Happy Birthday Tom Tierney!
Children once used their imaginations to bring paper dolls to life. Tom Tierney brought paper dolls back to life by using his.
Artist Tom Tierney (October 8, 1928 — July 12, 2014) remains one of Dover’s favorites. His detailed studies of historic costume have inspired generations of costume artists and his paper dolls make for good times for children and adults. “I was that home-schooled kid raised on an eclectic curriculum that included Dover Thrift books and Tom Tierney paper dolls,” says Amy B. of Fairfield, Idaho, a Dover customer. “My sisters and I started a memorable paper doll war once, with many a girl soldier among the ranks.”
The dolls are for play, but the detail and accuracy put Tom’s work on a whole other level. One fan of Tom’s work says, “Because we home schooled when my now-adult daughters were young, the paper dolls with historical significance were of special interest. Tom Tierney was our favorite author/illustrator, and my three daughters and their friends wore out several copies of his Great Queens and Empresses paper dolls over the years.”
We do associate paper dolls with little girls, but Tierney’s paper dolls are also for adults and collectors. Royals are always fun and popular, and Tierney created William & Kate Paper Dolls to celebrate the wedding of a prince and his beloved bride. William’s mother at her most popular and beautiful is also available, complete with gown after stunning gown.
Tom’s interest in art brought him to New York, where he studied at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students League. His skill as an illustrator enabled him to have a freelance career drawing for major department stores like Macy’s and Gimbels.
But he didn’t just draw — he also performed as a nightclub singer. And you can tell the man appreciated glamor. His dolls celebrate the most famous designers of the twentieth century: Yves St. Laurent, Christian Dior and Givenchy. Tom had a special appreciation for film designer Edith Head who clothed the stars of Hollywood. Tom also appreciated the world’s royalty like Princess Diana and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. All of his work is wonderful, but those movie star glamor dolls and their clothes are the height of fashion — and Tom drew them like they knew it.
Tom created a series of “family” paper dolls. Richard and Pat Nixon and their daughters Julie and Trisha are represented (President Nixon looks positively radiant), and the Kennedys in all of their Camelot glory have a book. Tom also created generic families from different eras in American history, including a family from the 1980s. The oldest son’s Michael Jackson-inspired uniform is probably the most time-warpy of the clan’s outfits.
Tom found inspiration in those who inspire others. Need a pope paper doll? Michelle Obama? Nelson Mandela? Check, check, and check.
Melissa W. of Pittsburgh, is another life-long fan of Tom’s dolls, noting that “the ones available from other publishers were for little children. The Dover ones were well researched and beautifully drawn. They introduced me to a world of historical fashion and helped me become the seamstress I am today. Although I don’t always cut them out and play with them anymore, I still love looking through each book.”
You’re never too old for paper dolls. Thank goodness Tom Tierney felt the same way.
