Charlotte Cory's woodcut Tarot
The unique Cory woodcut Tarot cards were designed and cut in wood by Charlotte Cory some 40 years ago, right back at the very start of her career. They then sat on a shelf in the corner of her studio, disregarded but not forgotten. They were, in truth, biding their time until they were printed and published as a Special Limitedition Press boxed edition in August 2024, complete with a book explaining how to use them.
A French edition is now available on request.
STOP PRESS!
Tarot readings at the Benjamin Pollocks Toyshop, Covent Garden, London, Saturday afternoon 25th January, 2025 at 3pm
Free to all Grand Visitoria toy theatre enthusiasts
“A rare chance to meet the elusive Charlotte Cory. Herself. In person!”
About Charlotte Cory’s Tarot Cards:
- Style & Aesthetic
Her tarot cards are an extension of her surreal and eccentric visual world. They often feature:- Anthropomorphic animals in Victorian attire
- Richly detailed, collage-like compositions
- A play on traditional tarot imagery filtered through a humorous, slightly uncanny lens
- Tone
- The cards are often more playful or satirical than esoteric.
- They don’t necessarily follow the Rider-Waite-Smith or Thoth systems closely, leaning more into the art-object or conceptual terrain.
- They may be seen as a creative reinterpretation or an artistic parody of traditional tarot, rather than a strictly divinatory tool.
- Usage
- Many people treat them as collector’s items or conversation pieces rather than for serious cartomancy.
- However, they can still be read playfully or intuitively, especially in artistic or storytelling contexts.
- Themes
- Victorian society and etiquette
- The absurdities of social roles and identity
- Time-travel, displacement, and the oddities of the past as refracted through the present
- Availability
- They’re often sold as limited editions or through exhibitions rather than widely published decks.
- She’s shown them in galleries or alongside her larger body of work.
Does Charlotte Cory actually do tarot readings herself?
Yes, it has been known. Charlotte Cory (in the guise of taromancer, Madame Carlotta ‘the wisest woman in Europe with her wicked pack of cards…’) does occasionally offer tarot readings, usually as part of her art exhibitions and events. These sessions are typically held in whimsical settings, such as the colourful Fortune Teller’s tent at the Art Workers’ Guild in London . Her readings are known for their imaginative and theatrical flair, reflecting her unique artistic style.For instance, on January 25, 2025, she conducted tarot readings at Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop in Covent Garden, London, an event that was free to members of her “Grand Visitoria” community . In a playful twist, she even offered miniature tarot readings for visitors’ teddy bears.
BUT these readings are not just about divination; they are immersive experiences that blend storytelling, performance, and visual art. Cory’s tarot sessions often feature her own woodcut tarot cards, which align with her Victorian-inspired, anthropomorphic aesthetic.