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 […]
Speaking of contemporary barware, I’ve been selling a line of Bohemian crystal for the past few years—and very successfully, I might add. Made in Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the collection is stylish, very nicely made and is reasonably priced. I’ve recently added a couple of new decanters to the collection, including the wine […]
I’ve never quite understood the James Bond quote, “Shaken, never stirred.” Of course, in the literal context, it refers to the secret agent’s preference in the mixing of his cocktails. (By the way, Auntie Mame instructs the opposite: “Don’t shake; it bruises the gin.”). Even more confusing to me, however, is Bond’s comment taken in […]
The Greco-Roman World was vast and influential. It spanned over 12 centuries and covered a vast part of the world—from Spain (in the West) to the Russian Caucasus (in the East), from the top of Britain (in the North) to the top of Africa (in the South). Its beginning (and ending) is difficult to clearly […]
Like a prehistoric, amorphous creature undulating in the murky canals of Venice, this hand-crafted glass bowl began its life just outside of Venice—on the complex of glass-making islands called Murano. This series of tightly-packed islands is connected by bridges and lies less than a mile north of Venice-proper. It was originally settled by the Romans—perhaps […]
It takes nearly as much effort and expense to cast an ugly bottle as it does a beautiful one. This was my thought while pouncing upon this Edwardian English flask during my last trip to London. The swirling glass brings a wonderful tactility to the flask and the cross-hatch effect gives endless movement to it […]
Pure cultures can be fascinating. Even more interesting, in my opinion, is when cultures blend—creating a wholly-new and sometimes beautiful creation. Architecture, food and even people are often very alluring when they express the features of multiple, melded backgrounds. What could be more English than a tea caddy? Sure, many other cultures valued, stored and […]
Get ready for Poker Night with this sweet suite of Seventies suits—six rocks glasses from the age of Mad Men. Please come into the shop to see them for yourself or call us for additional information. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
Amongst my recent finds in England: a set of eight (plus one) silver-plated cocktail stems, circa 1950. They are modesty-sized, perfect for today’s lighter mixed drinks—or also suitable for a pre- or post-prandial nip. And you’ll never have to worry about your guests shattering them! Please come into the shop to see them in-person or […]
Never again fret, “However shall I serve my olives or cocktail onions?” Now, in Edwardian oaken style, you may dispense with that (particular) dilemma. An oak “barrel,” affixed with silver-plated brass mountings, is fitted with an interior ceramic crock to hold your cocktail (or other) condiments. A silver-plated bident (yes, this is a word) serving […]
What it is about English Art Deco that I find so appealing? Is it the “smart, sensible style”—stately, yes, but not superfluous? Is the the image of a young, future queen serving tea to her dogs? Or is it the thought that the British Art Deco period marked a “happy bubble” in the all-too-short time […]
The Victorians (and the Edwardians, who followed them) loved their accoutrements. From asparagus tongs to celery vases to velvet-boxed sets of fish knives—the aspiring middle classes of the late 19th Century had a utensil or receptacle for every possible type of food. And, though most of those fish knives sat permanently in their velvet boxes, […]
Anyone who shops in LEO Design knows that I like collections. Collections of red pottery. Collections of brass frames. Collections of Thirties glassware. Now, it seems, I have a collection of blue Mid-Century glass. Purchased from a collector in London, some of the pieces shown above are Venetian and some are English. Come into the […]
In 1874 Germany, just downstream from WMF on the River Fils, the brothers Fritz and Robert Fischer opened a metalworks in the village of Göppingen (Baden-Württemberg). It was a good time for German metalsmiths—especially those who produced in the popular Jugendstil aesthetic. Although the behemoth (WMF) was just twelve miles upstream, there was room for […]
The Germans are a practical people. In industry, government or home-management, they seem to appreciate the most-direct route between two points. Their language reflects this sensibility as well: long words are created by simply sticking-together a series of smaller words. Case in point: the three English words which make-up “Metal Ware Fabricators” becomes (in German) […]
If all this talk of summery beach scenes has made you thirsty, perhaps you could use this set of six “Anchors Aweigh!” glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Each glass has two navy blue anchors, encircled in a navy ring and the rest of the glass is frosted. Perfect for a drink on the beach […]
Some things never go out of style: classic champagne coupes, tumblers or wine stems. Other things, like rocks glasses, pulse with popularity—selling a little more this year and a little less the next. And then there are those things which come back only now and then—like cocktail glasses. Classic cocktail glasses are selling well—the result […]
In the late 1700’s, English ceramics-makers were mastering the new “transferware” technology—by which engraved (or painted) patterns could be quickly, easily and cheaply printed onto mass-produced ceramicware. Ceramics manufacturers like Minton and Spode began to create their own (Westernized) versions of the highly-collectible, very expensive, hand-painted blue and white Chinese porcelain which had previously been within […]
Toast the holiday in Capitol style with this set of four Red, White and Blue rocks glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Bold bands of the tricolor celebrate the American Flag—or 35 other national flags including Russia, France, Samoa, Taiwan, Malaysia, Nepal or the (dis-?) United Kingdom. Americans celebrate this day—the day on which the […]
I think this is the perfect tray! It was crafted in the 1910’s in Meriden, Connecticut and will reside comfortably within either an Arts & Crafts or Art Deco aesthetic. First the tray was fashioned in brass. Next it was hand-hammered, then electroplated with silver. It can hold six large-bowled coupes or eight smaller glasses—and […]
Although this set of eight Bavarian crystal cocktail stems are from the 1960’s, they still retain a classic, earlier-period sensibility. The stem and foot are crisply faceted and the bowl is rimmed with a platinum edge. Although the platinum rim provides a dash of style, it also adds a practical benefit: the metal edging helps […]
I can never buy too many nice trays. Whether brass, copper or quarter-sawn oak—if it can hold a round of drinks, a nice breakfast or a collection of perfume bottles, I want to acquire it. Shown above, an American Arts & Crafts hand-hammered copper tray, circa 1920. Please click on the photo to learn more […]
Well before Mad Men, stylish Fathers drank their cocktails in something like this—a hand-hammered and sliver-plated cocktail stem made in the 1910’s. Expressing a bit of the Arts & Crafts and a touch of the Art Deco, this set of six cocktail stems remained en vogue from the Teens ’til World War II (Prohibition excepted, of course). […]
Sensuous curves of amber glass comprise a Modernist cocktail glass from Post-War West Germany. This set of six footed glasses would make for a perfect mixed drink, creamy nip or even ice cream. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. See new merchandise first! Follow us on […]
This is my idea of a pretty glass—a tulip—modestly short-stemmed, softly faceted to deflect the light and punctuated with elegant bands of gold at rim and foot. Just perfect for wine. And, because it doesn’t have a long stem, this glass reminds us that wine really should be a daily enjoyment—not a venerated extravagance to be […]
Champagne coupes do not get more classic than this. Excellent quality crystal is blown into the time-honored (classic!) form—resulting in a glass which is at once substantial and refined. Click on the photo above to learn more about this set of eight from the 1960’s or 1970’s—or come into the shop to see them for yourself. […]
From stylish Art Deco France comes this six-piece icy-blue faceted glass liqueur service. Serve your guests “a little something” after dinner with this sweet and handsome drinks set, made in the 1930’s. Please come into the shop to see this stylish liqueur service in-person or call us for further information. See new […]
In John Patrick Shanley’s wonderful film Moonstruck, actor John Mahoney describes his beautiful young student as “fresh and bright and full of promise as moonlight in a martini.” While his object of desire may be taboo, the sentiment is, nevertheless, beautiful. I thought of that tender scene (with Mahoney and Olympia Dukakis) when I first came […]
This set of eight crystal cocktail (or wine) glasses are blown in a pleasing “tulip” form and are hand-etched with the simplest of decorations—vertical “teardrop” slashes. Probably made in 1960’s Germany, they are part of a new shipment of glassware now in-store at LEO Design. Please come into the store to see the whole new […]
We’ve just received a new shipment of vintage glassware, some of which we’ll showcase over the next few days. First-up: this set of eight softly-faceted crystal coupes, gold-banded at the rims and feet. Made in the 1940’s or 1950’s, they appear never to have been used—they are in flawless condition. Of course, there are no […]
Maybe it’s Mad Men, maybe it’s just time for a revival—but rocks glasses have been popular and remain a strong seller at LEO Design. Classic rocks glasses—whether cut crystal, printed novelty or simply unadorned—continue to be “on trend” with our Spring glassware customers. Shown above, currently in our shop window, a set of four Double […]
I bought the crystal tumblers shown above—now in the shop window—from a collector with very good taste. I’m not sure where they’re from; my educated guess tells me either France, Czechoslovakia or the Greater Austro-Hungarian Empire. Though I do not know where they were made, I do know that they are definitely Art Deco—from the late […]
Angular, stylized sail boats ply deep blue waters on this set of four Modernist rocks glasses from the 1970’s. Perfect for all manner of summer beverages, their frosted glass would make for summer-perfect votive holders, too. Please come into the shop to see them or call us for further information. See new […]
Glassware is always a good seller for us, especially crystal champagne coupes. And, with Spring wedding season upon us, we’re due for a brisk selling period. Shown above, sets of Japanese icy blue crystal champagne coupes and demi-coupes. Of course they’re perfect for bubbly, but coupes are also very hot right now for various mixed […]
Stylish bands of silver and gold surround this Italian amethyst glass covered bowl. On the lid, a circle of stylized, hand-painted leaves congregate around the knob. Perfect as a candy dish, a desk caddy or as a place to (carefully) leave one’s keys and coins. Please come into the shop to see it or call […]
Beautiful quality crystal is further embellished with a hand-cut “trailing botanical” decoration on this set of six champagne coupes from the 1930’s or 1940’s. Made by Fostoria in West Virginia, they have an unusual reeded and corseted stem design. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. See new […]
In pubs across England—in the early Twentieth Century—functional brass serviceware was given a “decorative lift” by way of a handsome crocodile embossment. Weary barmaids slung such trays and pitchers back-and-forth, back-and-forth, all night long to tables of increasingly-enthusiastic patrons. And the simple, stamped croco design turned an otherwise utilitarian object into a thing of exotic […]
Three of the United Kingdom’s iconic plant symbols are presented on this English Arts & Crafts hand-tooled brass tray from the turn-of-the-century. Scotland provides the thistle, Ireland the shamrock, and England the Tudor rose. Though entirely functional as a tray or serving piece, one may prefer to hang it from the wall as a splendid […]
Victorian and Edwardian England was enchanted by the East—especially the Far East. The leisure class might take a trip to “The Orient” once in a lifetime. And merchants, like Liberty of London, brought shiploads of Asian ceramics and other artworks to an eager Western consumer. Aesthetes, designers and other tastemakers (like Dr. Christopher Dresser) would […]
I purchased the hand-tooled copper tray, shown above, in England—and, indeed, at first I thought it was English Arts & Crafts. But, as I inspected it, some of the tooling, and the crenelated gallery treatment didn’t seem quite British to me. Then I found a mark on the back with its tell-tale Arabic characters. I’m still not […]
Victorian and Edwardian Englishwomen had an object for every conceivable purpose—including a “pin tray” in which to keep their hair accessories. Thus was “hatched” the rather dour-looking “Cornish Mackerel” pictured above. Made of cast brass in the Teens or Twenties, it would (indeed) be the perfect place to keep hair pins—or rings, collar stays, cufflinks, […]
We’ve just received a shipment from England—a nice collection of metalware including some nice brass and copper trays. Over the next few days, I’ll show you select pieces from the new collection. Shown above, an English brass tray—about the size of a pie plate—with a hand-hammered Arts & Crafts stylized botanical motif. Very often the […]
Amongst our newly-acquired glassware—now in-store at LEO Design—is this handsome set of crystal martini glasses, each lightly hand-etched with sprays of pine needles. The set of six quality crystal stems was made by Fostoria (West Virginia) in the late 1950’s or 1960’s. Please come into the shop to see them—and the rest of our vintage […]
Part of our new shipment of vintage glassware: a set of six Italian amberglass stems for sherry, port or any liquor of your choice. Please come into the shop to see them in person or call for more information. More newly-acquired glassware tomorrow. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
“The Age of Exploration” meets “The Age of Don Draper” with this set of six Old World Globe rocks glasses from the 1960’s. They are part of a recent shipment of vintage glassware, now in-store at LEO Design. Please click-upon the photo above to learn more about them—or come into the shop to see the […]
More glassware: this time a set of eight crystal wine stems with hand-etched Fleurs de Lys. While the glasses were made in the 1950’s or 1960’s, the silhouette and proportions of the design are clearly inspired by 18th Century French wine glasses. While absolutely traditional, they lack the pretension of contemporary long-stemmed wine goblets—which will help […]
We’ve just received a new shipment of glassware and will share some of the highlights with you over the next few days. Two interesting sets of glasses—a set of eight highball tumblers and a set of eight double-old-fashioned rocks glasses—are now in-store. Textured, graphite-like stripes are printed on the glasses, giving an interesting surface aesthetic […]
Rocks glasses continue to sell well and I am always on the hunt for elusive “novelty” glasses which remain tasteful. Shown above, a good example: a set of four “Double Old Fashioned” glasses with a tasteful, gold-check design. Please come into the shop to see them in-person. See new merchandise first! […]
While some may find it too cold to contemplate champagne, others won’t let a good opportunity pass. Just in at LEO Design, this set of six nice-quality crystal champagne coupes from the 1960’s. A simple, classic bowl sits atop a lightly-embellished stem—in the form of a reeded column. We just can’t seem to keep nice […]
The Germans didn’t have a monopoly on crafted brass trays. Shown above, an English Arts & Crafts brass tray, embellished with a scrolling “whiplash” decoration. Imagine it in the breakfast room of a handsome Edwardian home—across the English channel from Continental Europe. Made by Joseph Sankey and Sons, it has two brass handles and six […]
From the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik—more-easily referred to as WMF—comes this handsome and useful brass tray from the early Twentieth Century. Hand-hammered of brass, it measures nearly 18″ across and bears the classic WMF ostrich mark showing that it was made between 1909 and 1914 for the French market. It is a nice example of German Jugendstil […]
Like yesterday’s champagne coupes, this set of six smoked crystal wine glasses were made by Fostoria (West Virginia) in the 1960’s or 1970’s. Sensuously sculpted bowls sit atop beautifully tapered stems—a perfect presentation for white or red wine ($195 for the set of six). Please come into the shop to see them or call us […]
Perfectly sculpted—modern yet sensuous. Six lightly-smoked crystal champagne coupes are perched atop clear, tapered stems. Made by Fostoria in West Virginia in the 1960’s or 1970’s ($195 for six). Please come into the shop to see them in person or call us for further information. See new merchandise first! Follow us on […]
According to ancient Greek mythology, Dionysus—the god of wine—pursued a beautiful maiden by the name of Amethystos. Her prayers to remain chaste were answered by the gods: she was turned into a beautiful white stone. Dionysus, in his grief, poured wine over the white stone, turning it violet. And, thus, the first amethyst was created. […]
When, in 1764, French king Louis XV granted permission for Prince Bishop Cardinal Louis-Joseph de Laval-Montmorency to open a glassworks in the eastern village of Baccarat, the monarch was thinking drinking glasses, mirrors and windowpanes. In fact, that is precisely what the workshop made for its first 50 years. In 1816, under Napoleon, the company […]
Taste the “high” life with this set of six Mid-Century Modern rocks glasses from the Seventies ($165). The airline’s logo is emblazoned in gold upon a smoked glass whiskey tumbler—though we’re not certain which airline it is. So sit back, relax, and imagine yourself in a swanky First Class cabin in the still-early days of […]
The 1960’s and 1970’s enjoyed a little Art Nouveau revival. While French Art Nouveau fonts graced Carpenters album covers and Czech Mucha posters inspired psychedelic rock band tee shirts, little Italian dresses were being made of the colorful, swirling, Nouveau-inspired prints of Emilio Pucci. Shown above, a set of eight Austrian crystal wine glasses with […]
Let’s say you’re an aspiring young despot. Although you’re Italian, you’ve just helped fight the French Revolution—sweeping those bothersome monarchs out of your path to glory. You’ve impressed your new countrymen with your military savvy and ruthlessness. And, after all, someone does need to lead the country. What to do. What to do. “French Emperor” […]
Yesterday I showed a globe from the mid-Thirties. Here’s another “global representation”—this time on a set of four Mid-Century highball glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. An old world map is printed upon the glassware and further embellished with gold decoration. Please come into the shop to see them or click on the photo above […]
If Don Draper had owned a country retreat, certainly this pine motif cocktail shaker would be in-use there. Branches of pine—complete with needles and cones—decorate the sides of the frosted glass shaker. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
One of the (many) wonders of Venice is how differently the water can appear depending on the time of day, the angle of the light, or the depth of the canal or lagoon on view. A sapphire blue canale can transform to emerald green in the time it takes to have lunch. And the glinting […]
Here’s another set of newly-acquired glasses—beautifully proportioned, handsomely designed—now in-store at LEO Design. Perfect for wine or champagne, this set of six footed glasses will bring a touch of understated (yet confident) elegance to your dining table. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Well, it’s finally gotten cold (-ish) and I’ve even heard a few complaints about the seasonal temperatures—which makes it the perfect time to long for warmer days in the months ahead. And, to help us do this, I’ve just acquired a set of ten cobalt blue highball tumblers, decorated with sailboats at full mast. Whether […]
If you’ve had enough Champagne this weekend, perhaps a Mimosa will better suit your palette for Sunday brunch. Drink them in style with this set of six Art Deco crystal wine glasses made in the 1930’s or 1940’s. The footed design, without a stem, makes them a little less pretentious than their leggy relations—and yet, […]
Though New Year’s Eve is behind us, we are still in the middle of a long New Year’s weekend—and there’s still time to celebrate with a little bubbly. Shown above, part of our newly-acquired collection of handsome, vintage glassware now in-store at LEO Design. Made in the Art Deco Thirties or Forties, these coupes are made of […]
We sell a lot of handsome, vintage glassware—and never more than during the Holiday season, especially for New Year’s Eve. For this reason we continue to purchase as much nice glassware as we can find, right-up to the end of the year. The collection of stems pictured above—coupes, wine glasses, water glasses and sherry stems— […]
Although Christmas is over, isn’t there still a bit of time for celebration? To help, here’s another Handsome Gift, found on my trip this week to Western Pennsylvania and the Near-Midwest. It’s a set of six wine glasses—faceted, footed and banded with gold at rim and foot. Though festive in a slightly formal way, the short stems help “bring […]
In 1482, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico il Moro, commissioned renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci to create a monument for the Duke’s late father—the largest bronze horse ever made, Il Gran Cavallo. Leonardo set-about the task, sketching designs and making clay models for different potential castings. Alas, Leonardo never saw the project through to completion. […]
Said ancient Greek poet Archilochus (680 – 645 BC), “A fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing.” Some 2,600 years later, Latvian-British philosopher and Oxford scholar Isaiah Berlin (1909 – 1997) published a treatise expanding upon this notion. In a nutshell, thinkers and writers fell into one of two camps: “foxes” who […]
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a set of four cheerful Nutcracker highballs! Whether filled with cold milk for the kids or spicy eggnog for the grownups, these 1970’s vintage highball glasses will make you feel like a child, if only for a moment. As they stand sentry on your […]
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a suite of “space age” rocks and tumblers! Forget Sputnik! One look at these glasses and you’ll see for a fact: America won the Space Race. A simple—yet sharp—graphic of black and gold is printed on highballs, Tom Collins tumblers, and Old Fashioned rocks […]
On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a fleet of ships on rocks and highball glass! The fleet’s in—and just in time for the Holidays. A set of four rocks glasses and a set of four highballs ($145 per set) are wrapped with a nautical graphic of sailboats, knots and other […]
On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a Flight of Golden Dragons! Mid-Century rocks glasses fit for an Emperor—or, perhaps, Auntie Mame. Chinese golden dragons breath fire and dance around the tumbler, while etched Art Deco “clouds” provide a stylish backdrop. Very stylish. Very theatrical. $195 for the set of four. […]
On the Eighth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a table laid with sparking, crystal stems! And a Happy Thanksgiving to you! Picture, if you will, your festive Holiday table—laid with the “quilted” iridescent crystal wine glasses, pictured above. The faceted, “harlequin” pattern captures, diffuses and reflects the light—softly colored by the opalescent […]
On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a Tartan Double Old Fashioned Rocks Glass set! Have a fling for the Holidays—a Highland Fling. This set of six plaid rocks glasses, made in the 1960’s, is printed with a jaunty red, yellow and green ($245). Like the Scots, you can celebrate the […]
On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—Italian Crystal Amber-Foot Stems! Time for a little La Dolce Vita! Hand-crafted in Italy, these crystal Modernist cocktail glasses celebrate the season with a touch of serious style. Heavy crystal is shaped like sculpture—and finished with an amber foot, whose color radiates upwards through […]
On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a half-dozen Candle Highballs! Cheery, indeed, yet without too much “Kitsch of Christmas Past,” this set of six highball tumblers from the 1960’s enjoys the warm glow of hospitality—bringing a reassuring note with each annual reappearance. Let their brass lanterns bring a little festive light […]
On the Fourth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—something a little different for LEO Design! I’m not big on pink and I don’t buy a lot of it. Maybe it’s the softness? Maybe it’s the princess connotations? Maybe it’s just that I don’t have any more room for a new color-section in […]
On the Third Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a jolly set of festive highball glass! Have yourself a Merry Sixties Christmas with this set of eight highball tumblers, gaily printed with Christmas and New Year’s greetings ($95). Decorated in Red, Green and White, these glasses bring-back the simplicity (or naiveté?) of Holidays […]
On the Second Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a pail of seashells on a rocks glass suite! Pull open your collector’s cabinet every time you mix-up some drinks. “Specimens” of seashells embellish the sides of these six Mid-Century, modestly-sized rocks glasses. Neutral shades of black, white and brown—punctuated with a touch of […]
On the First Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a set of eight “cranberry crystal” champagne coupes! Softly-faceted crystal bowls are tinted an autumnal cranberry, while the balustrade stem remains crystal-clear. Made in the 1930’s or 1940’s, the set of eight is $245. Imagine your Holiday dinner table, laid with these sophisticated—yet cheery—crystal […]
Autumn—the time of the harvest, falling leaves and big, bold moons. Capture the moonlight in one of these eight softly-faceted cocktail glasses from the 1930’s, crafted of hand-etched amber glass (with just a touch of iridescence). Perfect for an old-fashioned mixed drink or for a splash of champagne. Please come into the shop to see […]
The cold nights have begun to roll-in, perfect for a little post-prandial nip—how ’bout a sherry (cheri)? This set of eight hand-cut crystal stems—probably English, possibly French—would conclude your evening with style and satisfaction. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Stourbridge, in the English West Midlands, is the center of fine glassmaking in England and is home to “The Crystal Mile”—where the best glassworks are found. It was here, in 1827, that an eleven year old boy, Frederick Stuart, was sent off to work. At the time, glass factories built large brick “cones”—tapered, oven-like structures, in […]
And, for those who’d like to celebrate the Holidays with something a little stronger, we have this Mid-Century Modern cocktail service made of smoked glass. With a corseted shape—both in the pitcher and in the six cocktail glasses—this drinks service captures “svelte chic” perfectly. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
Although it seems ages away, the Holidays will be here before you know it—with New Year’s Eve just over 10 weeks away! Beat the last-minute rush and secure your celebratory champagne coupes now! Ready to fit-the-bill is this set of six crystal coupes from the 1950’s or 1960’s. With a smoked bowl and clear stems, […]
In the aftermath of World War II, Germany laid in ruins. Many of her great cities had been leveled and masses of workers—no longer employed by the Military Industrial Complex—needed to get back to work, fast. The combination of high unemployment, low labor costs, and high technical proficiency made Germany ripe for development as the […]
Let’s conclude our short procession of beautiful, hand-wrought trays with this American Arts & Crafts beauty made by Meriden (Connecticut). Though understated in its design, the tray is elevated to the sublime with a pattern of soft, all-over hand-hammering. And, while this smallish tray can carry six to twelve glasses (whether coupes, highballs or cordials), […]
Another brass tray—from another part of the world—is every bit as handsome as yesterday’s example (in its very different way). Hand-hammered of brass by the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany, circa 1910, it typifies handsome German Jugendstil—the Art Nouveau Movement of Germany. It’s not large; perfect for 8-10 sherry glasses, or […]
Hours of hand-tooling culminate in this handsome and substantial tray—probably hand-made in Morocco. While I am not an expert in North African or Middle Eastern metalwork, I do recognize beautiful tooling when I see it. A beaming geometric pattern radiates outwards from the center of this 17.5 inch tray. Along the perimeter, a row of sculptural […]
The humble dandelion derives its name from the French phrase Dent de Lion (the “tooth of the lion”) due to the plant’s jagged green leaves. Considered a pesky weed by many, the dandelion has an interesting story to tell. The dandelion is part of the sunflower family, a native of Greece, and has been used […]
After World War II, much of the world’s high volume glass and ceramic production shifted slowly—away from the “victor” countries (such as England and The United States) and towards the “vanquished” countries (Japan and West Germany). While the Allied countries did continue to make glassware and ceramics (especially at the high end), it was the […]
American glass production in the first half of the Twentieth Century was centered at the nexus of Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This area had in abundance the raw material (silica), the energy (coal) and the craftsmen, including many Eastern European immigrants who brought their glass-making skills with them from the old country. The […]
This set of six West German Modernist crystal champagne coupes are ultra chic—with their elegant stems, smokey bowls and crisp, platinum bands. They’ll help make your next cocktail party cool, confident and sophisticated. They are part of a newly-received shipment of glassware, now in-store at LEO Design. Please click on the photo above to learn […]
Of all decorative motif, the classic “Greek Key” is one of my favorites. Perhaps it’s the angularity, the mathematical repetition, the “no-nonsense flair.” I’ll buy nearly any handsome, antique item decorated with the meandering architectural embellishment! Mirrors, cufflinks, picture frames. So, when I found these highball glasses—made in the 1950’s or 1960’s—I quickly cleared space […]
Mirrors were all the rage back in the Seventies—mirrored sunglasses, mirrored walls, mirrored barware. Shown above, three sets of glassware, all from the 1970’s and all sporting a generous mirrored band at the rim. The tallest, a set of six highball tumblers ($175); the shortest, a set of six whiskey “double shots” ($125); and in-between, a […]
We’ve just received a shipment of stylish and practical salt and pepper grinders, hand-turned in Los Angeles. Made of white oak (for the salt) and black walnut (for the pepper), both shakers are fitted with a precision grinding mechanism—stainless steel for the pepper and an industrial grade ceramic mechanism for the salt (since salt and […]
