Elfriede Abbe

Elfriede Martha Abbe (February 6, 1919 – December 31, 2012) was an American sculptor, wood engraver, and botanical illustrator, often displaying nature and simple country living inspired by her Upstate New York home. A self-publisher, Abbe created numerous hand-printed books, which she printed on a printing press in her studio.

Elfriede Abbe
Born	Elfriede Martha Abbe February 6, 1919[1] Washington, D.C., U.S.[1]
Died	December 31, 2012(2012-12-31) (aged 93)[1] Manchester, Vermont, U.S.[1]
Nationality	American
Education	Cornell University
Known for	Sculpture Engraving Illustrator

Early life and education

Sixth Day by Abbe

Abbe was born in Washington, D.C., in 1919.^[2] She graduated from Cornell University in 1940,^[3] earning a degree in architecture, and attended Syracuse University.^[2]

Career

Her statue The Hunter was featured at the 1939 New York World's Fair in New York City.^[4]

From 1942 until her retirement in 1974, she was an illustrator at Cornell University.^[3]

After retiring from Cornell, she lived and worked in Manchester, Vermont^[5] until her death in 2012. During her retirement, she published on art and natural history, continuing to produce artwork throughout her life.

Notable awards

• Barrett-Colea Prize; National Sculpture Society
• Elliot Liskin Award; Salmagundi Club
• Gold; National Arts Club
• Gold; Pen & Brush
• Fellowship; The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation^[5]

Notable collections

• Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania^[6]
• Cornell University, Ithaca, New York^[7]
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City^[8][9][10]
• National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.^[11]
• New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx, New York City^[12]
• Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts^[13]
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut^[14]

Published works

• Abbe, Elfriede. The Plants of Virgil's Georgics: Commentary and Woodcuts By Elfriede Abbe. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1965. ISBN 0-8014-0001-5
• Abbe, Elfriede. Seven Irish Tales. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1957.^[15]
• Abbe, Elfriede. Mushrooms: Wood Engravings in Color. Elfriede Abbe, 1970.^[16]
• Abbe, Elfriede. How Prints Are Made. Manchester, Vt.: South Vermont Art Center Press, 1971.^[17]
• Abbe, Elfriede. An Introduction to Hand-made Paper. Manchester, Vt.: Southern Vermont Art Center Press, 1972.^[18]
• Abbe, Elfriede. The Fern Herbal: Including the Ferns, the Horsetails, and the Club Mosses. Ithaca: Comstock, 1981.^[19]