This tallish vase by Scheurich brings to mind a dip into the U-Bahn (subway) in many a German city. The Modernist bas relief decoration which surrounds the piece is reminiscent of the tilework to be found on the walls of typical post-War underground train stations. And it makes perfect sense: both the vase and the train station tilework were crafted in the 1960's or 1970's—a time when Germany was struggling to rebuild its economy after two devastating wars. The labor-intensive production of ceramics and tile were well-suited to a country seeking to put many people back to work. Luckily, many of the vases were exported to eager buyers in Europe and America. The subway tiles tended to stay put. Please click on the photo above...
One usually thinks of Art Deco existing between the Wars—starting in the mid-Twenties and peaking in the Thirties. But the movement had a very long tail. Think of all those movie houses and home appliances and automobiles that were built well into the 1950's. Art Deco was popular and durable and its influence extended well after the Second World War. The vases above were made in the 1950's by Michael Andersen and Sons on the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm. While Modernist, they bear a strong Art Deco flavor. Crisply-cast horses frolic in a field of stylized flowers and foliage. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently...
This vase pleased me on first glance. Blues and browns, dripping glazes—these are a few of my favorite things. But, the more I contemplated the piece, the more I came to appreciate its wonderful artistry, its complicated coincidence. Where I once saw jagged bands, I began to see landscapes. Is that a sandy, desert mountain or a snow-covered Big Sky peak? Does the darkened treeline bound an icy lake? And is the midnight sky the same color as the lake—or just a little lighter? Sand, water, clouds and sky. This vase has it all! Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next...
Whatever the season, this Rookwood Arts & Crafts turquoise vase will fit-the-bill. Think of springtime robins' eggs, summer skies, or wintery winds while gazing at the incised row of tulips—swaying gently in the breeze. Made in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1926. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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One last glimpse of summer . . . with this Carstens vase from the 1970's. Bands of marigold glazing seem to fade quietly—like an imminent sunset—into bands of midnight brown. Certainly summer, though it's clear the season won't last much longer. Learn more about this handsome vase by clicking on the photo above.
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Winter's chill has swept through the Northeast—and I already miss the summer! Not to worry, I can gaze at this sunny, summery vase, made by Carstens. Though German, it brings to mind a sunny, Positano terrace. It would also look quite-at-home centered in an impastoed Van Gogh sunflower masterpiece. Learn more about it by clicking on the photo above.
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It's like a cloudy day over The Red Planet, the handsome glazing on this Ruscha West German pitcher made by glaze master Otto Gerharz. It's part of a growing collection of "otherworldly" pieces I've been finding—ceramics pieces with interesting glazes reminiscent of faraway moons and planets (whether real or imagined). They are beautiful on their own, but I like to imagine them hanging in the futuristic scenic designs of some science fiction Star Wars movie. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook:...
On this day in 1966, Florence's Arno River began to rise—and, by the next day, had surpassed its banks, flooding parts of the Renaissance city with as much as 22 feet of water. It was the worst flood in over 500 years and countless priceless artworks, books and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Among the lost treasures was the little ceramics workshop, Fratelli Fanciullacci, first established in the mid-Nineteenth Century. The studio lost most of its equipment, molds, kilns and tools. It lost most of its stock—that which was in-production as well as that which was finished and awaiting shipment to the U.S. and the rest of Europe. Most critically, the workshop lost its talented crew of artisans—who could not...
All Hallows’ Eve (or Hallowe’en) means “Holy Night” and was first celebrated in Western Christian countries on the night before All Saints’ Day—1 November. Hallowe’en is actually just the first day of a longer, three day “triduum” called Allhallowtide—comprising All Saint’s Day (1 November), its vigil (31 October) and All Souls’ Day (2 November). Pope Gregory […]
With one night left, let's get into a Halloweeny mood with this textured, matte orange vase by Scheurich. Two vibrant shades of orange create a dappled surface on this rounded cylindrical vase—which is topped with a short, corseted neck. It is sure to make an impression—by itself or as part of a larger collection—and you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above.
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West German ceramics is interesting and collectible. I've been buying and selling it for years. But I still get a special thrill when I pick-up a piece of East German pottery. And I can't help but think of the talented ceramics artists who just happened to end up on the wrong side of the daunting Berlin Wall. It seems East German designs have a cooler, greyer, more dour-looking aesthetic than their West German cousins. And, perhaps because East Germany was cut-off from the Modernist art world of the late Mid-Century, their interpretations seem more informed by the early Modernism at the turn of the Twentieth Century. That puts their mindset right into my decorative sweet spot! The piece above, made by Veb Lausitz in...
A couple of weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of seeing Elton John in Pittsburgh—one of the stops on his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" world tour. Naturally, he sang "Rocket Man" among the many hits he performed that night. In recent years, I've found myself intrigued by (and collecting) ceramics pieces which bear a resemblance to faraway planets or moons—whether actual or fanciful. This piece, made by Steuler in West Germany, has a glaze which brings to (my) mind an otherworldly, gaseous planet, perhaps one hanging in the background of a rough-and-tumble Star Wars set piece. "D'you pack your bags last night, pre-flight?" Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store...
A rich orange glaze flows down, over the staggered arrangement of "fish scale" decor—reminiscent of the shingled roof of a faraway land of make believe. It was crafted by Jasba in the 1960's or 1970's and you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above.
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Hand-impressed "divots" are created with a wooden stylus—giving this two handled urn the appearance of a stylized strawberry ("fragola" in italiano). It was handmade by the Florentine pottery workshop Fratelli Fanciullacci in the 1960's. Although the studio was founded in the 19th century, the Brothers Fanciullacci were at the leading edge of Post-War Italian Modernist ceramics in the Mid-Century. Modernist ceramics master Aldo Londi worked for Fratelli Fanciullacci before joining Bitossi after World War Two. Alas, the workshop was severely damaged during the flooding of the Arno River in 1966. The company lost most of its stock, equipment, paperwork and artisans (who were forced to move-on to other work while the ceramics studio attempted to regroup). Although Fratelli Fanciullacci did...
Foamy white tendrils—like the legs of a ghostly octopus—creep over the globular form of this dark brick red vase. Made by Steuler in the 1960's or 1970's, it would make a nicely-understated Holiday centerpiece—filled with sprigs of holly, pine & ivy, fluffy white flowers or brilliant red blossoms. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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Here's a bold piece, made by Stangl in the 1930's. Two architectural handles punctuate the strong Art Deco form—which further pops with a glazing of vivid orange. Johann Stangl worked for Fulper Pottery (in Flemington, NJ) from 1910. At the time, the company was known for its pricey Arts & Crafts "studio" ceramics—art quality pieces, tastefully designed and laboriously hand-crafted. Johann Stangl became president of the company in 1926 and, three years later, changed the company's name to Stangl Pottery. Johann embraced the new Art Deco movement, and re-calibrated the company away from expensive, low-volume studio pieces and toward popular-priced, high-volume production which would meet the needs of a growing middle-class, post War market. The piece above would surely make a...
In Munich, Germany, on this day in 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (who would later became King Ludwig I of Bavaria) married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In celebration of the event, the citizens of the city were invited to celebrate in the fields in front of the city’s gates. And, thus, was born Oktoberfest—the […]
The Prinknash Abbey (pronounced "Prinish") has been associated with the Roman Catholic Benedictine order since its founding in 1096. When Henry VIII suppressed (and took) the abbey in 1539, he rented it to a wealthy supporter—sometimes using it himself as a hunting lodge. For the next 400 years, various aristocratic families lived on the property until the property was returned to the Benedictines (in 1928) who moved-back, converting the large home into a monastery. In 1942, while excavating for construction work, a seam of red clay was discovered and the monks began to make and sell pottery to support the abbey. Today the abbey no longer produces ceramics works. They continue to "blend" incense (using Arabian frankincense gum, essential oils and spices) which...
My heart belongs to the Arts & Crafts period—which starts in the late Nineteenth Century and ends with (or shortly after) World War One. That said, I do appreciate certain Modernist pieces, especially when they "lean back" (not forward) and exhibit a high degree of handwork, craftsmanship or organic spontaneity. I also think that traditional Arts & Crafts interiors can be wisely-punctuated with a few sensational, well-chosen Modernist pieces (as long as they stay true to the principles of beauty, nature and craftsmanship). The piece above is a good example. Made in the 1950's by Wendelin Stahl, its somewhat severe bottle form is softened with blooms of sapphire crystals which burst forth, seemingly randomly. Stahl had a rather small studio in the...
People born in October may choose between two birthstones: the opal or the tourmaline. Tourmalines were first mined in Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka) and shipped to Europe in vast quantities by the Dutch East India Company in the 1600's. At the time, they were considered an exotic luxury. Subsequently, they have been found in Brazil, Africa, Afghanistan and the United States. They come in a variety of colors and some of them have magnetic qualities, due to the iron content in some examples. The Art Deco pot, shown above, is magnetic in appearance alone. It was made by Roseville in the 1930's and its shape was inspired by classic Native American ceramics. The glazing was named "Tourmaline," though it has...
On this day in 1982, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Cats, opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre. The work, based on T. S. Eliot’s 1939 work “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” ran for nearly 18 years—making it the longest-running Broadway musical at the time. Directed by theatre legend Trevor Nunn and choreographed by […]
On this day in 1683, thirteen German families landed in Philadelphia, PA, soon to found Germantown, PA. The day was commemorated through the Nineteenth Century, only falling-out of favor during World War I. In 1983—on the 300th anniversary of the landing—the date was revived and designated officially as a day to honor the contributions of […]
On this day in 1869—at the height of Victoria’s Empire—a new world hero was born, right under the Queen’s nose. His name, Mohandas Gandhi, was later changed to the honorific Mahatma (meaning “venerable” or “high-souled”). Gandhi was born of a merchant class family, one which could afford to send him to law school in London. […]
I've tended my first-ever garden this summer—with flowers, ferns, tomatoes and basil galore. And what does one do with too much basil? Make pesto, of course! So, when I found this piece, I was thematically inclined to add it to the LEO Design collection. It was made by Josef Emons & Söhne in Rheinbach, Germany in the 1960's. A dollop of pesto-like glazing drips languorously over a cobalt blue undercolor. It's a strange, unexpected and wonderful combination of color—coupled with an unpretentious, age-old ceramics form. Learn more about this piece by clicking on the photo above. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues...
Dreaming of Italy. I could spend my every holiday in Italy—and, if fact, am roughing-out plans to return there next June. Art, beauty and style have always permeated the Italian mindset—whether it's ancient Roman sculpture, paintings of the Renaissance, Turn-of-the-Century gardens, or Valentino's gowns today. And the Italian instinct for "la bella figura" is not limited to the wealthy and the worldly. Indeed, whether countryside or cosmopolitan, simple creations are often inseminated with the DNA of charm, grace or elegance. With this vase, made by Bitossi in the 1950's, style transcends simplicity. Though its form and its manner of decorative incising is far from unique or innovative, the piece projects ample style and sophistication—la bella figura, indeed. This country cousin would be right...
I am intrigued by this vase. While I am not typically drawn to "tribal" decor, this vase reveals a slightly different approach. Perhaps the diamond-form shields and scalloped gadrooning give it a "Roman Empire" bearing (in my eyes). I also find the glazing unique—pools of glassy citrus green resting in the crevices between pronounced, textured cork-like elements. My mind wanders to a parched, sandy David Lean landscape with just a promise of spring green struggling through. Life always finds a way! The vase was made by Bay in West Germany in the 1960's or 1970's. Find out more about it by clicking on the photo above. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next...
Another Florentine beauty, also made by Ars Italica in the 1960's. Bands of hand-impressed motifs are interspersed with rows of hand-cut "notches." Then a jewel tone combination of blue and green glazes give the piece a fresh (and refreshing) aqueous finish. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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Like my all-time favorite movie, A Room with a View, this fresh and handsome vase was made in Florence, Italy. Crafted in the 1960's by Ars Italica, the piece was hand-impressed with decorative styli, then glazed with bands of jade green and a refreshing "Rimini Blue." The result: a stylish blend of bold Modernism and age-old Folk naiveté. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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On this day in 1664, Pieter Stuyvesant, director general of Nieuw Amsterdam, officially surrendered the territory to the English. Soon the British re-named it New York—after the Duke of York, who would one day become King James II. Under Dutch control, Fort Amsterdam—at the tip of Manhattan, just below what is modern-day Bowling Green—had guarded […]
Maybe I should keep this vase... Jasba Keramik was founded by Jakob Schwaderlapp in 1926 in Ransbach-Baumbach (half-way between Frankfurt and Köln, Germany). The company made tiles, architectural ceramics and specialized component parts for industry and manufacturing. In time, Jasba added-on ceramic housewares and decorative "art pottery" for residential household use. In 1959, with WWII long over, Schwaderlapp sought ways to build his sales and improve his profit margins by "upgrading" his ceramics offerings. He founded the "Ceramano" division which aimed to combine the look and quality of "studio" ceramics pieces with modern production techniques. With a rising middle class in the post-war Western World—and demand for the fresh new Mid-Century Modernist aesthetic—the times were ripe for Schwaderlapp's gambit: to produce...
Though I am not certain who made this hand-thrown studio ceramic vase (or where it was made), it is the height of sophistication and quality. Heavy stoneware is gently hand-formed on a wheel—resulting in an elegant profile, gently sloping shoulders, and an exquisitely-executed top spout. Then it is finished with a sublime microcrystalline glazing treatment—a wonderful blend of organic blues, browns and greens—reminiscent of the swaying "laminae" of underwater seaweed. Click on the photo above to learn more about this remarkable piece. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design -...
17 September is Citizenship Day—a day on which Americans are encouraged to recognize and appreciate their U.S. citizenship. It’s also the day (in 1787) when the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. In recent years, it has been sometimes referred to as “Constitution and Citizenship Day.” Happy Citizenship Day!
Another suggestion of Autumn: a Dümler & Brieden "Komet" pitcher with Secessionist-inspired bas relief. Rich orange glaze pops against a steely matte blue underglaze. Made in 1972. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Autumn inspiration tomorrow.
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Autumn is a time for hearth and home. And Mid-Century ceramicists often derived inspiration from age-old utilitarian pieces, some centuries old. This piece by Carstens Atlelier is a case-in-point. Designed by Gerda Heuckeroth in the 1960's, it bears a flat, strap-like handle over it's ample and sensuous body. And it's finished with an organic, matte glaze which drips over a dark brown underglaze—a color somewhere between reddish orange and orangish red. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More Autumn inspiration tomorrow. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on...
Crisp evenings, the crackle of fallen leaves underfoot—some of the seasonal cues of the approaching Autumn. Though the Autumn doesn't officially begin for another ten days, we're ready for the season here at LEO Design! Let's start the season with this handsome Mid-Century Dutch ceramic vase from the 1960's or 1970's. The curvaceous form is dressed in a dappled, matte orange glaze. A perfect combination of classic and modern—all the while voluptuous, bold and strong. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this striking piece. More Autumn inspiration tomorrow. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow...
Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes." Similarly, the decorative arts will sometimes "lift" inspiration from an earlier period—reinterpreting the past in a new, fresh and modified way. The vase above, made by Dümler & Brieden in 1972, is just such an example. While the piece has a Mid-Century Modernist sensibility, it is inspired by the earlier Turn-of-the-Century Secessionist Movement. A short walk through Vienna will reveal no shortage of wonderful Secessionist architecture, often embellished with ceramic tile, trim and decor like the vase, shown above. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop...
From time to time, a country, a community or a culture will re-discover its appreciation for the talented working man (or woman). During the Renaissance, important and powerful guilds were formed to enforce high standards amongst its members and to protect the workers and the reputation of the trade. During the Age of Industrialization, newly-formed unions ensured that tradesmen were trained, properly compensated and kept safe. In the early twentieth century—between the wars—there was an artistic movement which sought to present the laborer (and his class) in a dramatic, dynamic, or heroic manner (think of the American Ash Can painters, Soviet poster art, or the muscular human sculpture which embellishes 1930‘s Art Deco architecture). After World War II, the Danish...
Like a swirling, blazing Van Gogh summer sun, we end August with this enormous "floor vase" by Scheurich, West Germany. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, finger-drawn swirls clear-away the outer textured “volcanic” glazing—revealing the orange underglaze below. With this vase, you'll be transported to Provence with a glance.
Let's end our parade of blue ceramics with this exceptionally handsome piece by Karlsruhe. Formed with heavy strap handles, it is finished with a sophisticated verdigris blue—under which a hint of eggplant shows through. I love this vase! Learn more about it by clicking on the photo above.
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There's something "just right" about the slope of this ceramic vessel—and the arched handle, attached. Made by Van Daalen, it is dressed in an intriguing mottled blue glaze—reminiscent of the Earth, as seen from space. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Summer Blues tomorrow.
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Like an inscrutable Yves Klein canvas, this cylindrical ceramic vase by Hoy Hey wears a rich matte ultramarine blue glaze. Let it bring a sense of centering calm to your busy office or (even busier) home. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Summer Blues tomorrow.
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Something about this unusual vase (the color, the shape?) reminds me of a rare and mysterious sea mammal. I see the beautifully mottled skin of an exotic arctic whale. Or the turgid, "hydrodynamic" form of a North Sea dolphin. And, like these wonderful sea creatures, I've never seen another vase quite like this. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Summer Blues tomorrow.
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Foamy whitecaps of highly-textured glaze ride atop a midnight blue underglaze on this simple vase by Scheurich, West Germany. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Summer Blues tomorrow.
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Sea, sky and ceramics. What could be more summery? Especially in summery shades of blue. For the next few days, we'll be sharing a collection of recently acquired art pottery—all in wonderful shades of summery blue. Like the piece above. Made by Pierrefonds around 1910, this French Art Nouveau vase wears a peppery blue underglaze while a sophisticated cornflower glaze drips over its elegant shoulders. It is equally compelling either alone or as part of a larger collection. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More Summer Blues tomorrow. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us...
Our third and final "inkpot" vase is this one by Ceramano. Called "Syrakus," it is hand-striated and finished with gunmetal, black and white glazes. It's one of several pieces from the line, now on-view in the LEO Design on-line store. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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This wonderfully complex studio vase intrigues me. Made by Elmar & Elke Kubicek, it was hand-formed in the shape of an inkpot. Then it was glazed with an oxblood, micro-crystalline glaze—enhanced with a crusty, brown froth. Its most earthy sensibility—color, size and basic shape—is reminiscent of a heart (and not the saccharine, Valentine's Day variety). Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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The "Classic Inkpot" form makes for an interesting and useful vase. Because of its smallish size, it is a great teammate within a larger collection—as it provides size variation while standing in front of taller pieces. And, unlike a bowl, there is no "awkward interior." The finished shoulders always look good—even when looking-down upon it. For three days, we'll be sharing some of our most interesting inkpot vases, now in-stock at LEO Design. The piece above is European-made, from the 1960's, 1970's or 1980's. It is glazed in a spontaneous mix of cobalt blue, rusty brown and hints of white. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently...
Yesterday we talked about the Fifth International Scouting Jamboree in Vogelenzang (“birdsong”), Netherlands in 1937. Carrying-on with this theme, you’ll see above a hand-painted plaque with two fluffy birds (c. 1960’s – 1970’s). Siblings? Spouses? Mother & Chick? I'm just not sure. What I do know is that it's beautifully designed, nicely hand-painted and would make a handsome addition to any desk, home or office. It was made in Denmark by Fajence Aluminia. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
On this day in 1937, Dutch Scouting (the Padvinders or “Path Finders”) commemorated the end of the Fifth International Jamboree (bijeenkomst or “meeting”) with this Dutch-made ceramic transferware plate. Dutch Boy Scouting was founded in 1910, followed by Girl Scouting the following year. The Netherlands became part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in […]
Let's end our parade of LEOs with this whimsical offering: a Danish Modern stoneware plaque by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. This frisky feline is caught in mid-leap, paw extended toward his feathered feast. It's made to hang on the wall, though it could also be permanently mounted into a tile installation. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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Let's wrap-up this little parade of green pottery with another studio-made piece, this time crafted by Walter & Gisela Baumfalk. A fine crystalline glaze lies atop a metallic gunmetal undercolor. The tapering form culminates in a lipped top band. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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This European hand-thrown stoneware pitcher is dressed in a metallic gunmetal and mossy-green glaze. The piece has—at once—a naive, folk craft sensibility and a highly sophisticated Modernist edge. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More green ceramics tomorrow.
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Though LEO Design has a broad selection of German ceramics, East German ceramics are much less common and a bit harder to find. The example above, by Karl Jüttner, was made in the Seventies. A hand-incised pot is finished with an organic metallic-moss green glaze. Learn more about it by clicking on the photo above.
More green ceramics tomorrow.
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Though Kermit the Frog might disagree, green is easy. Green—the color of leaves, grass and moss—is restful, restoring, and blends beautifully with wood in an interior environment. I especially like dark, mossy (and a little muddy) greens which give me a sense of cool comfort. The pitcher above, made in the 1960's or 1970's, was crafted by Übelacker, West Germany. The Cubist relief is reminiscent of the Modernist sculpture of Louise Nevelson. Nevelson was born in The Ukraine in 1899 and emigrated to The States with her family as a schoolgirl. Her sculptures were made of found objects, usually wooden, which she assembled in wall-mounted or freestanding "shadowbox" style assemblies. They were often painted monochromatically, often black or white. Nevelson's sculptures can...
We'll end this little space trip of otherworldly, planetary ceramics with another piece by Ruscha. Glaze master Otto Gerharz has crafted a rich—call it sublime—glaze which captures the mystery and romance of the moon. It was made in the 1960's or 1970's and can be found by clicking on the photo above.
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Here's another wonderful glaze, made by Ruscha's glaze master, Otto Gerharz. Unlike some of the "lunar glazes" shared in the past few days, this glaze is more verdant—like a gassy, oxygen-rich planet. One would suspect that life does exist on this organic planet. The mossy bluish-green overglaze hovers over a slightly metallic brown undercoat. It was made in the 1960's or 1970's and you can find out more about it by clicking on the photo above. More Space Age ceramics tomorrow. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design -...
Form is nice—but shapes can be easily copied. It's in the glaze master's secret notebook—properly locked away—that the magic is revealed. And this glaze is sensational! Foamy waves of white pumice cling to an equally-textured grey underglaze. It all adds up to an otherworldly effect—like the gaseous clouds encircling a distant planet. Made by Carstens in West Germany in the 1960's or 1970's. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Space Age ceramics tomorrow.
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Another little space capsule: this one a Modernist vase by Anton Piesche. First the piece was finished with a metallic gunmetal glaze and then "slashed" to reveal the clay underbody below. It's one of a small collection of "Space Age" ceramics, recently received here at LEO Design. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Space Age ceramics tomorrow.
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Like the frozen foamy crust on a yet-undiscovered moon, the glaze on this pedestaled ceramic vase has a textured, otherworldly look. Created by glaze master Otto Gerharz for Ruscha (West Germany) in the 1960's or 1970's. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Space Age ceramics tomorrow.
LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
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Recently I've purchased an interesting collection of European ceramics which have a decidedly Space Age sensibility. The decades of the Great Space Race were the Fifties and Sixties—coincident with the blooming of post-War Modernist design. It is not a surprise that the world's scientific zeitgeist would affect the period's aesthetics. Shown here, an East German studio piece from the 1960's by Heiner Hans Körting (1911-1991) for Danburg Pottery. The hand-thrown piece was modeled with an extended, tapering neck—which was carefully sliced and folded-back to create three curing handles. It was fired with warm sandy and metallic gunmetal glazes. It reminds me of an Apollo space capsule from the glory days of lunar exploration. Please click on the photo above to learn...
From Florence, Italy, comes this little Modernist planter—with plenty of hand-executed, folk craft charm. The ceramic pot is thrown, hand-incised and pierced with a ring of little "clerestory windows" around the rim. Then it's finished with a mottled deep red glaze—a red which the Italians do best. It's a remarkable amount of hand-work on display in this little Italian beauty. Made by Fratelli Fanciullacci in the 1960's. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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What does it mean to be "independent"? Does it mean being self-reliant? Self-directing? Free? Or does it mean being separated from the rest of the world? For me, independence means I can be myself—and actualize myself as I wish—provided I do not harm others (or the world they live in). The flip side of "the independence coin" means accepting the differences of others—provided they do not harm me, mine or the world we live in. America's good relations with others has been good for my tiny little business. I have travelled all over the world and built professional relationships with many good people, some of whom have become friends. I've bought items all over the world, shipped them home, and...
Imagine a world political leader using bravado, war and aggression to generate popular support with his base. That's just what Julius Caesar did—and July is named after him. Gaius Julius Caesar was born on the 12th (or 13th) of July in the year 100 BC. He distinguished himself—amongst the Populares, at least—during the Gallic Wars. As a Roman General, Julius Caesar led (many unauthorized) invasions into what is modern-day France and Belgium, taking the territory and expanding the Roman borders up to the English Channel and over to the Rhine. While these cavalier exploits made him wildly popular with the Roman peasants, it displeased the elite Roman Senate immensely. Though Caesar promoted these attacks as preventative ("attack them before they can attack...
Tomorrow we roll into July—and a hot, sticky summer. Maybe this little guy will help to keep us cool. He was made in Denmark for Royal Copenhagen in the 1960's or 1970's. Let him keep you company on your desk or coffee table—and, just maybe, he'll bring you back to a crisp, cool wintery day. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it
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This little Dutch bowl was made in Gouda, Netherlands and is dated 1925. Romantic "Orientalist" tendrils of hand-painted color swirl with confidence worthy of Leon Bakst's Scheherazade stage design for the Ballets Russes. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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Father and son team, Franz Detleff Goebel and William Goebel, founded F. & W. Goebel in 1871. Soon afterward, they discovered their niche: beautifully-crafted sculptures and figurines aimed at the collector’s market. For the next 140+ years, the company has grown and evolved—all the while adapting its product to satisfy the tastes of the times. […]
We end this little parade of Gräflich Ortenburg ceramics with this red and black glazed "club form" vase. A bulbous base tapers to a corseted neck. Made in the 1960's. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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This simple, beaker-form vase is "elevated" by a small (but elegant) foot. Glazed in red and splashes of black. Made by Gräflich Ortenburg in West Germany. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Gräflich Ortenburg ceramics tomorrow.
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Here's another of the Count's pieces: a conical vase finished with red glaze and splashes of black. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Gräflich Ortenburg ceramics tomorrow.
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The Count Alram Graf zu Ortenburg was born in Budapest in 1925—heir to a German estate and a famous, aristocratic lineage. When his time came to inherit the family property, he sought a way to make the estate profitable. Since there were many clay pits in the area, he decided to open a ceramics workshop in the west wing of his castle, Schlosses Tambach, in 1946. Initial production focused on ornate, highly painted ceramic vases, bowls and teacups. But exciting Modernist design—especially out of Italy—caught the Count's eye and he re-aligned the studio's aesthetic to take advantage of this new post-War trend. Gräflich Ortenburg's work were known for their heavy, rounded, Bauhaus-inspired shapes—made of dark red clay. Their glazes were luxurious, thick...
We are just a few days away from the Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The further North one goes, the longer the days will be. In Scandinavia, Canada and Northern Alaska, the sunlight may seem endless. In Russia, they call this season the "White Nights." Saint Petersburg has elevated this celebration to an art form. Beginning in late May, the city's important Mariinsky Theatre begins scheduling impressive opera, ballet and orchestral music performances. Later in the season, carnival celebrations dot the city—including period carriages, actors dressed in Eighteenth Century costume, and reenactments of historic events from the time of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. And in Saint Petersburg's Palace Square, tens of thousands...
Perhaps your dad has an advanced aesthetic style. How about a handsome English Art Deco rosebowl from the 1920's or 1930's? It was made by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian and straddles the Arts & Crafts and Art Deco periods. The vertically-ribbed form is incised with a meandering Greek Key motif. The piece is then finished with a dappled ombre glaze—lighter at the top and darker at the bottom. The color is reminiscent of the way sunlight filters through increasingly deep waters. It looks great by itself or brimming with roses, gardenias or peonies. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. More Father's Day gift ideas tomorrow. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate...
I loved this vase—with its extraterrestrial, otherworldly glazing—the moment I saw it. To me it looks like some far-away, gaseous, yet-to-be-discovered planet. Made by Ruscha (West Germany) in the 1960’s or 1970’s, it could easily be a set model hanging in the background of a Star Wars sky. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Gouda is a city in The Netherlands, well known for its cheese and for its hand-decorated art pottery. Most of the Gouda pottery which I buy is from the 1910’s and 1920’s—and hews more closely to the “typical Gouda style” with colorful, swirling, exotic botanical motifs. When I found this piece, I did not know […]
Wendelin Stahl was born into a family of great ceramicists in a city best-known for its ceramics. Some might argue that Wendelin became the greatest ceramicist of them all. Born in Höhr-Grenzhausen in 1922, Wendelin studied ceramics at art school and worked in his father’s studio. After World War II, he and his wife, ceramicist […]
I've had this piece a handful of times over the years—in white, green, turquoise and carmel gold. In fact, I had one in-stock on the day I first opened my Bleecker Street store in 1995. I like its combination of crisp handsome paneling with its no-nonsense simplicity. And I like that it easily straddles both schools of Arts & Crafts and the Art Deco.
Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
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Begun in Canada in 1984, International Workers’ Memorial Day is celebrated to remember those who have perished at work and to highlight the often-preventable nature of such incidents. In the United States, 12 people die every day in work-related accidents. Worldwide, a worker is killed every 15 seconds. Advocates continue to push for safer working […]
On this day in 1792—in the midst of the French Revolution against their monarchy—Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle wrote his stirring call to arms. Eventually called La Marseillaise, after the troops from Marseille who sang the song in the streets, the song was adopted as The Republic’s anthem in 1795. To this day, it is […]
For centuries, China held-tight the secrets of sophisticated ceramics-making—and they weren't about to share them with prying Westerners (who were enchanted with these beautiful and "exotic" works of art). Amazingly, the Chinese achieved remarkable effects with fairly low-tech equipment: brick or mud hut kilns with little windows and doors through which fuel wood, heat and air could be added or released. No gas, no gauges (like thermometers). Ceramics-making is an art form which succeeds or fails with the tiniest changes in material, temperature and time. And, if a ceramicist wishes to replicate an effect, she better know (and have written down!) the precise glaze ingredients, firing time and temperatures used at various points in the process. Form is rather easy to "steal"—and...
From William Shakespeare, Harry Truman, and Queen Elizabeth II, to David Beckham, Penelope Cruz, and Cherilyn Sarkisian (aka: Cher), Taureans have long been pushing-forward, holding-the-line, and making the world a more comfortable place. Known for their determination and sensibility, Taureans are also quite aesthetically-minded. They like comfortable—though not necessarily grand—surroundings and value words, music and […]
Gouda (pronounced "How-da") is a Dutch city some 35 miles south of Amsterdam. It is best known for its famous cheese. But it did have another highly-recognizable craft export: hand-painted art pottery. Shown above, a small two-handled pot with hand-painted blue morning glories. It was made in (and is dated) 1923 and more can be learned about it by clicking on the photo above.
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The year was 1912. The Arts & Crafts movement was in full flower and it was two years before the World-changing events of The Great War. It was also the year when this handsome English Arts & Crafts vase was crafted. Glazed in a dappled, saturated jewel tone blue, the bulbous base and perfectly-flaring trumpet mouth create a harmonious look—and a calming and satisfying object on which to center oneself. Made by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian and dated 1912. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram:...
Henry Bergh was the son of a wealthy shipbuilder and, as such, enjoyed a life of privilege, art and leisure. While in London, he studied The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and committed to starting such an organization in America. On this day in 1866, Bergh founded the ASPCA in New […]
Is Spring finally here? This American Arts & Crafts matte green jardiniere bursts with verdant energy. And it brings me back to the springtime of my "merchant youth"—when I opened my first shop on Bleecker Street in 1995. At the time (and though I did not know what "Arts & Crafts" was), I started building a nice collection of this type of pottery. As the style was (then) very popular, I had a hard time keeping a sizable collection intact. In time, it became increasingly difficult to find nice and affordable pieces. For the last ten (or so) years, I've had no more than a couple pieces at a time. I found this piece not long ago—and it brought back memories...
Here's an unusual and compelling "statement piece." Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, it displays an interesting blend of the Classic and the Modern. The shape comes directly from classic Chinese ceramics of the previous 500 years. The glazing, however, is a radically exuberant “splattering” of textured chocolate-black over a base of glossy red. Think Peking meets Pollock. At nearly 16 inches tall, it would make a substantial backdrop to a collection of smaller pieces. It would also function beautifully on its own—with or without flowering branches. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Reginald Guy Cowan was born in 1884 in East Liverpool, Ohio—at the time an important center of American ceramics production. His father worked as a pottery designer. While Cowan was still a boy, his family moved to Syracuse, another pottery-producing center. Cowan was trained at the New York State School of Clayworking and Ceramics, a […]
The quant and beautiful island of Bornholm—floating in the Baltic, untethered to its Danish motherland—had a remarkable World War II history of invasion and occupation. Prior to the war, the island was the site of crafts-making and a place for quiet retreat during the long, Northern summer days. But it was also strategically situated and,thus, […]
The first dog show was held in the United Kingdom in 1859 and they became increasingly popular as the Nineteenth Century progressed. Participants could find the competitions frustrating, however, as there was little consistency from show to show: no governing body, no breed standards, no consistent show rules. Dog breeder and enthusiast Seawallis Shirley assembled […]
Amongst the finest pieces of ceramic sculpture I’ve ever had is this Danish stoneware monkey by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Sculpted in the 1920’s, it captures a most-dramatic scene of a (howling?) monkey threatened by a coiled snake, ready-to-strike. The gorgeous sang de boeuf glaze adds drama—and a bit of Orientalist mystery—to the timeless […]
Stoke, Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Langton, Fenton—these are all town names familiar to collectors of English Art Pottery. On this day in 1910, these six Staffordshire towns unified into a single “conurbation” now known as “Stoke-on-Trent” or “The Potteries.” A “conurbation” is a region composed of a number of smaller towns forming one, continuous urban-industrial area. […]
Today is Palm Sunday, the day when Christians recall and reflect upon the Passion and death of Jesus. Palms are blessed, held aloft during services and often taken home and displayed until the next Palm Sunday. It is also one week until Easter—the single most important day of the Christian calendar. Palm motifs—stylized or realistically […]
On 21 March 2006—twelve years and a lifetime ago (to some)—Twitter was inflicted bequeathed upon an unsuspecting world. Since then, in as few as 140 (make that 280) characters, fortunes have been made, careers have been ended, and proper grammar, punctuation and spelling have been tossed out the window.
Well, let the Twits keep their Tweets! As for me, I prefer my twitter-ing from the songbirds in the trees—perhaps the most pleasant sound of all.
Speaking of Tweets, please observe the Danish Modern ceramic plaque, made by Beth Breyen for Royal Copenhagen in the 1960’s or 1970’s. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
In 1909, in the small village of Vierzon, France (some 130 miles south of Paris), Monsieur René Denert began making pottery with the local, grey clay. His beautiful, Art Nouveau forms were glazed with satisfyingly-velvety drip glazes—the result: delicate shapes cloaked in rustic colors. In 1921, he was joined by Monsieur R. L. Balichon. The […]
In Japan, as elsewhere, 14 February is Valentine’s Day. The difference, however, is that in Japan it is customary for a woman to give the gift—usually chocolate—to the male object of her affection. Handmade chocolates are most appreciated since they imply sincerity, effort and commitment on behalf of the maker. Today, one month later, it is […]
While some may see un-alloyed Modernism in the vase pictured above, I see strong references to the Arts & Crafts. For starters, the utilitarian shape may have been “lifted” from some ancient utilitarian vessel, possibly unearthed in a hot and dusty archeological site. Arts & Crafts designers often exhibited references to their ancient history—literature, design […]
Pilkington pottery did not enjoy an easy inception. Its story began in 1889 when a Manchester coal mining company began drilling pits in what should have been a good spot. Alas, too much water (and not enough coal) was discovered and, eventually, mining attempts were abandoned. The four Pilkington brothers took over the pits and […]
As discussed yesterday, the late Nineteenth Century Aesthetic Movement was much-influenced by Japanese art and design—re-packaged, of course, by Western artists for a Western consumer. The style affected the design and production of a wide variety of manufactured objects: furniture, lighting, wall paper & textiles, metalworks, woodcraft, pottery & ceramics, and all manner of beautiful, […]
Musk oxen are an Arctic mammal, found in Greenland, Siberia, Alaska, Northern Canada and parts of Northern Scandinavia. They travel in small packs of 8 – 12 animals which, during the June and July breeding season, consist of a dominant male (“bull”) and several females (“cows”)—plus their offspring. They have extremely thick coats—which protect them […]
The Pilkington Royal Lancastrian potteries were located outside of Manchester and, though they were not the biggest producer, they always made a higher-quality product. Some of their intricate, hand-painted, “artistic” pieces now fetch tens of thousands of dollars. The more simply-glazed items are still within the reach of most casual collectors. But don’t let the solid green glaze fool you; the jade green glaze is actually a complex blend of green, blue and yellow, creating a “shagreen-like” texture to the piece.
There's still time to order this as a wonderful Saint Paddy's Day gift. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
In Ancient Rome, the New Year began with March. To celebrate the end of the old year—and to honor the god Mars—Romans marked 27 February as Equirria, a day of horse racing in the Campus Martius (“Field of Mars”). In a sense, every New Year was a “Year of the Horse.” Mars—the God of War […]
