(Medium) At the Turn-of-the-Century, Country Stores were filled with canisters such as these. Heavy use and careless customers have ensured that not many of them still exist, some 120 years later. But we have two of them, one which I call "Medium" (above) and one which I call "Large" (below). They may have sat on shelves behind the counter—holding loose tea, spices or some other commodity—or they may have sat on the counter itself, holding candy for eager little hands. Today, they look right at home in a country-style kitchen or in a sophisticated urban loft. They could also be used for supplies in the bathroom or cookies and candy on an office desk. Please click on the photo above...
Just listed to our on-line store: a collection of handsome French and English Corkscrews. Over several days, we'll share some of them with you. Any of them would make a wonderful Holiday gift or stocking-stuffer. To end our procession of corkscrews, here's something from Mid-Century Post War England. The very tip of a white stag antler is fashioned into the textured handle of the wine pull. An ombré brown adds another visual dimension. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip...
Just listed to our on-line store: a collection of handsome French and English Corkscrews. Over several days, we'll share some of them with you. Any of them would make a wonderful Holiday gift or stocking-stuffer. Another rustic choice, here a French steel corkscrew with a dark stag's horn handle. Made in the 1930's, it has a masculine, natural aesthetic. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The...
Just listed to our on-line store: a collection of handsome French and English Corkscrews. Over several days, we'll share some of them with you. Any of them would make a wonderful Holiday gift or stocking-stuffer. Here's something a little different. It's a French "Shepherd's" corkscrew made of brass and steel. Meant to fit in a pocket, this little necessity (for a shepherd, I guess) has a decidedly rustic industrial sensibility. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic...
Just listed to our on-line store: a collection of handsome French and English Corkscrews. Over several days, we'll share some of them with you. Any of them would make a wonderful Holiday gift or stocking-stuffer. Here's a nice example of "rustic elegance": a French steel corkscrew with a nicely-turned blond wood handle. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to...
Just listed to our on-line store: a collection of handsome French and English Corkscrews. Over several days, we'll share some of them with you. Any of them would make a wonderful Holiday gift or stocking-stuffer. This English Mid-Century Modernist corkscrew is topped with a hefty chunk of chamfered and polished bakelite—its substantial handle. Swirls of rich amber and rust give the bakelite a sophisticated and organic appearance and you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic...
Just listed to our on-line store: a collection of handsome French and English Corkscrews. Over several days, we'll share some of them with you. Any of them would make a wonderful Holiday gift or stocking-stuffer. This corkscrew, made in the 1940's in France, uses a white "stag's horn tip" as its handle. It is at once handsome and rustic—and would make a nice addition to your country cabin or Manhattan bar cart. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found...
Welcome, November, and your 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. New Age practitioners believe that Citrines will clean the blood and detoxify the body. Besides counteracting depression, Citrines are believed to have a healthful effect on the kidneys...
Here's a nice gift for your favorite gentleman sportsman or the groomsmen in your Autumn wedding party: a six ounce hip flask by CC Filson. Made in the US, the stainless steel flask is wrapped in stitched bridal leather and is fitted with an attached screw-down cap. And the vessel has a gentle curve to it, making it a nice fit in a breast or hip pocket. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co....
Autumn is nigh, and there's a foreboding snap in the air. Why let the chill keep you from your favorite outdoor sport (or sporting event)? Take along a little warming nip—in this stylish Art Deco inspired stainless steel hip flask. It has a gentle curved surface, ideal for a ride in your hip or breast pocket. It holds six ounces which remain well contained beneath the effective screw-down cap. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in...
Is it too early to think about New Year's Eve? Perhaps these quality crystal champagne coupes will put you into the mood. The set of five glasses are rimmed with platinum—which provides a stylish punctuation and helps to preserve the rims from chipping. And the bowls stand atop elegantly hand-faceted stems which give just a little extra pop of light. Click on the photo above to learn more about the coupes. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center...
This little hand-carved bear was born in the Blackforest of Germany in the 1950's. He sits atop a cork, giving your unfinished wine bottle a bit of rustic Olde World charm. Click on the photo above to learn more about him.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
The city of Florence, Italy, was important in the Middle Ages—and became even more so in The Renaissance. Poetry, literature and book-binding have long found fertile ground in the cultured Tuscan city—think Dante Alighieri, Leon Battista Alberti or Niccolò Machiavelli. And don't think that the stodgy world of books and ideas were exempt from impeccable Florentine elegance. Books, inside and out, were often covered in elegant "marbled papers" which have come to be associated with the city. To make marbled paper, oil paints were floated atop water in a large pan, the color was stirred artistically, and sheets of paper were carefully laid upon the pigment—just enough to transfer a bit of the patterned color to the paper. Once dried,...
Stylish, beautifully made, and so nice to hold, this set of twelve glasses from the Fifties is just perfect for wine or craft cocktails. A platinum rim, at top, adds to the tumbler's elegance—all while helping to protect the glass rim from chipping. And a set of twelve will cover most dinner parties. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome glass. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange...
Entertain in Jetsons Style with these six rocks glasses from the 1960's. Each "Roly Poly" form is finished with a "mirror fade" at the base. Please 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 where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts"
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From the look of this feisty donkey, the P.O.D. ("Party of Democracy") is "Rarin' to Go!" Four tumblers from the 1950's will slake your thirst with every quaff. Please click the photo above to learn more about these glasses. Onto 2020!
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts"
Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design - Handsome Gifts"
We've just added a small collection of handsome and useful corkscrews to our on-line shop. Click on the photo above to learn more about this piece—or search for "corkscrew" or "corkpull" to see other options. This extra-long corkscrew is topped with a voluptuously-turned hardwood handle. It was made in France around 1910. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our...
We've just added a small collection of handsome and useful corkscrews to our on-line shop. Click on the photo above to learn more about this piece—or search for "corkscrew" or "corkpull" to see other options. This Edwardian English corkpull, made sometime between the wars, would have been used by a butler, servant or restaurant sommelier. What it lacks in flair, it makes up in industrial chic—and would be perfect on that bar cart in a converted factory loft. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). ...
We've just added a small collection of handsome and useful corkscrews to our on-line shop. Click on the photo above to learn more about this piece—or search for "corkscrew" or "corkpull" to see other options. Here is a couple of nice vintage corkscrews, both made in France. The top corkscrew, made from the tip of a stag's horn, has an elegant—almost delicate—look to it. The bottom option is made from a thicker piece of center horn—and is therefore more rustic. Learn more about them by clicking on the photos above. Another handsome corkscrew tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell...
We've just added a small collection of handsome and useful corkscrews to our on-line shop. Click on the photo above to learn more about this piece—or search for "corkscrew" or "corkpull" to see other options. Cast yourself in a Jean-Luc Goddard film with these 1950's corkpulls, hand-crafted in France. Perfect for a picnic, or backyard barbecue, they'll bring a touch of New Wave style to your next summer gathering. Better yet, impress your friends as you open a bottle before a screening of Breathless. Click upon one of the two photos above to learn more about them. More handsome corkscrews tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line...
We've just added a small collection of handsome and useful corkscrews to our on-line shop. Click on the photo above to learn more about this piece—or search for "corkscrew" or "corkpull" to see other options. Open that anticipated bottle in manly style with this French corkscrew from the 1920's or 1930's. A rustic stag's horn is polished, fitted and capped with two steel bolsters. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. More handsome corkscrews tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in...
"It doesn't matter if the glass is half-empty or half-full—there is clearly room for more wine!" - Anonymous A corseted, "triple gourd" form ceramic wine jug is finished with sophisticated microcrystalline tan and olive drip glazes. Serve your guests their vin with élan using this handsome and unusual piece. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by...
"A meal without wine is called breakfast" - Anonymous Another handsome French Art Nouveau ceramic wine jug—perfect for your summer entertaining. It was made in the 1920's and you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design - Handsome...
"This is one of the disadvantages of wine: it makes a man mistake words for thoughts" - Samuel Johnson Gothic "bosses" punctuate the perimeter of this pair of French Art Nouveau wine jugs made by Denbac, c. 1910's. An earthy, mottled tan finish is topped with an organic, dripping olive glaze. Wine jugs such as these were de rigueur on any French lunch or dinner table. Revive the tradition at your summer table al fresco. 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 where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found...
A regiment of stylized repoussé tulips stand sentry around the border of this modestly-sized English Arts & Crafts copper tray. It sits on four brass ball feet and is perfect for a teapot and two tea cups. It would also be well-suited as a dresser tray (holding a collection of perfume bottles and other elixirs) or as a cruet tray on a dining table. Or consider three heavy, pillar candles aligned along the center of the tray—a stylish centerpiece on a coffee or entry hall table. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome piece. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store...
Brrrr...it's gotten cold again! Don't let the Spring Chill get you down! Flu-Nips, to the rescue. This English Art Deco glass apothecary jar is topped with a Bakelite lid and promotes its contents in bold black and red graphics. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts"...
Spread a little sunshine your mother's way with this English Art Deco ceramic platter by Crown Ducal, c. 1930's. Hand-painted orange trees encircle the rim and offer a stylish, sunny way for mom to feed her brood. Click upon the photo above to learn more about this piece. More Mother's Day gift ideas tomorrow... Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow...
Your Mom will feel like "Queen for the Day" when she's served her breakfast on this English Arts & Crafts tray. Four transfer-printed tiles—each effusive with rose blossoms—form a beautiful and practical surface for holding serving pieces, hot, cold or otherwise. The whole is framed in walnut and fitted with two brass handles. Made around 1890. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this piece. More Mother's Day gift ideas tomorrow... Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at...
I bought this wonderful bronze seahorse bottle opener in England—just outside of Oxford—some seven or eight years ago. For that entire period, I kept him tucked away in my desk drawer, so loathe was I to part with him. My hope was to have him recast in bronze (multiple times, of course) which I could sell as contemporary items. I even flirted with keeping him for myself, permanently. Well, six years passed and so did our precious time in Greenwich Village. I packed him up for our move to Pittsburgh two years ago—and he sat deep within a box for those two additional years. He was finally unearthed last week and I decided that, if I were going to duplicate...
Folkcraft sometimes finds itself at the heart of beautiful design and aesthetics—and it provides meaningful inspiration for creative adaptation in the future. Designers have referenced, for instance, the decorative elements of textile works (like embroidery or lacemaking), carving (like that of Alpine Europe) or basketmaking (from Africa or the American Southwest) when creating new objects, often in a different medium. In the Swiss hand-painted plate, shown above, I am reminded of decorative "folk" embroidery—previously seen, perhaps, on the cuff of a blouse or along the hem of a skirt. It is in this "recycling" (and perpetuation) of local historical design aesthetics that different regions and cultures become associated with certain patterns and motifs. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is...
This handsome old-world beaker was made in contemporary Italy in the age-old sand-cast method. Used since mankind first started casting metals (in the Bronze Age), sand-casting remains a low-tech and wonderful technique for creating rustic and satisfyingly naive metal objects. First, an "original" (that is, the item to be duplicated) is pushed into a tray of sticky sand. Once lifted out, a depression is left in the sand—into which molten metal (in this case, pewter) is poured. Once the cast piece has cooled and solidified, the piece is taken out, chased (that is, cleaned of burrs and other major irregularities), and polished. Although an accurate duplicate is created, this "unsophisticated" method allows for plenty of idiosyncrasies and the hand-crafted sensibility of...
Here's another offering, designed by Danish Modernist artist Erik Magnussen (1940-2014). A covered sugar bowl and beaker-form creamer are cast in pewter and polished to a high shine by Royal Selangor (founded 1885). 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).
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Danish artist, Erik Magnussen (1940-2014), is amongst Denmark's preeminent Modernist designers. Trained as a ceramicist, one of his earliest jobs was working for Bing & Grøndahl. Later, he was hired to design items—furniture, lighting, hardware, tabletop wares—for quality manufacturers and retailers around the world. His works are exhibited in museums worldwide. The salt and pepper shakers, shown above, were designed by Magnussen for Royal Selangor (founded 1885). They are cast in pewter and polished to a high shine. Please click up on the photo above to learn more about them. 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...
Like most regional Art Nouveau movements, the German Jugendstil used naturalistic elements as decorative motifs. Here a copper tray is embossed with a pattern of leaves, berries and whiplash-form vines. Perhaps the berries were meant to echo the glasses of berry wine, possibly carried on the tray. It is finished with brass handles and ball feet. It was made by Württembergische Mettalwarenfabrik, also known as WMF, during the 1910's. 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: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design - Handsome...
From The Land of the Rising Sun comes this exquisite Crescent Moon. A heavy piece of solid brass is cut and hand-finished into the elegant bottle opener shown here. While it is absolutely functional, it is also handsome enough to keep out on your coffee table or bar cart. 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: "leodesignhandsomegifts"
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Maybe it's much too early in the gameAh, but I thought I'd ask you just the sameWhat are you doing New Year's,New Year's Eve? While I have several Christmas song favorites, when it comes to New Year's Eve, only one song will do: Frank Loesser's "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (1947). Frank Loesser (1910-1969) was born in New York City and lived on 107th Street. Though his father was a piano teacher, the boy did not like his father's taste in music—and the father never instructed the son. The boy did play instinctively, however, and, by the age of four, could imitate (by ear) most any music he heard. Loesser's works include several important musicals:...
It's not too early to start planning for New Year's Eve! And this set of four champagne or cocktail stems from the Forties will have you ringing-in 2019 in style. Softly-faceted panels are finished with an iridescent wash—which will give an extra sparkle to your countdown bubbly. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them.
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"
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Laguiole is a village of some 1,200 in South-Central France, known for its distinctive cheese and excellent knives. The first Laguiole knife was crafted in 1829 and became popular with farmers and shepherds. In fact, the decorative "pins" in the body of the knife are inserted in the form of a cross—and Catholic shepherds (tending their sheep, far from home or church) used to stick their knife blades upright, into the earth, to form a makeshift prayer altar. Alas, Laguiole was not disciplined about trademarking or protecting its esteemed name. As a result, poor-quality knockoffs (usually from Asia) have flooded the market under the Laguiole name. Rest assured, we only sell the best Laguiole products, made in Laguiole, France. The sommelier, shown...
When Autumn arrives, and the days shorten, we turn-up our lamps and light the candles and fireplaces. What would look better than flickering light glancing off the warm, polished surface of this English Arts & Crafts copper tray? A radiant foliate design is hand-tooled upon the hand-beaten surface of the tray—perfect whether presenting warm mushroom tartlets or eight to ten mugs of hot mulled wine. 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).
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We are still enjoying the last few days of late-summer's golden light—gently illuminating all things beautifully from low on the horizon. Pleasant days. Cooling nights. Harvest. Leaves. Contentment. This set of six tulip-form cocktail glasses will present your golden bubbly in style. Softly faceted and finished with an iridescent gold wash, they were made in the 1920's and will signal the onset of the season for comfort, gathering and nesting. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. 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 -...
Serve-up style with these four double old-fashioned rocks glasses from the 1960’s. The Forehand is demonstrated by our handsome pro, fitted in his crisp tennis whites. Your next cocktail hour is bound to be a racquet! See the set of four glasses by clicking on the photo above.
From the Mid-Century, a set of six Modernist highball glasses, each topped with a wide rim of mirrored silver banding. They are certain to smarten your barcart, just in time for your next cocktail or dinner party. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
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"
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Dad's toga party days may be well behind him—but a glimpse of the glory days might not be so bad. This band of Trojans—nice, quiet warriors—will keep his bar cart stylish and the furniture from developing water rings. These eight coasters were made of glass in the 1960's or 1970's and they are dressed in a mirrored finish.
More Father's Day gift ideas 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"
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Summer is nigh and my travel itch is needing a scratch! Travel has always fascinated me—as it has captivated centuries of people before me. And, despite my mother’s warnings before I take flight—"The World today is just crazy!"—I still believe crossing oceans is safer today than it was 150 years ago. Take, for instance, travel from New York to Hawaii, where I visit my family once or twice a year. Nineteenth Century Boston missionaries might spend 8 or more months at sea, heading south around the tip of South America and then thousands of more miles across the Pacific. I’m not sure how they ever hit the right (rather small) spot! And, no doubt, at least one soul would perish...
Every few years, I attend a week-long trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. Often derided, Frankfurt is (I have found) a city rich in history and culture. It is home to the world's largest book fair and I've seen many wonderful exhibits at their art museums. I've visited Goethe's home (and birthplace) and found a fair number of nice antiques in the city. Nevertheless, on every trip I try to take one day off to explore another close-ish city. One year it was Nürnberg. Prior to my visit, my only knowledge of the city was the Judy Garland movie “Judgement at Nuremberg.” What I found was another German city with a remarkable artistic past—home to (arguably) the greatest German artist of all...
There’s a long and impressive history of fine metal-tooling throughout the Middle East and North Africa—especially on seemingly utilitarian objects like trays, pots, lanterns and table tops. Since much of the Middle East and North Africa is Islamic, local craftsmen observe the strictures of their religion (to greater or lesser degrees) when it comes to […]
Another English Arts & Crafts brass tray—part of our ever-expanding collection—is shown above. Made by Joseph Sankey & Son, it looks across the English Channel for inspiration from the French Art Nouveau. Please click on the photo to learm more about it.
Here's an exquisite gift idea for Mother's Day—as beautifully executed a piece of metalsmithing as we’ve ever had. A scrolling, Art Nouveau botanical motif is repeatedly rendered in each quadrant of this octagonal brass tray. Not only is the design beautifully voluptuous, it is executed crisply and with great precision—obviously the work of a master craftsman. This tray typifies the “more-formal” dimension of the British Arts & Crafts movement, though it would also be sensational (and useful!) in either a highly-modern or rustic country milieu.
I've assembled a collection of handsome English Arts & Crafts brass trays from the turn-of-the-century. Though each is crafted of hand-hammered brass, each is quite different, indeed. Over the next few days, I’ll share three of these trays with you.
Shown above, the work of an accomplished metalsmith. Intertwined shamrocks, thistles, and Tudor roses—representing Ireland, Scotland, and England—bloom along the oval track of this brass English Arts & Crafts tray. Please come into the shop to appreciate it in-person or click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Another tray tomorrow.
Serve your mother Tea and Scones (perhaps in bed) with this handsome and functional English butler’s tea tray. Lined with rose-printed tiles, the heavy walnut tray is finished with brass handles. Handsome and pretty at the same time—and sure to put your mum into “Queen for the Day” mode. Please come into the shop to […]
Another recent acquisition is this set of six Mid-Century rocks glasses, decorated with an Old World map—plus a healthy dose of gold embellishment. Straight out of “Mad Men,” these six glasses share their in-store display with a matching set of eight Old World map highball glasses (which can be found in the On-Line Store). Please […]
“Eastlake” is a term thrown-around rather frequently—often by Americans who don’t know to whom the name refers. Charles Locke Eastlake was born in Plymouth, England in 1836. He studied architecture and designed some furniture, although, since he was not a woodworker, any such pieces were produced by others. He is most well-known for his book […]
The Arts & Crafts movement promoted the idea of the hand-made. And while such objects could be quite finessed, some pieces enjoyed a more naive, folk art aesthetic. An example in point is the hand-hammered copper tray, shown above. Beaten of heavy copper, the raised edges are further decorated with scalloping and hand-cut piercing. The […]
Please your favorite oenophile with one of our handsome, vintage corkscrews. Shown above, a French Art Deco cork pull with a wooden bobbin-turned handle. It's the "softer side" of Art Deco—more often seen in the English or French varieties of the movement. Click on the photo above to learn more about it and see the full range of vintage corkscrews on-offer.
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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This summer, while in Oxford, I was corrected when I complemented a friend's "Conservatory." "Actually," she said, "it's an Orangerie." I was informed—and shall always remember—that a conservatory has a lot more glass, including the ceiling and (mostly) glass walls. An Orangerie often has brick or wooden walls (albeit with windows) and a glass ceiling. While you may not have an Orangerie, you could certainly have this English Art Deco footed bowl, decorated with painted orange trees. The pattern was designed in 1925 by Norman Keates for Crown Ducal. It would look great in the kitchen (with fruit), handsome in the entry hall (for letters), or elegant in the bathroom (with fancy soaps). LEO Design's Greenwich Village store...
At LEO Design, we sell a lot of Double Old Fashioned rocks glasses. Less common is a single whiskey glass, like the set shown above. Its smaller size makes it perfect for an after-dinner nip. It is also great for smaller hands or people who find a larger glass difficult to hold. This set of four glasses from the 1970's shows an "Olde World Map," embellished with 22 Karat gold trim. 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: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design...
A silver lining in the otherwise dark cloud of global warming is—more time for tennis! How about another game before the courts are littered with leaves or smothered in snow? Or, if it's a bit too cold for you, how about a round of indoor drinks? In this set of four double old fashioned rocks glasses, made in the 1960's or 1970's, our handsome tennis pro demonstrates "The Forehand" in illustrated stop-motion decoration. A welcomed gift for the tennis lover in your life. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. 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)....
While there were many carriage trade Art Deco glassmakers—Lalique, Moser, Baccarat, Hoffman and Palda—somewhat overlooked have been some of the "everyday" glass manufacturers of the 1930's. In France, England, Czechoslovakia and The United States, there was brisk production of handsome Art Deco glassware, some of it decorative, some of it functional. Such an example is this nice, smallish French Art Deco citrine glass ice bucket. Its softly-ribbed corners are nicely finished and the weight of the piece says "quality." Like so many of the period's mass production glassmakers, this one remains unknown (to me, at least). It does, however, reflect a time when everyday objects were well-made and made to last. And it would make a sensational addition to your...
One of England’s best-respected glassmakers was James Powell and Sons. The company started in 1680 as Whitefriars Glass in a section of London which formerly housed a Carmelite monastery (The Whitefriars, from which the neighborhood got its name). In 1834, wine merchant James Powell bought the glassworks. Though he knew nothing of glassmaking, Powell wanted […]
Ah, Downton Abbey! How I miss my weekly fix of British propriety (laced with scandal). Perhaps what I miss most is observing the hide-bound manners of the English aristocracy (and the just-as-rigid manners of those who served them). The Victorians and Edwardians loved their accoutrements—there was always a tool or object for everything, especially when […]
Why should mothers have all the fun? For the teetotaling dad, perhaps an English Arts & Crafts hand-hammered pewter tea service: teapot, water pot, creamer and sugar bowl? Made in the late 1910’s or early 1920’s, they are fitted with heat-resistant polished Bakelite handles. They are but a portion of many Handsome Gifts just brought-over from England […]
Today’s journal entry melds our trip to England last week and next week’s Father’s Day celebration. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks in England, scouring the country for Handsome Gifts. The final carton has been delivered and we’re scurrying-about to clean, price and photograph the items for listing on our on-line store. Many of these items […]
Feeding a young child can be a challenging experience. Why, it’s so much more fun to just play with the food! And, perhaps, this has always been the case. To help encourage a little eater, an Edwardian English parent (probably a mother, possibly a nurse) used this handsome “Baby’s Plate” to quicken the task. Buried […]
Schools of design come and go—sometimes they evolve, sometimes they just expire. And major world events (or changes) can precipitate the start (or end) of an aesthetic movement. The Arts & Crafts movement had a glorious couple of decades which began in the late Nineteenth Century and (pretty much) ended with World War One. Such […]
Another Father’s Day idea: a set of six “Olde World Map” highball glasses, perfect for dad’s retro cocktail. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, they depict the tattered parchment of a time-worn world map—perhaps from the Renaissance or the Age of Exploration. Finished in 22 karat gold trim, they will bring a touch of handsome […]
For the dad with taste and an appreciation for craftsmanship, here’s an idea: a damascened plate, possibly from Toledo, Spain. Damascening—named after the luxurious damask fabrics from the ancient Syrian city—is the inlaying of a (usually) precious metal into another, more common metal base. Intricacy and precision are the watchwords—and the plate above ticks all […]
The Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik—or WMF—is a German metal workshop founded in Geislingen an der Steige in 1853. Geislingen is a village “on the rise” (an der Steige) of a mountainous trade route through the Swabian Alps. Although the village is many centuries old, it really grew in the mid Nineteenth Century when a railway was built […]
This ice bowl—made in the 1960’s—has a decidedly earlier, Aesthetic Movement sensibility to it. The Aesthetic Movement, popular in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century, often used Japanese graphic elements in a “cut and paste” manner. Of course, Japanese style much-influenced late Nineteenth Century Western artists—in fine art (Impressionism), in music (The Mikado, Madama […]
I didn’t see it at first. In fact, it was long after I bought these glasses, cleaned them, photographed them and posted them to the LEO Design on-line store that I recognized the coincidence. They bore the color scheme—black and gold—of my newly-adopted city, Pittsburgh! The city’s flag, not to mention the Steelers, Penguins and […]
Is it too early for Father’s Day? The one time I picked-up a golf club, things didn’t end well—for me or the grass underfoot. So it’s with great surprise that I find myself so smitten by this grouping of golf-related barware. Maybe it’s the wonderful “stop action” illustration of “The Basic Swing.” Perhaps it’s the […]
The rustic aesthetic and Gothic Revival inspiration on this hand-hammered Arts & Crafts copper tray brought to mind a simple country bungalow or a Cotswolds cottage. No, the shopmark informs me, this piece was made in New York City! A real showpiece, it would be perfect as a functional tray, as a centerpiece on your […]
Although I am no expert in Middle Eastern decorative arts, I know what I like when I see it. And I view early Twentieth Century Middle Eastern metalwork much the same way I view European Art Nouveau copper and brass works: an achievement of handcraft—using simple, honest and timeless materials—which is both practical and beautiful. […]
A little handmade treasure, just-in from England: a tiny Arts & Crafts copper pitcher with brass banding. While it wouldn’t accommodate a satisfying drink, it would be perfect for a few pens on your desk. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design’s Greenwich Village store is now […]
The English Arts & Crafts Movement (like other Nouveau Movements around the world) utilized botanical elements, sometimes in highly-stylized new ways. This round brass tray, made by Joseph Sankey & Sons, is embellished with grape clusters and leaves, entwined with their “whiplash-form” vines. It sits on three ball feet. It is perfect for serving tea […]
Loyal customers of LEO Design already know that we have pulled-up stakes and moved West. We are headquartered now in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, operating out our our new (old) Tudor Revival home. Built in 1906, it’s the perfect setting for our Handsome Gifts and home furnishings. And we continue to sell on-line. In the next few […]
Maybe it’s much too early in the game, Ahh, but I thought I’d ask you just the same: What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve? A classic never gets old, especially when it’s sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Nor will this set of six crystal coupes ever betray their years; they’re timeless classics, year […]
Pure crystal perfection—to help close-out one year and introduce another. Fine quality crystal is blown into the classic (and timeless) champagne coupe design. Made in the Sixties, these glasses are not just great for champagne; coupes are very popular for mixed drinks and special craft cocktails. Please click on the photo above to learn more […]
Vintage American crystal—blown with gently-curving bowls—is finished with a fine, hand-painted rim of gold. The gold band is not simply decorative; the metal provides a protective edging which helps prevent chipping. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, these coupes are perfect for either champagne or mixed drinks. Please click on the photo above to learn […]
Though we may raise a glass to punctuate a festive holiday moment, let’s not forget that a handsome serving tray can really underscore the sentiment. Shown above, an Arts & Crafts hand-hammered, silver-plated tray by the New York City metalsmith Apollo. The soft, reflected light will make really put your glasses on-stage—and make the most […]
Although these coupes exhibit great restraint and no fuss—a simple smokey crystal bowl tops a handsomely-facetted stem—they are not dour, cold or authoritarian. Instead, they offer a blend of stately modernity and classic elegance. Think of them as the crystal version of a tailored Tom Ford suit. Please click on the photo above to learn […]
In England (and the Commonwealth Countries), the day after Christmas —”Boxing Day”—was the traditional day 0ff for servants. In the aristocratic world of Downton Abbey, servants were expected to serve their families on Christmas Day. They received their “boxes” and celebrated the holiday on the 26th. In the (less-aristocratic but, nevertheless, tasteful) world of LEO […]
“Damascening” is the art and craft of inlaying one metal into another, creating a delicate, decorative effect. Most often, a precious metal (like silver or gold) is laid into a darker metal (like copper or bronze) to create a contrasting pattern—as with the plate above. Damascened items are usually decorative and include jewelry, plates and […]
For centuries, The West has been intrigued by “the inscrutable East”—and never more so than during the late-Nineteenth Century Aesthetic Movement period. British merchants shipped boatload after boatload of Japanese and Chinese treasures across wide and dangerous seas in an attempt to sate the Western appetite for beautiful and mysterious Asian goods. The French Impressionists […]
Head for the Highlands with this set of four tartan rocks glasses from the 1960’s. Generous double old fashioned tumblers are perfect for your favorite swig—be it egg nog or a single malt. Go on! Make Robert Burns proud! Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til 10:00 […]
The more I look at this English Arts & Crafts tray, the more I like it. Its hand-hammered design features a star formed of five Gothic arches, a swirling center point and fields of flowers everywhere else. Crisply executed, the repoussé work appears to jump-forth from the metal. It’s perfect for carrying a round of […]
Sip in style—eternal style!—with this set of four Mid-Century double old fashioned rocks glasses. Rome’s landmark Colosseo is wrapped around each tumbler—perfect for whiskey, mixed drinks or even a little flickering votive candle. Please come into the shop to see them or click on the photo above to learn more about them. From […]
Keep your ice cubes tidy and cold in this 1970’s ice bucket depicting a stop-motion golf swing. It’s the perfect gift for golfers—and will have them dreaming of warmer weather to come and precious time on the links. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it or come into the shop to […]
After a flurry of decorating—and a treasured day off—LEO Design is open for the Holiday Season! The set of six crystal cocktail stems, pictured above, have black-smoked bowls which are mounted atop tapered, faceted stems. They are perfect for mixed drinks, craft cocktails or—of course—champagne. They are part of a wide range of vintage glassware […]
How about a fun and festive gift for the friend whose boat is dry-docked for the season? Or for the friend who might some day have a boat to dry-dock for the season? Nautical flags wave gaily on this set of four double old fashioned rocks glasses from the 1970’s. Please click on the photo […]
Buying a gift for Father (or a father-in-law) can be fraught. What does one get “The Man Who Has Everything”? Another tie? A new sweater? Solve your problems with this set of four vintage double old fashioned rocks glasses which demonstrate “The Perfect Swing” in artistic stop action. Ideal during the Spring or Summer or—better […]
I was born during the final months of the Kennedy administration—and I proudly call him My First President. Today we have the tremendous opportunity (and responsibility) of picking the next “Most Powerful Person in the World.” Our options are very different and very clear. Vote as though your life (or your child’s life) depended on […]
To complement yesterday’s Mid-Century highball glasses, here’s a set of six old-fashioned rocks glasses. Embellished with 22 karat gold, these handsome tumblers will add a warm glow to your bar cart—and stir warm memories of exotic ports of call. Please come into the shop to see them or call us for further information. […]
With ten days left before the presidential election, do you feel like getting away? I do! But don’t leave (yet)! You’re needed at the polls! Until then, take a trip around the world from the comfort of your armchair—with this set of six Mid-Century “Old World Map” highball glasses. 22 karat gold highlights give the […]
These Japanese crystal sherry stems have just a blush of pink—enough color to make them interesting with out being overpowering. This set of eight glasses is perfect for serving any apéritif or digestif. They are part of a cache of “rediscovered stock”—cases of mid-century glassware packed away (and forgotten) in a warehouse. When I had […]
During the summer, we found a cache of (unused) vintage Japanese crystal stems which had been long forgotten in an abandoned warehouse. We bought the lot, which included the set of cocktail stems pictured above. Though the outer cartons showed 50 years of age, the pristine crystal within was still factory-wrapped and protected by its […]
Let’s end this little trio of nautical glassware with the set of glasses, shown above, made in the 1940’s or 1950’s. Cobalt glasses are printed with a crisp white sailboat silhouette. Six glasses are accompanied by a small ice bucket, perfect for one tray of ice. Please come into the shop to see them or […]
The perfect accompaniment to yesterdays’s Anchor Rocks glasses: a set of six frosted highball tumblers with navy blue anchors. Together, both sets would make a wonderful statement on your bar-at-sea. Even landlubbers can imagine a summer breeze blowing through their hair as they sip something long and cool from these tumblers. Please come into the […]
Perhaps your boat is already dry-docked for the season. Or, perhaps, if you had a boat, it would already be dry-docked for the season. That’s okay; relive your memories on the water with this set of six frosted rocks glasses, decorated with a navy blue anchor motif. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, these glasses […]
Occasionally I hear stories like this though rarely am I one of the characters. We recently found a stockpile of Japanese crystal glassware, squirreled-away and forgotten in a Southern warehouse. It’s what’s called “New Old Stock,” and it refers to old merchandise which has never been unpacked, let alone used. I imagine it was abandoned […]
Besides finding wonderful and handsome gifts for my shop, being in England this week provides me another benefit: I am avoiding the constant scrum of the current political fracas. Though I am, admittedly, a committed partisan, I nevertheless cannot wait for 8 November to come and go. And I’m sure I’m not alone! Finding this […]
