all the other ‘parts’ for now.

For more on the artist, check out her website.