Today—at precisely 4:21 am Eastern Time—the Northern Hemisphere experiences the Winter Solstice. For those of us living above the Equator, 4:21 am is the moment of the year when the Northern Hemisphere will be tilted its farthest distance from the Sun. Today we'll see the shortest amount of daylight of the year, the longest amount of night, and it will be the first day of Winter. (In the Southern Hemisphere, today will be the longest day of the year, the shortest night, and the first day of Summer.) The best news: starting tomorrow, each consecutive day's period of daylight will be increasingly longer and longer.
Since ancient times, the hearth has been an important symbol of sustenance, protection and familial affection. Especially (but not only) in cold climates, most early, rustic dwellings would be centered-around the fireplace. It was the center of cooking, light and heat for the entire household. When not sleeping, family members often would be found not far from the hearthside. Even today—even when it's not cold—people find themselves drawn to a fire pit, bonfire or barbecue grill.
West Virginia (and Ohio and Western Pennsylvania) was a center of American glass-making from the Nineteenth Century. Blenko Glass, founded in 1922, is still operating in Milton, West Virginia. William Blenko, an English immigrant to the United States, founded his first American glass company in 1893. His workshop created window panes by blowing cylinders of molten glass, cutting them open, and flattening them (in an oven). He made clear glass and colored glass (to be used in stained glass windows). His first company (and two more, after that) failed. His fourth company, Blenko (as we know it today), succeeded. During the Great Depression, when many building projects (the source of his revenue) were sidelined, Blenko broadened his product line to include decorative...
It's one week until Christmas! And the pressure is building! Have you finished everything on your checklist?
One nice gift idea—for your favorite budding-architect or engineer—is this set of Mid-Century German building blocks. The wooden blocks, nestled within their convenient storage box (with sliding cover), are printed or painted to add visual interest to the finished structure. Give the kids something without a battery! Or, perhaps, you might know an executive who could use an interesting conversation piece to fidget with on his or her desk.
In the home furnishings industry—and in the decorative arts—the term "Transitional" is a convenient "safety word" to describe a piece which has the characteristics of two (or more) consecutive schools of design. It's often true that transitional pieces were created on the cusp of two significant, distinct movements. The vase above presents a good bit of Modernism (which was en vogue at the time it was made) and a little bit of Art Deco (from its recent past). To me, it is reminiscent of a softened version of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York. Like the building, the vase's "stacked," graduated segments get larger toward the top of the vase. Wright's museum was finished in 1959, after 15 years...
Here's another jolly fellow, ready for the Christmas Countdown. His fur is faux mohair, his joints are posable, and his knitted sweater—striped red, white and blue—is heavy enough to keep him toasty warm. His woolly twill shorts give him a schoolboy look. When I opened my first shop, on Bleecker Street, I kept a 20 gallon pickle crock near the front door at Christmastime. I would fill it with dozens of teddy bears—a new one selected for each Holiday Season—starting with Thanksgiving weekend. Eventually, they would sell-out and I would spend the following year searching for the next Holiday Teddy, different and perfect. The bears proved to be the great "pick-up item"—a last minute add-on gift for a hostess or for...
It's ten days 'til Christmas! Is your Holiday bar cart ready-to-go? Southwestern Pennsylvania (as well as Ohio and West Virginia) was the locus of much American glassmaking in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. The region had all the elements necessary for the manufacture of glass: silica (the raw material), heat (provided by coal or gas), labor (much of it from Eastern European glass-producing countries), and transport for the finished goods (that is, the rivers which lace the area). Another factor helped promote glassmaking in this area: the Allegheny mountains which made East-West transport difficult (especially when porting delicate glass merchandise). Western Pennsylvania was able to produce glass for (and deliver it to) the growing Midwest (without having to lug it...
After a prolonged and warm Autumn (we used to call it "Indian Summer"), winter finally came—and it descended fast. I've already been (light) shoveling for a week. And we've had consecutive days well-below freezing. If that's not enough winter for you, perhaps these handsome pressed-glass pine trees will bring it home. Two sculpted glass trees—seemingly laden with snow—stand as a pair (one short, one tall). They are beautiful for the Holidays though they would look nice on a windowsill year 'round—catching and diffusing the light that hits them. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store...
Santa stands atop this English Christmas tree, illustrated in 1938. It is enamel-printed upon this set of six 12-ounce highball tumblers from the Eighties. The gold rim, at top, provides a bit of Holiday cheer—while also helping to protect the rims against chipping. Despite the jolly decoration, these glasses will provide a rather sophisticated addition to the Christmas dining table or bar cart.
If your taste runs to the Modern, perhaps this cast bronze menorah will strike your fancy? It holds the requisite eight candles, one for each night, plus the shamash (or "helper candle"), which stands a little higher and is used to light the others.
With less than two weeks before Hanukkah starts (the first night coincides with Christmas Day), it's time to arrange your menorah in its place of honor for the holiday.
It's two weeks until Hanukkah—the Jewish Festival of Lights.
The dates for Hanukkah follow the Hebrew Calendar—beginning on the 25th day of Kislev—and the holiday can fall anywhere from late November to late December on the Gregorian (modern day) Calendar. This year, Hanukkah will begin at sundown on Christmas Day. This coincidence occurs infrequently, most recently in 2005. Before that, Hanukkah coincided with Christmas Day in 1959, 1921, and 1910. The next time that Hanukkah will begin on Christmas Day will be in 2035.
The Hanukkah menorah, shown above, was cast in bronze in the form of a windswept cypress tree.
In his handsome red-and-white knitted ski sweater—and black velour shorts—this little teddy bear is ready for a day on the slopes. Or an evening in the ski lodge. He is made of faux mohair and his jointed limbs make him posable. Finished with felted hands and the soles of his feet. Bring him on your next ski trip. Or stay home with him and plan for the next one.
Add a little bling to your eggnog! This set of six 12-ounce highball glasses is decorated with 22 karat gold lanterns—suspended by pine garland and fancy red ribbons. A red candle burns within; "I'll be home for Christmas." They were made in the Sixties but will still give a lift to your Holiday gathering. Cheers!
Laub's Bakery was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1889 by German immigrant Jacob Laub. In time, it became the largest independent bakery in all of Ohio (with 465 employees). They ran a storefront bakery, home delivery routes, and a brisk wholesale business to other stores, restaurants and institutions.
The Sixties biscuit tin, shown above, would be used to present their Holiday cookies—and provide a blast of Christmas cheer. Like many Sixties Christmas decorations, it bears a bold, classic graphic—a reminder of a simpler. more naive Christmastime.
Today, such a biscuit tin can be used to present your own homemade Christmas treats. Or, use it to safekeep delicate ornaments, supplies of ribbon, or extra special Christmas greeting cards and photos.
This little bear is ready for the Holidays! His knitted chenille sweater—stripes of red, white, and blue—is a most-cozy costume, suitable for nearly any Holiday party. His jointed limbs make him "poseable," and he's weighted with beans to help him stay put.
These glasses take me back to my boyhood in the Sixties. I remember that the Christmas decorations were naive, simple and (frequently) two-dimensional. The annual "Magical Santa Winterland" at the shopping center was a maze of jig-cut, painted plywood: elves, trees, beribboned gift boxes. We kids wound our way through the line, anticipating our turn for a few moments on Santa's lap. The littlest kids might be crying in their parents' arms. We older kids were brave, informed by years of experience.
At some point, perhaps it was in the Eighties, "luxurious dimension" took-over. Suddenly, all those painted plywood creche characters—staked into the ground, lighted with a clamp-on work light—began to look a little dated.
Black Friday is behind us—and we're in the thick of the Holiday Season. Look who's come to visit us! These winsome owls—a flock of owls is called a "parliament"—are handcrafted from gourds. And each owl expresses his own personality. Sleepy. Satiated. Startled. The gourds are harvested, dried, painted, flame-scorched, and carved.
We end our short parade (three days) of Christmas garland—just acquired at LEO Design—with this fancy offering from the Thirties or Forties. Silvery mercury glass beads are punctuated with "spacers," larger beads with colored, concave depressions which catch the light and provide visual interest. Blown like larger glass ornaments, these beads emerge from their moulds as a long "rod" of connected beads. Once cooled, silvered and colored, the beads can be cut apart and strung as you see them now. Hang this five-foot-long garland on your tree, wrap them on a wreath, or swag them in open archways.
LEO Design has recently acquired a collection of vintage mercury glass bead Christmas garland. We (currently) have five 8-foot lengths of the simple, silvery version, shown above (now offered for sale on the LEO Design website). Of course, such beads can be hung on the branches of a Christmas tree. But they also look good swagged tastefully in doorways or interior archways. The garland can also be wrapped around the circular body of a Holiday wreath or laid within the pine branches atop a fireplace mantel. Click on the photo above to learn more about these understatedly-festive garlands. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store...
Like their larger siblings, full-sized holiday glass ornaments, these mercury glass beads are mouth-blown into a mould, filled with metallic "silvering," and painted or colored to suit the designer's plan. The little beads are blown in a rod—comprising many connected "cells." After cooling, silvering (and, maybe coloring), the rods are cut-apart into individual beads. Finally, they are strung together.
Shown above, an eight foot string of mercury glass beads. The (large) pea-sized silver beads are punctuated with conical "spacers" colored pink, red, green and blue.
Welcome, December, and your birthstone, the Turquoise. The sublime blue-green stone has been mined and used decoratively for thousands of years although the modern(ish) name “Turquoise” dates-back only to the 1600’s—from the French word “Turques” (after the “Turks” who first brought the stone to Europe from Persia). Some of the oldest turquoise mining occurred in Persia where the domes of palaces were clad in the beautiful mineral symbolizing “Heaven on Earth.” Turquoise was also found in the Southwest Sinai Peninsula (c. 3,000 BC) where the Egyptians mined and used it—quite famously on the golden mask of King Tutankhamen. In the New World, turquoise has been mined (and used) by the Aztecs in Mexico and Indigenous Americans in the Southwest. Turquoise was considered...
Back in the day, this might have been the perfect gift for Dad—along with soap-on-a-rope, socks, English Leather cologne or Old Spice aftershave. The jolly gift packaging—decorated with a Happy Santa—contains six smaller boxes of "Tipperary Smoking Mixture" (contents long-since consumed). But the nice graphics and Christmas sentiment make it a nice collectable for those who like old packaging, period advertising, or smoking memorabilia.
Black Friday—that day when (purportedly) a merchant's profits ledger magically will change from "red ink losses" to "black ink gains." I have been in retail all my adult life (and quite a bit of my adolescent life, as well). I don't think that the Black Friday theory is absolute or universal. Each merchant experiences a different pattern (which sometimes changes from year-to-year). No shopkeeper can lose money for eleven months, hoping that one month's profits will cover that loss. That said, Black Friday is (and always will be) an important date on a retailer's calendar. It marks the official start of the busiest season of the year, the turning-point where preparation becomes actualization.
I have spent my adult life as a merchant. Thanksgiving has always been a milestone day in my professional calendar. Despite the busy-ness of the season—the preparation and the crazy days to come—I love this quiet day to rest and reflect on everything for which I am grateful: my friends and family, my health, my customers and my faith.
Shown above, a cast pewter heart. It's a sculpture, a paperweight, a loving memento.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. And I hope that we might "cross paths" between now and Christmas!
Before radio and television and Netflix, people had to leave their homes to find great entertainment. Theaters, music halls and opera houses provided much amusement—and gave the fashionable set a place to see-and-be-seen. A common accessory in Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century auditoriums was a handsome pair of opera glasses. Most opera glasses were fairly low-powered; 3x magnification was recommended. Most theatres were not too big. And the subject to be scrutinized was never too far away. Furthermore, over-powered opera glasses would provide too much "shake"—not to mention the nausea of seeing the world spin before one's eyes.
From the Art Nouveau period—probably crafted between 1905 and 1910—comes this handsome (and remarkably well-preserved) leather purse. The front panel is embossed with a stylized botanical graphic. The pieces are whip-stitched. The interior is lined in green suede. And the brass hardware is hammered for a classic Arts & Crafts effect. Picture it swinging from the hand in a Gazette du Bon Ton fashion plate from the early Twentieth Century.
Time to pull-out my decorations! It's one month before Christmas! I love vintage glass Christmas beads—and I can attest that my customers do, too (as I have no problem selling them.) At home, however, I don't use my beads on my Christmas tree. I prefer to hang them—drape them in parabolic swags—in the archways between rooms. They add a small touch of holiday color and sparkle against the dark oak trim—and give me an excuse to dust the "trim ledge" once a year. This set of multi-color garland is strung with "double beads." Beads such as these would have been blown in a mould—a long "stick" of beads two or three feet long. Once the "stick of beads" has cooled and...
It was such a different time—back in the 1930's—when the postal system represented the cutting edge of quick and efficient document transmission. There were no fax machines. No Federal Express. And the internet was still decades (and decades) from introduction. "The mails" was the fastest system—and postage stamps were the coin of the realm. Everyone (at least anyone who sent mail) kept a ready supply of postage stamps at hand—in various denominations, in order to cover the weight of the envelope or parcel one was sending. Stamps might be kept in a special container, like the handsome English Art Deco stamp box shown above. When this stamp box was first in-use, in the Thirties, a US postage stamp cost 3¢. It remained...
Not so long from now, we'll be hearing all about "Silver Bells." But before we reach that point—and while it's still warmish—let's look at a "Verdi Bell," now in-stock at LEO Design.
In this case, Verdi does not refer to the Italian Maestro, Giuseppe—composer of opera masterpieces Aida, Otello, La traviata (and more). Rather, in this case, we refer to "verdigris"—the naturally occurring greenish-bluish-greyish patina which develops on bronze, brass and copper. According to one theory, the name Verdigris is derived from the Old French Verte Grez (Green-Grey). Modern French calls it vert-de-gris ("green-of-grey").
Britain received its first land grant in India in 1640. From that point, and through the Eighteenth Century, England became increasingly powerful in the subcontinent, mostly through trade transacted (and warfare waged) by the British East India Company. In 1858, England took direct control of the Indian government, ruling the country (called the "British Raj") until they were kicked-out in 1947. Until then, Victorians referred to India as "The Jewel in the Crown." The legacy of British colonialism in India is (and will be long) analyzed and debated. And verdicts may switch back-and-forth as the decades unfold. But, when we consider art and aesthetics, the effect of Anglo-Indian artistic cross-pollination has left a wake of beautiful works: art, architecture, and decorative...
Before the Holidays arrive—and sweep us away—we have a few days remaining to activate those long-planned organizational systems, simple or complex as they may be. Having "just the right place" to keep important items can save us time and annoyance (when we most need to be operating efficiently). For me, having my keys and wallet stashed in their proper place makes for a less dramatic morning—when I'm scrambling to get-out-the-door on-time.
This heavy brass "pocket caddy" is the perfect place to keep those pocketable items, perhaps near the door (where they can always be located). This caddy can also be used at bedside—to keep-tidy one's watch, cufflinks, coins, rings or collar stays.
Greetings and gratitude to the fine men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. Your fight for Democracy, the Constitution and the Rule-of-Law—whether at home or abroad—is invaluable. Long may we endeavor to preserve (and deserve) them.
Shown here, a pair of "Army-Navy" booster pins from the Forties—with ribbons and football charms attached. Rah-Rah-Rah!
As Auntie Mame (and Jerry Herman) reminds us, "We Need a Little Christmas!" I can't think of a better time for a small measure of cheer than "right this very minute!" Shown here, a set of eight Modernist high ball tumblers—perfect for iced tea, lemonade, or a Tom Collins—frosted and graced with leaping horses in white and 22 karat gold.
Will it ever end? Yes! Today is that day! (Which does not preclude one of the candidates from dragging-us-into a nasty, protracted Phase Two.) But today is the day we've been awaiting!
This set of four highball tumblers, made in the Fifties, shows a feisty Pennsylvania Donkey kicking-up his heals—"Rarin' to Go!" Was the glassmaker even thinking—75 years ago—that Pennsylvania would be a continuing lynchpin in 21st Century national politics? (Make that "world politics.") Click on the photo above to learn more about this most-novel set of (timely) glasses.
I need not remind you, dear LEO Design customers, that every vote is important. Please vote!
In 1827, George Ballentine—a Scottish farmer's son—opened a small shop in Edinburgh to sell fine scotch whiskeys to urban connoisseurs. In 1865, George placed his eldest son, Archibald, in charge of the Edinburgh shop. Meanwhile, George opened another (larger) store, in Glasgow, with his second son, George, Jr. In Glasgow, Ballentine began "blending" whiskey—sometimes using as many as 50 different single malt whiskeys.
In Scotland, any scotch whiskey must be aged for at least three years (or the "youngest" component of a blend must be at least three years old). The longer a whiskey is aged, the more expensive it will be.
Last night we (should have) turned-back our clocks.
Despite the popular contempt for changing-the-clocks, I kind of like the adjustment. Growing-up in Hawaii, we didn't have seasonal time changes—such was the benefit of living at a southern latitude. But, "on the mainland," I find that the earlier evenings are befitting of the Fall—and my innate desire to hibernate. I certainly don't mind the extra hour of sleep, on the night we "Fall Back." And, for those who complain that it now gets dark "so darned early," I remind them that this—Autumnal—time zone is the real, unadulterated, Standard clock setting. This is the time it is supposed to get dark!
For Christians, today, 2 November, is celebrated as All Souls' Day—the day when "all the faithful departed" are commemorated and prayed for. Yesterday, on All Saints' Day (1 November), all the saints were remembered, honored and celebrated. All Souls' Day is the third and final day of the Allhallowtide triduum. In Mexico, All Souls' Day takes on a specific and festive demeanor, known as Dia de los Muertos, "The Day of the Dead." Prayer and remembrance are blended with joyful celebration and ghoulish merriment. The bookends, shown above, show a bas relief monk-scribe, bent over his Illuminated Manuscript. He is centered within a handsome "proscenium archway" decorated with rich, scrolling botanical elements and a pair of dolphins at the top....
Today we welcome November—and her birthstone, the Citrine.
The Citrine is a pale yellow variety of quartz. Its sunny color is thanks to the iron content within the chemical structure of the gemstone. And Citrine's sunniness was not lost on Greeks—who first used the stone around 300 BC—who believed that the gemstone could help alleviate depression. At the time, Citrine was very rare, thus expensive, opulent and luxurious. As larger deposits were later discovered and mined (notably in Brazil), the gemstone became more common and fell within reach of more and more admirers.
Tonight is All Hallows' Eve—more popularly called Hallowe'en—the first day of the Allhallowtide "triduum." Allhallowtide consists of three days: Hallowe'en, All Hallows' Day (also called All Saints' Day) and All Souls' Day. Essentially, Hallowe'en is the vigil, the night before the Holy Day of All Saints' Day (1 November). On All Saints' Day, all the saints are commemorated—both those whom we can name and those we do not know. 2 November is All Souls' Day—the day when all the faithful departed are commemorated. Since the early days of the Christian Church, various locales celebrated varying days for the commemoration of Christian martyrs. Later, this celebration was broadened to honor all the saints (martyred or not). In the Seventh Century, this celebration was expanded throughout...
Snuff is the fine powder of pulverized tobacco leaves. The leaves are "cured," that is, aged and fermented—possibly for weeks or months. Sometimes flavors or fragrances are added to the tobacco. Europeans first encountered snuff in the Americas and took it back to England and Europe where it quickly became very popular. Tobacco was first grown in the Americas and snuff is believed to have been used by indigenous peoples well before the year 1000 BC. By the time the White man arrived in the New World, tobacco (and snuff) use had spread through much of South, Central and North America—as well as to the Caribbean. It is believed that snuff use had traveled to Africa even before the Atlantic Slave Trade.
One week to go! Election Day! Will we see Happy Days? Oh my. Why don't we avoid the topic? Let us look the other way! In 1903, Julius Chein opened his modest, new business in a New York City loft—initially making printed metal toys to be included as the "prize" in a box of Cracker Jack. His focus was lithographed tin, though, for the first four years of business, Chein had to outsource his metal printing. Business succeeded and, by 1907, Chein could afford to open his own metal printing plant in Harrison, New Jersey. J. Chein & Company made all manner of toys and novelties of lithographed metal: piggybanks, tambourines, rattles, & other noisemakers, scale trucks & automobiles, wind-up toys...
A Troika is a grouping of three powers, working together to achieve a mission. Its original meaning was a trio of horses—harnessed together, three abreast—to pull a Russian sled or carriage. Since then, the term has evolved to include the collaboration of three forces allied towards a common goal, usually in the political, military or business worlds. In recent times, we might think of the political-military troika of Russia, Iran and North Korea. Or, in Europe, the financial troika of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In America, billionaire media owners pull in the same direction to achieve political and/or financial benefits: Musk, Bezos, Murdoch (though they probably would deny collaborating).
But let's get-back to the horses!
Nathaniel Currier was born in Roxbury, a neighborhood of Greater Boston, in 1813. When he was eight years old, his father died, leaving him (and his 11 year old brother) to support his mother and two younger siblings. After several odd jobs, he found himself as an apprentice to a printmaker—and the trajectory of his life was determined. In 1835, at 22 years of age, Currier established his own print studio in New York City. His aim was to create "cheap and popular prints" for the American public. And he succeeded wonderfully. One of his earliest prints (in his very first year) depicted the ruins of The Merchant Exchange after a fire had swept-through downtown New York City. It sold...
Arts & Crafts period designers—wherever in the world they may have worked—often looked-back to their country's (or culture's) past for design inspiration: history, literature, folklore, ancient craft. Their efforts to "revive" familiar aesthetic elements or symbols of the past were part of the movement's attempt to channel "the good old days"—to recreate those better times when life was quieter, simpler, purer.
The Gothic Aesthetic was frequently used as a "historic touch-back" in American and European Arts & Crafts design. Its rustic, hand-wrought and wonderfully-antiquated sensibility helped lend a feeling of warm archaism to the newly-rendered object. And most Turn-of-the-Century Westerners were somewhat familiar with the Gothic Style (or the Gothic Revival from the Nineteenth Century).
It's a mere two months—just 61 days—'til Christmas! And, here to provide support and cheer, is Santa Claus, featured on a pair of holiday pins from the 1930's or 1940's. The pins were part of a campaign for the National Tuberculosis Association, founded in 1904. In 1907, the Association launched the Christmas Seals fundraising drive—with the modest goal of saving a troubled TB sanatorium in Delaware. The Christmas Seals campaign was very successful; it continues to this day. Tuberculosis is a serious and deadly disease. It is caused by a bacteria which infects the lungs, spread through coughing, sneezing or breathing infected air in tight quarters. In the Nineteenth Century, it is estimated that 25% of deaths in Europe was...
When I found this charming baby bird, I just couldn't resist. I suppose his plump body, big eyes and open mouth are his evolutionary insurance that his parents will continue to feed and protect him—until such time he can provide those functions for himself. Could this be why we find baby creatures adorable? So that we will continue to nurture them through those vulnerable years? This little Japanese bird—is it meant to hold matches, cigarettes or toothpicks?—is cast in bronze and finished with a light verdigris patina. Need I add that he is well-sculpted? Clearly the artist knew exactly how to appeal to that ancient animal impulse (in most of us) to care for those cute and cuddly creatures—be they...
Lacquering is a surface treatment of wood (or sometimes metal) which originated in Ancient China. The sap of certain plants was heated and applied in layers; as it cooled, it built-up into a durable, waterproof and very beautiful finish. The original process, sometimes referred to as "True Lacquering," used the sap of the Toxicodendron Vernicifluum, called the "Lacquer Tree," a plant which grows in Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. Over the centuries, artisans have developed alternative recipes and processes for achieving the desired lacquered finish. Lacquering can be polished to a high gloss, left flat, or calibrated somewhere in-between. Sometimes the lacquerware is further embellished with painting, inlaying of mother-of-pearl, or the application of other costly substances.
Today is the First Day of Autumn. More specifically, it is the Autumnal Equinox. "Equinox" means "Equal Night." During an Equinox, the night and day are (roughly) of equal length. As we all know, the Earth rotates upon a central axis which tilts toward and away from the Sun (with the seasons). On the Equinox, the Earth's axis is perfectly aligned with the Sun—which places the Sun directly over the Equator. Today's Equinox (at precisely 8:43 am) marks the start of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, each day's length of sunlight has been getting shorter since the Summer Solstice of June 20th. Now, after the Autumnal Equinox, each day will...
"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon;
to me, those have always been the two
most beautiful words in the English language."
- Henry James
Yes, summer afternoons can be wonderful. Yet, alas, all good things must come to an end—including summer afternoons. Today, Saturday 21 September, will be our final summer afternoon until next year. Autumn will begin tomorrow morning.
Perhaps the two-handled vase, shown above, will serve as a reminder of endless, late-Summer afternoons. Though it was made in Mid-Century Germany, after World War Two, it clearly was inspired by Country French or Italian ceramics—perhaps a vase from Provence or Tuscany.
On this night in 1966, the brand new Metropolitan Opera House officially opened in Manhattan's Lincoln Center. It was the high-tech, cutting-edge performance venue of its day—the centerpiece of a sparkling, 25 acre performing arts venue which had once been cluttered with decaying tenements (portrayed in the 2021 film West Side Story). The house seated 3,850 audience members and it replaced the earlier (1883) Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 39th Street. (That theatre was so under-equipped that stage hands had to pull scenery off-stage and store it on 39th Street.) The opening night performance was Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra—making its world premiere. Master of spectacle, Franco Zeffirelli, was tasked with creating the opening night extravaganza. And, boy, did he...
Don't look now! St. Valentine's Day is a short five months away!
First we need to get-through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
The cast pewter heart, shown above, was hand-crafted in California. It would make a lovely token of your affection on Valentine's Day (or Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's).
In the West, Friday the Thirteenth is perceived as an unlucky day. It seems that this idea became widely popular in Nineteenth Century France. The earliest written reference to unlucky Friday the Thirteenth is a line in the 1834 play, Les Finesses des Gribouilles: "I was born on a Friday, December 13th 1813, from which come all of my misfortunes." That same year, the Marquis de Salvo wrote in the Revue de Paris about a Sicilian count who had killed his daughter on a Friday the Thirteenth. "It is always Fridays and the number Thirteen which bring bad luck." In America, it was T. W. Lawson's book, Friday, the Thirteenth (1907), which popularized the superstition on this side of the...
I remember the day so well. I had grabbed my gym bag, kissed my spouse, and was heading-out-the-door. Off to the gym, then to my store on Bleecker Street. And, oh! It was Election Day! I needed to go to the polls first. An announcement on the radio: "WNYC has just received reports of an explosion of some kind at the World Trade Center. Stay tuned for more information." Instead of taking the elevator down to the street, I took the elevator up to the roof. The building's Super, Manny, was the only person up there. He was hosing down the roof deck. It was a beautiful, crystal-clear day. New York days did not get better than this. We looked...
Art Nouveau designers—from all parts of the world—would often "reach-back" in their local history to find aesthetic themes for their contemporary, Turn-of-the-Century works. Artists would mine literary, cultural, historic or ancient aesthetic motifs, reviving them for an audience which probably would recognize them. For example, English Arts & Crafts artisans might lift characters, scenes or verbiage from Medieval literature (like The Knights of the Round Table). In America, Arts & Crafts artists might utilize ancient Native American symbology. In Germany, a Gothic sensibility permeated much of their Jugendstil design. The hammered steel cigar casket, shown above, has the rustic sensibility of hand-wrought Gothic design. Nine round, shield-form "bosses" are hammered and affixed with metal riveting. They provide the fortified appearance...
Notorious curmudgeon, W. C. Fields, advised actors to "Never share the stage with animals or children." They are just too darn cute!
That's true for this pair of cast iron bookends, made in the Twenties or Thirties. A pair of watchful terrier puppies—simultaneously slouchy and attentive—are ready to hold-up your books or decorate your mantelpiece. The bookends are heavy. However, they do not have traditional "flat backs" which most bookends do. So these bookends are most effectively used holding-up thick and heavy, hardback tomes—which don't lean much, they just need to be kept upright.
Promotional, "advertising" items have long been used by businesses seeking to promote sales for their companies or brands. These items, usually given to a customer (or a potential customer), could take one of many different forms. Sometimes the item might be a miniature version of the manufacturer's regular item—think of an anvil salesman leaving a miniature cast iron anvil paperweight (complete with the maker's brand name and contact info). A promotional item could be something useful: a calendar, a letter rack, a coin tray, a wall clock, or a paperweight. Or the promotional item could be an outright advertisement—like a product sign to be mounted on a display case or a brand logo to be hung on the wall.
When Europeans first started trading with the East—China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia—a whole new world of design and style was revealed to Westerners. Asian artisans created masterful works—ceramics, lacquerware, textile weaving, printmaking—which enchanted the Europeans. These items, when imported to the West, were very expensive. Asian decorative arts became a status symbol of the rich and worldly. Only the wealthiest Europeans and Americans could afford to collect the real thing. But the desire for "Oriental" design permeated more than just the upper reaches of Western society. Consumers in the growing Middle Class (especially in the Nineteenth Century) wanted "a taste of the exotic East" in their homes, too. This broad demand led Western designers and craftsmen to try to emulate...
Blenko Glass, still operating in Milton, West Virginia, has an interesting—though quite fraught—history. The company was founded by Englishman William Blenko in 1893. He was born in London in 1853 and had worked in the glass industry there. At age 40, he moved to the United States where he opened (in Kokomo, Indiana) America's first factory to produce sheet glass for stained glass windows. That endeavor lasted ten years until an economic downturn forced Blenko to return to England. Six years later, Blenko was back in America and opened another factory, this time in Point Marion, Pennsylvania (which quickly failed), followed by another one in Clarksburg, West Virginia (which also closed quickly). Not one to give-up, William Blenko opened another factory...
Korea has a long history of artistic handcrafted bronze ware—both for decorative and for practical (food service) uses. Shown above, a decorative bronze charger made in South Korea in the Fifties. It was probably brought-back to the States by an American serviceman who had been stationed in Korea.
The wide-rimmed charger is decorated with a highly-detailed bas relief wildlife scene. A pike leaps vigorously from the waters. Lilly pads, river grasses and a riverbank landscape can be seen behind him. It is all captured in tremendous detail. And, yet, the dynamic fish is the clear focus of the composition.
Amongst the finest—and most prestigious—of glassmakers in the world stands Baccarat. The company was founded in 1764 in Baccarat, France (about 250 miles east of Paris). The Bishop of Metz sought a new business for the village—hopefully one which could use the large supply of firewood produced in the diocese. He appealed to King Louis XV who authorized the glassworks. The company's initial production was fairly pedestrian: window panes and tableware. But, in 1817, the company developed an improved crystal formula (using nickel oxide) and from this point Baccarat Crystal narrowed its focus to the finest, high-end merchandise. Maharajahs, Tsars, Napoleon III and The Japanese Imperial Court commissioned pieces. Other customers included Coco Chanel, Prince Rainier & Princess Grace of Monaco, Josephine...
Happy Labor Day to the talented workers who—with the talent of their hands and the sweat of their brows—make our lives better and more beautiful. May they always be cherished and rewarded.
Shown above, a Danish Modernist stoneware tile—with deep bas relief sculpting—which portrays a blacksmith, hard at work at a hot forge. It was sculpted by Karl Otto Johansen for Danish ceramics workshop Bing & Grøndahl. It could be installed permanently within a larger tiling project or it can hang on the wall—all by itself—using the hanging grommet on the back of the tile.
From our earliest days, we’ve been mesmerized by the sapphire—birthstone for the month of September. It is amongst the hardest of gemstones and also amongst the most-expensive. And, some might argue, sapphires are the most beautiful.
Sapphires belong to the corundum family which includes rubies. In fact, sapphires and rubies are the same stone; sapphires contain iron and titanium impurities while rubies contain chromium impurities. Both types of corundum often are found in the same areas, though one of the varieties will predominate. Sapphires are found and mined in Africa, Russia, Australia, and parts of Asia (most notably, India). In the United States, sapphires are found in Montana.
The Ottoman Empire was founded in 1299 AD by the Emperor Osman I (who lived approximately 1254 - 1323 AD). The name "Ottoman" is an anglicization of "Osman" (which may have been the Arabic variant of his Turkish name, "Ataman"). Little is known about him; in fact, it took a couple of centuries for historians to begin recording his story. As a result, it has been difficult to distinguish myth from true history. Nevertheless, he founded the monarchy which expanded aggressively with his descendants—eventually conquering the Byzantine Christians in 1453 and taking Constantinople. Constantinople, which had been center of the Latin-Christian world from the Fourth Century, was renamed Istanbul. The Ottoman Empire remained the political and economic bridge between Europe and the Middle...
The older I get (!!!), the more I appreciate having magnifying glasses here-and-there—lying in strategic spots, all around the house. I have one in the kitchen for reading the criminally-small cooking instructions on food packaging. There's one in the TV room for ascertaining the running time on a DVD movie box. I have a few of them in my work space—where I am forever researching antique makers' marks. And a good, strapping magnifying glass is always helpful in the tool drawer, for when one is called-upon to read the finely-raised (white-on-white) instructions inside a smoke detector or the etched serial number on the bottom of a toaster.
The magnifying glass, shown above, was made for one's more-refined tasks.
At LEO Design, we love our LEOs—including this handsome beast from the Twenties or Thirties. Lions are portrayed in many different manners. This guy seems to have been sculpted with an Early Twentieth Century "Circus Lion" demeanor—like one might have seen on a circus poster between the wars. His foreshortened paw reaches-out; his other paw rests upon a Cubist boulder. As we love lions, I have had this particular fellow—actually, a pair of cast iron bookends—in-stock in the past. At the moment, we also have in-stock a similar pair with their original gold finish option. This pair of bookends have an age-darkened bronze finish. The lively sculpting, the fierce energy, and the rich bronze patina make for a handsome addition to...
In keeping with our Modernist barware theme (see yesterday's journal entry), here is another intriguing piece—from post-war Modernist Japan. A hand-cut glass shaker with chromed lid is joined by six barware implements—all smartly-arranged upon a wood and chrome caddy.
The utensils include a graduated "scoop-form" jigger, an olive pick, a mixing paddle, ice tongs, strainer and bottle/can opener. All the pieces have wooden handles or accents.
The entire set hangs (or sits) upon this handsome wood and chrome caddy—ready for smart service at a moment's notice.
Sadly, wars have a way of changing everything. Families, economies, and socio-cultural practices all can be upended by the winds of war. These conflicts often provide demarcation between the era that came before and the era that follows. Even art and design, frivolous as they may seem, are subject to this cycle of revision, renewal and reinvention.
With the onset of World War One, the Victorian and Art Nouveau periods ground to an end. After The Great War, people were ready for something new, fresh and modern. Enter Art Deco—with its aerodynamic, forward-looking, and mechanized aesthetic.
In England and her Commonwealth Countries, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. This was the traditional holiday for servants—when they would receive their "boxes" from their employers and could celebrate the day off with their families and friends. After all, servants were expected to serve their employers on Christmas Day. It wasn't a holiday for them; if fact, Christmas entertaining probably made the day extra difficult. Boxing Day will be here four months from today.
In honor of Boxing Day, we'd like to share this attractive—though well-worn—candy tin from the Twenties.
Four months 'til Christmas! Perish the thought or embrace the lead time! Decorating for the season is a big part of the preparation. Perhaps these antique mercury glass colored beads will help decorate your tree, the bannister, a doorway, or the wreath that hangs upon the door. Each bead is actually a "double." Two globes, each the size of a large pea, are blown as one. (Actually, a whole, longer "rod" of such beads were formed together—a hot glass rod, blown into a metal mould—then cut into double-bead portions.) They will add a splash of old-fashioned color to your home—during the bleak of winter—just in time for the holidays.
These days, it seems, there is no shortage of people shooting dozens of "selfies" day after day. We have the mobile phone camera to thank for this—and the fact that it costs nothing to take yet another photograph. A century ago, well before the invention of digital photography, expensive and delicate rolls of film needed to be purchased and later developed into paper photographs. Photography was a costly exercise. A century before that (circa 1822), photography was a brand new technology, thanks to pioneering photo-inventor Joseph Niépce of France. For the next several decades, photographic processes improved, though sitters still needed to engage a professional (usually in a studio or other establishment) to have their portrait recorded. For this reason, people in the Mid-Nineteenth...
Shakespeare never fails to amaze me. And I love collecting bookends which honor this greatest of writers. For no other human has influenced English writing more than he has: on theatre, on character, on the language we use today. Lonely. Generous. Addiction. These are words, invented by Shakespeare, which we use every day—if not every few hours. You'll find a longer list of his words and phrases below. We are not certain of Shakespeare's precise date of birth. We know that he was baptized on 26 April 1564. Traditionally, 23 April has been celebrated as his birthday. We do know that he died on the same day—23 April—in 1616. The Bard wrote 39 plays and many dozens of sonnets and poems....
Tonight is the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. We are marking the event by showing some of our favorite donkeys, now in-stock at LEO Design.
Shown here, a set of four tumblers from the Fifties. A feisty Pennsylvania donkey, bucking and kicking, is "Rarin' to Go!" Every year, it seems, Pennsylvania Dems are called upon to (try to) push Pennsylvania over the line. Sometimes we get the job done, sometimes we don't. Could glasses like these help your favorite Pennsylvania Dem "buck-up" and rally?
In honor of this week's Democratic National Convention—and the parade of feisty Democrats crossing the convention's stage—we are showing a few of our own favorite donkeys, now in-stock at LEO Design. (If your tastes lean towards elephants, click "continue reading" then please click here.)
This fella, a 1950's wooden toy, is composed of articulated limbs, ears and tail. He is painted in red and black—with a watchful eye and a yellow mouth.
I stayed-up way too late last night, watching the first night of the Democratic National Convention. And so it begins. Why am I exhausted already? (In truth, I've been exhausted for eight years.) Perhaps things are more convenient when they are in one's own time zone.
To the rescue! This little bronze donkey can help us get through the next 76 days—and the possibly-contested days to follow. On the bottom of each little hoof you'll find the letters K, I, C & K. He's a Kick Ass kind of guy.
And if, perchance, elephants are more your thing, click here to see something you might prefer.
211 days until Saint Paddy's Day! Thus, what better time to share this handsome Irish ceramic bowl, made in the Sixties. Modernist, indeed, but decorated with fascinatingly ancient (and timeless) Irish Celtic knots. This bowl was made by Wade (an English ceramics company) in its Irish workshop which opened in 1946 (in Ulster, Northern Ireland). The designer was James Borsey (1920-1977). The line, called "Celtic Kells," was comprised of six different pieces and was inspired by decoration in the illuminated manuscript, The Book of Kells (c. 800), which can now be seen in the Trinity College Library, Dublin. This line was made in very limited production runs—and only for a couple of years in the Sixties. Much of the production was...
Autumn will be here in a little over a month—time to start tidying-up for the Winter. In times past, before homes had summertime air conditioning, the semi-annual ritual of swapping window screens for storm windows (and vice versa) was part of the seasonal cycle. But which custom-fitted screen (or storm window) went into which window frame? Brass tacks—like the set shown above—came to the rescue. Each set of tacks was numbered (in this case, 1 through 15). The homeowner would press a numbered tack (let's say #7) into his window frame, a matching tack (another #7) into the the corresponding window screen frame, and a third matching tack (#7) into the proper storm window. This way, screens and storm windows are...
Yesterday we shared some newly-acquired glasses. Here is a sister set—every bit as beautiful, though in a different way. In truth, I prefer this smaller, flared shape (perfect for wine). This little sister, however, only has six glasses (compared to her sibling with ten + one). But the hand-cutting is superb and the finishing terrific. And the all-important "handfeel" is really nice.
I cannot keep myself from buying nice drinking glasses whenever I come across a handsome set. But there are several varying (and competing) factors which must be weighed and compared during my purchase decision. The most important criteria: the shape of the glass (tumblers, please), the quality of the glass (nicely finished), and the "handfeel" (which is hard to define in words). Of secondary importance is the cutting or applied decoration, if any (not too frilly, please; Greek key fretwork is ideal; no applied decoration is fine). Another important factor: how many glasses comprise the set? Two or three glasses? Never. Four glasses? Everything else needs to be perfect. Six glasses? Acceptable. Eight glasses? Now we're talking! Ten...
On this day in 1057, King Macbeth of Scotland was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan. Macbeth, himself, had taken the throne in 1040, when his forces killed King Duncan I (who was attempting to invade Macbeth's northern territory). Upon Macbeth's death, his supporters immediately elevated Macbeth's stepson, Lulach. But Lulach was not long for the throne; he was a weak king and would soon be assassinated by his successor, Malcolm III (son of Duncan I, the king who had been killed by Macbeth). Macbeth (Macbethad mac Findláech) ruled during a period of Scottish history known as The Kingdom of Alba (900-1286 AD). This era ended when England's King Edward I, seized power. Macbeth was called "The Red King," due to...
On this day in 1040 AD, Macbeth's army killed Scots King Duncan I. Macbeth held the Scottish throne for the next 17 years.
Duncan—known in Scots Celtic as Donnchadh mac Crìonain—is represented in Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth (1606), as an older man. In fact, King Duncan (1001-1040) was crowned at 33 and died at the tender age of 39. He did have at least two sons, both of whom also appear in the play: Máel Coluim Mac Donnchadh (Malcolm) and Domnall Bán (Donalbain). Macbeth was cousin to King Duncan and a duke, as well.
Hawaiian musical legend, Don Ho, was born on this day in 1930. He is best known for his signature song, Tiny Bubbles, written by Leon Pober in 1966. The song was originally written for Lawrence Welk who turned it down. Ho recorded it and it spent a bit of time on the 1967 pop charts: #54 on the Billboard Pop roster and #14 on the Easy Listening charts. After it became a hit, other artists covered it—and even Lawrence Welk performed it on his television show several times. Don Ho was born in Honolulu (as I was), though his family moved to Kaneohe—on the Windward side of the island of Oahu (as my family did). After a period of service...
On this day in 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer obtained a patent for improvements he created to the sewing machine. Though he did not invent the original sewing machine, his design changes made the machines smaller, more reliable, easier to use, and easier to manufacture. He emulated the mass-production examples of gun makers (like Samuel Colt and Eli Whitney) with their modern production lines and reliance upon interchangeable parts. Prior to this, sewing machines were big, bulky, complicated industrial machines—better suited to cobblers, harness makers and other industrial settings. Singer's smaller, reliable machines could be used in the home. And they were affordable. His mass-production drove-down the price of a new sewing machine from $100 to $10 (equivalent to about $400...
Let's end this week's homage to the "Cat Ladies" with a wistful tribute to the kitty who graced our garden for about a year. Last year, this handsome feline started visiting us, often waiting for us outside our back door. He lived under a yew bush in the protected, fenced corner of our yard. I built him a little cat house (for the bitter winter). While I never saw him go inside his little A-frame, I often saw him leaning-up against it—warming himself in the sun. Twice a day—in the morning and at twilight—we'd find him waiting for us, in our back "courtyard," expecting delivery of his cat food. We fed him on our back porch, though he remained skittish, never approaching his food...
This week, we're sharing some of our favorite felines—a tribute to "the cat ladies" who inspire, teach and lead us. Surely this is an authentic cat lady—complete with her kitten, sitting upon her shoulder, snuggling in the crook of her neck. Such hand-carved wooden sculptures are often called Blackforest Carvings, whether or not they are strictly from that specific Bavarian region of Southern Germany. Many carvings of this type were also made in Switzerland or Alpine (Northern) Italy. It seems that mountainous regions, the world over, lend themselves to artistic woodcarving. For one, there are always plenty of trees. Secondly, mountain farmers (or herders) may find themselves forced-indoors during the harshness of winter—giving them plenty of time to create seasonal crafts (and not just...
There is a fine line between a feline's sense of play and her instinct to hunt. Cats—of every size, shape and variety—are known to be stone-cold killers. For this reason, keepers of house cats are strongly encouraged to keep their charges indoors all the time (for the sake of the billions of birds killed by American cats each year). When playing with a cat—with a laser pointer, a string, a paper bag or a retractable mouse—it is clear that her skill as a huntress is tied to her sense of play. Is your cat trying to "kill" her catnip mouse? Or is she only playing with the lizard in the backyard? (And why does she so often drop her "trophy" at...
This week, we're sharing some of our favorite felines—a tribute to "the cat ladies" who inspire, teach and lead us. A cat's arched back. Is it a hiss, a stretch, or an appeal for a friendly scratching? This cast iron kitty, made in the Teens or Twenties, is a doorstop by Hubley. The Hubley Manufacturing Company was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1894. Shortly after the Turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century, Hubley began manufacturing cast iron animals—like the doorstop shown here—and other cast iron toys: cars, trucks and "heavy equipment." As the century progressed, Hubley shifted to cast-zinc items and became most well-known for its collectible scale model cars. This heavy, cast iron cat was designed to be a doorstop. It would look great, however,...
Is there any greater luxury than an afternoon nap? Even if you're too busy to indulge in such a pleasure, you might enjoy watching this little kitty, curled-up, enjoying forty winks. He is made of stoneware, finished with a thick and curdled mocha-caramel glaze. He will happily serve as a little paperweight. Or be content to just lie-around, perhaps on the windowsill, making the place even homier.
From Japan we have this wonderful Modernist house cat. Her simple—but sensuous—lines convey much feline energy and attitude. Made of heavy cast brass, hand-chased and polished to a mirror finish. A wonderful paperweight or "whatnot" to keep you company on your desk, windowsill or bedside table.
With so much in the news lately about "cat ladies," we thought that LEO Design was overdue paying tribute to them. Childless? Sometimes. Miserable? Not that I can see. This week we will share some of our favorite little felines, now in-stock at LEO Design. Each of these kittens will wait patiently at home—cheerfully and loyally—until "their special ladies" return home (whether from work, from vacation or from the polls). Here's to the cat ladies!
This little fella is sculpted in brass, finished with a verdigris bronze patina. The sculptor has captured perfectly the hunched, coiled energy of a feline—confident, relaxed, but ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Not unlike some of those cat ladies I know!
Yesterday we presented August's birthstone, the Peridot. Today, let's talk about August's birth flower, the Poppy.
Poppies are thought to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean and have been cultivated by Western and Central Europeans from about 6,000 BC. Early on, people recognized the analgesic properties of the plant. Ancient Egyptian doctors had their patients chew a mouthful of poppy seeds to relieve pain. Even today, poppies are cultivated as a source of opium, morphine and codeine—powerful narcotics. Recent and reckless use of Oxycodone, which is synthesized from poppies, has caused grave problems for so many. And the illicit drug trade has profited from the poppy—through the sale of heroin, another derivation of the flower's seeds.
Welcome, August, and your birth stone, the brilliant Peridot. Let's begin with the basics: how does one pronounce "Peridot"? In the dictionary, the first (that is, the preferred) pronunciation is "Peri-dot" with a "hard T." The second option is "peri-dough"—which I suspect is the more popular pronunciation amongst fancy jewelers (and others who are trying to sell the gemstone). Peridot is a clear, gemstone-quality variety of Olivine—which is one of the very few gemstones which is formed in the Earth's hot, crushing mantle (most gemstones form at a much shallower depth, in the Earth's Crust). The peridot radiates a brilliant green color—thanks to the presence of iron—and it presents within a fairly tight color range (on either side of lime green). It...
Let's end our week of LEOs in Summer with this little guy—a bronze sculpture of a small, but brave, lion. Spontaneously modeled (perhaps a touch Rodin-ish), this little boy has the letters COURAGE impressed upon his tiny tummy. It's a great sentiment for someone who is setting-out on a new journey. Or, perhaps, someone who is facing a daunting challenge. And, of course, it would be warmly-received by any LEO you know.
This week, we're presenting some of our favorite felines—The LEO in Summer—which can be found in our LEO Design on-line shop.
Here's another Turn-of-the-Century cast iron lion bank—probably first owned by a child who was being encouraged to save his coins. The two halves are separately cast, then screwed together. Whether used to hold coins or not, this handsome LEO has a richly-aged patina. He'll provide good company on a desk, bedside, or windowsill.
Antoine-Louis Bayre (1795-1875) is arguably the world's all-time greatest animalier—that is, a sculptor (or painter) of naturalistic animals. He began his studies as an apprentice jeweler, working under Napoleon's goldsmith. He was admitted into the École des Beaux-Arts, in Paris, and enjoyed spending time sketching the animals in the ménagerie at the Jardin des Plantes (the city's botanical garden which contained a small zoo—housing the animals moved from Versailles during the French Revolution).
Spelter is a metalic alloy—mostly zinc, usually combined with various other metals, like tin, antimony or lead. In the Nineteenth Century, spelter became very popular as a casting alternative to bronze. When cast, it conveys fine detail very well and is lighter and less expensive than bronze. But spelter is also very brittle (subject to cracking, if dropped). All manner of decorative objects—clocks, trophies, candlesticks, bookends—were made of spelter. After casting, the pieces can be patinated, like bronze, or painted, like the lion above. Being economical (and easier to work with, due to its lower melting point), spelter was perfect for making inexpensive toys like soldiers, animals or game board parts. Our lion shown here, standing atop his mountain,...
Lions have been used in heraldry for millennia. Different poses—called attitudes—would indicate different characteristics. The turn of the head, the lifting of a paw (or paws) were given different names. A Lion Rampant is one who is rearing-up, standing on his two back feet or one back foot. A Lion Sejant is seated, front paws together on the floor (like a house cat). A Lion Couchant is lying on his belly, head raised (like a sphinx). Our cast bronze lion, shown above, was modeled in the American Midwest, thus, I'm not sure if heraldic conventions were being observed. If I were to take-a-stab at identifying his attitude, I would say Lion Statant Guardant Sinister (which means, a lion standing on four...
Wednesday's LEO was stalking. Thursday's LEO was static. Today's LEO is fierce—roaring while he strikes with his left paw. The pair of cast iron bookends, shown above, portrays a ferocious lion as he might appear in a circus—or on a circus poster. Most of the original golden finish remains intact. And the "Cubist" boulder, under foot, reflects the times in which this lion was sculpted—in the Twenties. The sculptor succeeded in creating a model full of energy, action and fury. Indeed, this LEO is a monarch.
Before Venmo or Apple Pay or Zelle, people saved and spent real money—cash dollars and coins. Good savings habits were encouraged in youngsters by giving them a bank into which they could deposit coins—to save-up for a special purchase or to hold-fast for a rainy day.
The cast iron lion bank, shown above, was just such an item. In it, a child could save his or her coins and have a wonderful companion in their bedroom. Traces of the original golden paint remain on the lion which was made at the Turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century.
