Austrian designer, Josef Hoffmann, was born in 1870 in Brtnice, a cluster of tiny villages in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire—and which today lies within The Czech Republic. Though he is most closely associated with Vienna—where he developed the Viennese Secession and was a founding father of the Wiener Werkstätte—Hoffmann’s influence reached far beyond […]
Like the soft, rosy petals of the Cherry Blossom, these Japanese crystal champagne coupes are touched with a blush of pink. Made in the 1960’s, these two sets of six stems are a simple and elegant way to serve your guests graciously. Please come into the shop to see them—and the many sets of beautiful […]
From Japan, a set of six Mid-Century champagne coupes, hand-crafted in smokey crystal with just a hint of purple. It’s another part of our recently-acquired collection of glassware, now in-shop—and just in-time for the wedding gift-giving season. Please come into the shop to see the full collection.
Also from Japan, another set of crystal champagne coupes, this time in icey blue. This set of six would be perfect for hosting—any season of the year. Nicely-weighted and finished. We also found the same pattern in two sizes of wine glasses. Please come into the shop to see them and the rest of our […]
Travel “Back to the Sixties” with this set of six Mid-Century high balls, decorated with a black and gold “Top Shelf” motif. Stylish, fancy—and thoroughly Modernist—these tumblers are one set of recently-acquired glassware now in-store. Please come into the shop to see the full assortment or click on the photo above to learn more about […]
A touch of the ancient joins Mid-Century Modern in this set of six high ball drinks glasses, printed with a pattern of coins and crests. They’re part of a recently-received shipment of glassware, now in-store. Please come into the shop to see them—and the rest of the shipment—or click on the photo to learn more […]
In our recent shipment of recently-acquired, vintage glassware, you’ll find the Deutsch Weingläser—German wine glasses—pictured above. Smoked crystal is rimmed with a ring of platinum to create these Modernist (yet thoroughly classic) wine stems which feel lovely in-the-hand. They are beautifully sophisticated without being pretentious. Please click on the photo to learn more about them, […]
Make your Sunday Soirée the talk of the town with this swanky beverage service from the 1960’s. Mirrored rims fade to clear on the eight high ball glasses which nestle into a chromed carrier. A mirrored ice bucket and pair of tongs complete the service. Please come into the shop to see this beverage service—or […]
Another nice set of glasses—part of our new shipment of vintage glassware—is this lot of eight amethyst glass tumblers from the 1960’s. Bottom-weighted and having a luxurious, heavy hand-feel, they also have a rippled interior design which creates a soft, “optic” effect. Perfect for a glass of red wine. Please come into the shop to […]
From post WWII Germany, a set of six smoked crystal champagne coupes, finished with platinum rims. Part of a new shipment of glassware now in-store. Come into the shop to see them or click on the photo to learn more about them. More new glassware in days to come.
Another liquor service, this time in golden-rich Amber Glass. Serve port, brandy, or another favorite after-dinner refreshment, in swanky Sixties style. The set includes the decanter, a glass stopper, and six serving glasses. It’s part of our recently-acquired collection of glassware—tumblers, rocks glasses, and stems—now in-store and ready for your perusal. Please click on the […]
On this day in 1863, West Virginia was admitted into the Union, making it the 35th U.S. State. It’s only fitting to feature some newly-acquired glassware made in West Virginia some one hundred years later. And, of course, West Virginia was the center for some of America’s best Twentieth Century glassware. The liquor service, shown […]
The heat is on—at least here in New York City! It’s the perfect time for us to show you more of the interesting glassware, acquired on my most recent buying trip. It seems I found a lot of novelty glassware (including those shown above). Printed with stripes, graphics, or botanical motifs, these sets of glasses […]
Straight out of “Mad Men,” a set of six Old-Fashioned Rocks glasses, screen printed with gold and black graphics. Part of a new collection of glassware—now in-store—stems, liquor services, and novelty glasses like the set above. Please come into the shop to see the new shipment or click on the photo to learn more about […]
In recent days, you’ve seen some photos of items found on my most recent buying trip. I’ve begun listing some of these items on the LEO Design On-Line Shop—and will share more of them in journal posts over the next few days. Above, a Mid-Century cocktail service—for martinis or other icy cold concoctions—blown of purple-tinted […]
More glassware from my trip to the Mid-West: a set of eight “double shots” from the 1950’s with burgundy and gold banding. Very handsome, indeed. This set—and the rest of my new-found treasures—is now in-store and ready for your perusal. Please come into the shop and see them. Additionally, please keep checking the LEO Design […]
I’m wrapping-up a buying trip in Western Pennsylvania and the (near) Mid-West. I’ve found a lot of glassware, including this set of ten cut crystal champagne stems, pictured above. The crystal has just a trace of purple, found on the best glass. It is deeply hand-cut with a stylized botanical motif on the bowls and […]
In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the Art Nouveau Movement swept across Scandinavia, Finland and (to a lesser extent) into Western Russia (St. Petersburg, in particular). In architecture, it was called The National Romantic Style (or, sometimes, by the German name “Jugendstil”) and it sought to breathe new life into civic and domestic […]
A band of gold surrounds the rim and “shoulder” of this eight-piece tumbler set, made in the 1940’s or 1950’s—and just received in the shop. A taller, narrower set of eight was also just received. Lovely for juice or water and perfect for wine—red or white. Please come into the shop to see them—and the […]
A blush of rose infuses the bowls of these Modernist crystal champagne coupes, made in the 1950’s. This set of ten is a part of a new shipment of glassware just-received in the last few days—tumblers, cordials, and lots of coupes. Please come into the shop to see the rest of the new assortment or […]
We’ve just received a new collection of vintage glassware including the dozen lustrous crystal champagne coupes, pictured above. They were made in the 1930’s or 1940’s and could add an extra splash of color to your next affair. Please come see them in the shop or call us to learn more about them.
Just in: a large collection on vintage glassware—champagne coupes, liquor stems, and whiskey glasses. Some are traditionally handsome, some have a Mid-Century edge. Come into the shop to view the full collection or see a selection of them in our on-line store. Shown above a “Citrine” crystal decanter and glass set, finely hand-etched with a […]
Arts & Crafts—and its various sister movements: Jugendstil, Secessionism, Stile Liberty, and Art Nouveau—came upon the world at a very interesting time. For some countries (like England and the United States), it was a time of great progress in science, technology and industry. World power was shifting and empires were being built. There was a […]
There are no small number of (tedious?) “aficionados” who would gladly spend the day debating whether an item is Arts & Crafts, Secessionist, Jugendstil or Art Nouveau. I say—at the risk of heresy!—they are all the same. The “Greater Art Nouveau” movement blossomed at roughly the same time in various, mostly Western countries. In each […]
Another set of emerald green glassware, these with a soft, diamond-shaped quilting pressed into the glass. Absinthe, anyone? See these and much more newly-acquired glassware in the shop. Or, click on the photo above to learn more about this set of stems.
Also Modernist, these American Mid-Century cordials are tinted an icy blue. The little square “ice cube,” suspended within the stem, adds to their forward-looking, post-war sensibility. Come into the shop to see the whole collection of new (after Christmas) acquisitions, which includes a lot of glassware. Or, click on the photo above to learn more […]
Though my heart lies (aesthetically) in the turn-of-the-century, I could not pass-up these Scandinavian Modernist smoked glass wine stems. They were purchased alongside two other sizes in the same design: whisky “double shots” and impressively large martini cocktail glasses. Come into the shop to see them (plus other recent acquisitions) or click on the photo […]
Now back from a post-Christmas buying trip, I’d like to share with you some of the new items I’ve found this week. Glassware—for cordials, champagne, wine, or whiskey—is the most-heavily represented category of new merchandise. Fortunately, we sell a lot of glassware. Shown above, a set of eight emerald green sherry stems. Please click on […]
Maybe it’s just too early in the game. Ah, but I thought I’d ask you, just the same. What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve? Frank Loesser’s song, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” is probably my favorite end-of-the-year song—elegant, simple, to-the-point. Perfect. Likewise, these crystal Champagne Coupes, shown above, are perfectly […]
A quick snap of more glassware, a part of my newest acquisitions while traveling. This photo shows a portion of three sets of Smoked-Glass Modernist glasses: liquor, wine, and champagne “stems.” See these—and other newly-acquired pieces—in-shop starting New Year’s Eve. Selected items will be added to the on-line shop as quickly as possible.
I’m out on-the-road, seeking to replenish the shop after a busy Holiday season. In Western Pennsylvania—where I am now—plus nearby West Virginia and Ohio, much of America’s Twentieth Century glassware was crafted. It seems many Eastern Europeans alighted in this region after their Atlantic crossings—and they brought their glassmaking skills with them from the old […]
In this season of candy canes, sugar plums, and gingerbread men, why not a handsome place to store them? This English Arts & Crafts biscuit barrel is made of blown, softly-ribbed glass, silver-plated mountings, and a little bone finial. This piece is a part of recent acquisitions from England, now in-store and ready for your […]
I wrap-up my London buying trip with this handsome Victorian English oval ceramic platter. Made in the 1880’s -1890’s, it is decorated with an Orientalist Aesthetic Movement transfer design. It captures perfectly the British fascination with all things Japanese—in the days of Arthur Liberty and The Mikado. Lovely to use, worthy of display, this platter […]
I’ve just purchased this set of six French Art Deco wine glasses. Blown with a horizontally-ribbed bottom half, lightly banded with gold, and decorated with hand-painted enamel flowers on the top half. They are a cheerful and casual way to enjoy wine—or your beverage of choice. Vist the shop to see them and the rest […]
I buy a lot of brass trays—but never before one quite like this. I believe it’s from the Near East, probably Byzantine Turkish, and likely from the early Twentieth Century. It is at once Oriental and Gothic Revival Occidental, and most certainly intended for export or tourist purchase. The border is formed of an incredibly […]
Cookie jars commonly were found in American kitchens and old ones can be quite collectable. In Britain, “biscuits” is the preferred term and they are served at tea—and with a good deal more elegance than in America. The Biscuit Barrel, shown above, is just-received from my most recent English buying trip. It dates from the […]
Amongst the metalwork I’ve found is this sweet little Arts & Crafts copper tray—unsigned but nevertheless nicely-crafted. A Celtic rosette at center is surrounded by a garland of delicately-tooled fruit. It is completed with a fluted pie crust rim and four ball feet. This tray should be in-shop come mid-November and on-line by Thanksgiving. More […]
Today I met a French woman, living in London, who travels back and forth—collecting wonderful things. I especially liked her glassware and bought a sextet of small wine glasses from her (pictured above). Designed and produced in the 1920’s or 1930’s, these conical vessels sit atop amber colored stems. They are at once Art Deco […]
Another collection of glasses from my most recent trip: juice glasses encircled by white sailboats cutting through royal blue waters. Come into the shop to see more of our newest acquisitions.
I’ve just returned from a productive buying trip to Western Pennsylvania and “The Near Mid-West.” Included in my cache is a collection of 1950’s “Fostoria” stems—champagne, wine, sparkling wine, and water glasses—blown with a tinge of blue. Additionally, I’ve bought several new sets of champagne coupes, tumblers and a few wine glasses. I often find […]
To live graciously in the time of Downtown Abbey, one would best understand the rubrics of society—and follow them closely. One rule: biscuits are served with tea, not cookies. Another rule: biscuits are presented in a barrel, not the plastic wrapping. Above, a biscuit barrel—England’s version of the classic American cookie jar. Imagine the […]
Today is the last day of the sun sign, LEO. Our Lion Rampant, above—hand-tooled on copper, in Belgium—bears us a regal farewell: “See you in eleven months!” Meanwhile, LEO Design (the shop and the web site) will continue to serve—throughout the zodiac calendar. Click on the photo to learn more.
On 10 August 1792, the “Storming of the Tuileries Palace” effectively brought an end to the French monarchy (later restored in 1814). Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were arrested and locked away—later to be killed. This bloody chapter in French history was followed, exactly one year later, with the official opening of the […]
