Set A Gorey Table

Fishes Eddy, the New York City purveyor of interesting unique and overstock dinnerware has introduced a selection of Edward Gorey plates and glasses.

Known for their lines of sturdy, triple fired stoneware, the Edward Gorey Collection includes three smaller and one dinner sized plate, along with three drinking glasses, each featuring a classic Gorey image.

The 10.25" dinner plate features Dracula seducing Lucy.

Each of the 8.25" salad or dessert plates has an instantly recognizable Gorey image.

The three 7.5oz glasses show an image from the expressive triptych Edward Gorey created of a woman (or different women) interacting with a skeleton. Filled with lemonade, orange juice, or a favorite Gin & Tonic, this spooky couple will remind you to live life to the fullest.

All of the pieces in the collection are sold individually and can be found HERE. A word of caution - Fishes Eddy is known for producing wonderfully eclectic dinnerware, but the pieces are made in limited runs and will disappear, usually not to be seen again. 

 

Dancing Elephant Sketch

 What is more joyful than a dancing elephant?

Elephants became a pervasive theme in the works of Edward Gorey in the 1990's. The playful pachyderms made appearances in drawings, on rubber stamps, theatrical posters, a series of etchings, and even in a small flip book The Dancing Rock, The Floating Elephant. Edward Gorey's home has become known as Elephant House due to the great shaggy grey shingles that cover the building.

Edward Gorey loved unusual animals, both real and imagined. Elephants, with their large bodies, delicate flapping ears and tails, and expressive trunks became a favorite subject for the artist. The movement of an elephant, at the same time lumbering yet graceful appealed to Mr. Gorey's artistic eye. In this small sketch, the elephant has a playful balance and a very expressive trunk. 

Edward Gorey's sketches are beautifully rendered with a loose touch that shows the quickness with witch he drew them. They also show his thought process when working out an idea or character. First, second and third thoughts are layered one on top of the other. Ears, feet and the trunk of the elephant shift and the line work becomes bolder as Mr. Gorey begins to determine the position of the body, finally being loosely colored in with quick pen strokes. This movement gives a sense of quickness and purposefulness that brings the sketch alive. 

I recently added this delightful sketch to my collection. The paper is a approximately 3.25" by 3.75".

Memento Gorey

 

Edward Gorey granted local photographer and documentarian Christopher Seufert access to film many of his activities during the final years of his life. Memento Gorey: The Last Interviews With Edward Gorey (2026 Schiffer Publishing) is a beautifully produced volume illustrated with over 250 photographs documenting the final years of Edward Gorey's life on Cape Cod. Originally intended as a companion to the filmed documentary, the book has been released prior to the film's long awaited completion.

During the final decade of his life, Edward Gorey's primary artistic attention shifted from creating books and illustrations to producing his theatrical entertainments on the Cape. It is noted in several interviews that Mr. Gorey's professional colleagues and wider fan base were somewhat baffled by his total involvement in these small, local theatrical productions. However, these endeavors were an important part of his artistic oeuvre. Several interviews with noted artists, authors, colleagues, and friends are included to round out the overall view of Mr. Gorey's legacy.

 

The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey: Rare Drawing, Scripts, and Stories by Carol Verburg (2024 Chronicle Books) meticulously covers Edward Gorey's lifelong involvement in theater. Most of the interviews in Memento Gorey relate to his theatrical works from the 1990's since that is the time period during which Mr. Seufert filmed Mr. Gorey. In many ways, Memento Gorey reads as a prequel or expanded liner notes to Ms. Verburg's book. A reader will have a deeper enjoyment and understanding of Mr. Seufert's book if they delve into The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey first. 

Memento Gorey's major flaw is also its strong point. The interviews are transcripts of the raw footage that was filmed for the documentary. Being unedited, many of the transcripts appear rambling and are often circular, revisiting topics that have already been discussed. There are also needless distractions that will presumably be streamlined in the editing of the final film. This extra random dialogue gives the reader the feeling that they are present at the recording sessions, but slows the narrative that the final documentary should have. The book also lacks the depth that the live footage of plays being rehearsed and performed will add to the dialogue.  

Christopher Seufert's color photographs generously illustrate the book providing the reader with an inside look into Edward Gorey's home and environment, both during his lifetime and after his passing. Elephant House: Or, The Home of Edward Gorey by photographer Kevin McDermott (2004 Pomegranate) also offers a visual tour of Mr. Gorey's home at the time of his passing, and it is interesting to compare and contrast the approach of both photographers as they documented the home side by side. 

 

Chit Chat

 

Strolling through the various pathways on the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust's website is always an enjoyable experience. One of the interesting areas to linger and spend some time is the Oral History area within the Gorey Voices section. Friends and colleagues have recorded reminiscences of their interactions and time spent with Edward Gorey. Settle into a comfy chair with a cup of tea on the next rainy afternoon and enjoy a little chit chat with a friend of Mr. Gorey. The interviews are cozy, casual, and informative. https://edwardgorey.org/pages/trust-gorey-voices

Auction News - Christmas in August

During one of the hottest summers on record, a cooling Christmas breeze wafted from the illustration auction at Heritage Auction House on Wednesday August 5, 2026. The original artwork for a Christmas card design by Edward Gorey was offered at auction, with a final selling price of $7500.00 (with buyer's premium).

This whimsical image was created by Edward Gorey in the 1950's and features an "Earbrass" gentleman stepping up to his stylish motor car with an armload of wrapped Christmas presents. Notable is the gentleman's fur coat and bright red mustache. Edward Gorey created many Christmas themed images over the years both in color and black and white. The ink and watercolor image is approximately 3.5" x 5.25" on a 4.5" x 8.25" sheet.

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

 

 

 

Auction News

On Thursday June 25th Nate Sanders Auctions sold a piece of original illustration art by Edward Gorey from Leaves From A Mislaid Album. Though Leaves was officially published in 1972 by The Gotham Book Mart, Mr. Gorey initially published selected images in First Person magazine in 1960. 

This wonderfully atmospheric image shows a woman swiftly moving towards the top of the stairs in a darkened house. The look on the woman's face is pensive and hesitant as if she has heard a strange noise on the floor below. 

It is interesting to compare and contrast the original artwork with the published image. Light and shadow are emphasized in this captionless drawing creating a gothic drama that the viewer must decipher. The figure is lit with an inner glow on the original, while on the printed card she appears to be less ethereal and blending into the blackness that surrounds her. 

Gorey's pen strokes on the original art convey the wispy textures of the woman's garments in fine detail. In the printed version, the fabrics become less diaphanous and see through. The blackness that surrounds the figure was achieved through pen strokes and ink washes. In the original art, the blackness is visibly three dimensional while on the card it is one tone of black which is effective but not nearly as evocative as the shifting blackness of the art.

To augment his income as a freelance illustrator Edward Gorey occasionally sold original art from the books he illustrated for other authors. Mr. Gorey decided early in his career that he would retain the original drawings from his own publications. This ensured that the original artwork could be used for optimum reproduction if a title was reprinted. Mr. Gorey did eventually sell artwork from two of his primary works including Leaves From A Mislaid Album. Art from this publication rarely comes on the market and when it does, it understandably becomes an event for collectors. This wonderful piece from Edward Gorey's early career sold for $15,115.00 (including the buyer's premium).

Images by Irwin Terry and courtesy Nate Sanders Auctions.