At LEO Design, we love our LEOs—including this handsome beast from the Twenties or Thirties. Lions are portrayed in many different manners. This guy seems to have been sculpted with an Early Twentieth Century "Circus Lion" demeanor—like one might have seen on a circus poster between the wars. His foreshortened paw reaches-out; his other paw rests upon a Cubist boulder. As we love lions, I have had this particular fellow—actually, a pair of cast iron bookends—in-stock in the past. At the moment, we also have in-stock a similar pair with their original gold finish option. This pair of bookends have an age-darkened bronze finish. The lively sculpting, the fierce energy, and the rich bronze patina make for a handsome addition to...
There is a fine line between a feline's sense of play and her instinct to hunt. Cats—of every size, shape and variety—are known to be stone-cold killers. For this reason, keepers of house cats are strongly encouraged to keep their charges indoors all the time (for the sake of the billions of birds killed by American cats each year). When playing with a cat—with a laser pointer, a string, a paper bag or a retractable mouse—it is clear that her skill as a huntress is tied to her sense of play. Is your cat trying to "kill" her catnip mouse? Or is she only playing with the lizard in the backyard? (And why does she so often drop her "trophy" at...
This week, we're sharing some of our favorite felines—a tribute to "the cat ladies" who inspire, teach and lead us. A cat's arched back. Is it a hiss, a stretch, or an appeal for a friendly scratching? This cast iron kitty, made in the Teens or Twenties, is a doorstop by Hubley. The Hubley Manufacturing Company was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1894. Shortly after the Turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century, Hubley began manufacturing cast iron animals—like the doorstop shown here—and other cast iron toys: cars, trucks and "heavy equipment." As the century progressed, Hubley shifted to cast-zinc items and became most well-known for its collectible scale model cars. This heavy, cast iron cat was designed to be a doorstop. It would look great, however,...
Is there any greater luxury than an afternoon nap? Even if you're too busy to indulge in such a pleasure, you might enjoy watching this little kitty, curled-up, enjoying forty winks. He is made of stoneware, finished with a thick and curdled mocha-caramel glaze. He will happily serve as a little paperweight. Or be content to just lie-around, perhaps on the windowsill, making the place even homier.
From Japan we have this wonderful Modernist house cat. Her simple—but sensuous—lines convey much feline energy and attitude. Made of heavy cast brass, hand-chased and polished to a mirror finish. A wonderful paperweight or "whatnot" to keep you company on your desk, windowsill or bedside table.
With so much in the news lately about "cat ladies," we thought that LEO Design was overdue paying tribute to them. Childless? Sometimes. Miserable? Not that I can see. This week we will share some of our favorite little felines, now in-stock at LEO Design. Each of these kittens will wait patiently at home—cheerfully and loyally—until "their special ladies" return home (whether from work, from vacation or from the polls). Here's to the cat ladies!
This little fella is sculpted in brass, finished with a verdigris bronze patina. The sculptor has captured perfectly the hunched, coiled energy of a feline—confident, relaxed, but ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Not unlike some of those cat ladies I know!
Let's end our week of LEOs in Summer with this little guy—a bronze sculpture of a small, but brave, lion. Spontaneously modeled (perhaps a touch Rodin-ish), this little boy has the letters COURAGE impressed upon his tiny tummy. It's a great sentiment for someone who is setting-out on a new journey. Or, perhaps, someone who is facing a daunting challenge. And, of course, it would be warmly-received by any LEO you know.
This week, we're presenting some of our favorite felines—The LEO in Summer—which can be found in our LEO Design on-line shop.
Here's another Turn-of-the-Century cast iron lion bank—probably first owned by a child who was being encouraged to save his coins. The two halves are separately cast, then screwed together. Whether used to hold coins or not, this handsome LEO has a richly-aged patina. He'll provide good company on a desk, bedside, or windowsill.
Antoine-Louis Bayre (1795-1875) is arguably the world's all-time greatest animalier—that is, a sculptor (or painter) of naturalistic animals. He began his studies as an apprentice jeweler, working under Napoleon's goldsmith. He was admitted into the École des Beaux-Arts, in Paris, and enjoyed spending time sketching the animals in the ménagerie at the Jardin des Plantes (the city's botanical garden which contained a small zoo—housing the animals moved from Versailles during the French Revolution).
Spelter is a metalic alloy—mostly zinc, usually combined with various other metals, like tin, antimony or lead. In the Nineteenth Century, spelter became very popular as a casting alternative to bronze. When cast, it conveys fine detail very well and is lighter and less expensive than bronze. But spelter is also very brittle (subject to cracking, if dropped). All manner of decorative objects—clocks, trophies, candlesticks, bookends—were made of spelter. After casting, the pieces can be patinated, like bronze, or painted, like the lion above. Being economical (and easier to work with, due to its lower melting point), spelter was perfect for making inexpensive toys like soldiers, animals or game board parts. Our lion shown here, standing atop his mountain,...
Lions have been used in heraldry for millennia. Different poses—called attitudes—would indicate different characteristics. The turn of the head, the lifting of a paw (or paws) were given different names. A Lion Rampant is one who is rearing-up, standing on his two back feet or one back foot. A Lion Sejant is seated, front paws together on the floor (like a house cat). A Lion Couchant is lying on his belly, head raised (like a sphinx). Our cast bronze lion, shown above, was modeled in the American Midwest, thus, I'm not sure if heraldic conventions were being observed. If I were to take-a-stab at identifying his attitude, I would say Lion Statant Guardant Sinister (which means, a lion standing on four...
Wednesday's LEO was stalking. Thursday's LEO was static. Today's LEO is fierce—roaring while he strikes with his left paw. The pair of cast iron bookends, shown above, portrays a ferocious lion as he might appear in a circus—or on a circus poster. Most of the original golden finish remains intact. And the "Cubist" boulder, under foot, reflects the times in which this lion was sculpted—in the Twenties. The sculptor succeeded in creating a model full of energy, action and fury. Indeed, this LEO is a monarch.
Before Venmo or Apple Pay or Zelle, people saved and spent real money—cash dollars and coins. Good savings habits were encouraged in youngsters by giving them a bank into which they could deposit coins—to save-up for a special purchase or to hold-fast for a rainy day.
The cast iron lion bank, shown above, was just such an item. In it, a child could save his or her coins and have a wonderful companion in their bedroom. Traces of the original golden paint remain on the lion which was made at the Turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century.
With all due apologies to Henry II, let us have a look at some of The Lions in Summer—at LEO Design. Over the next few days, we will present some of our favorite felines, currently in-stock in the LEO Design on-line shop.
Shown here, a stalking lion, crouching, creeping, preparing for the strike. Most lion bookends capture the "Majestic Lion"—a regal feline posing for the sculptor. Here we see him in-action. The sculptor has beautifully captured the tense, coiled energy of a big cat—ready to pounce. Our hunting hero is shown atop a jagged rock, perhaps a jutting cliffside or promontory. It's a nice, old-fashioned aesthetic, beautifully sculpted in the early Twentieth Century.
LEO is here, monarch of the zodiac! And, of course, that lucky lion is the namesake of our little shop, LEO Design.
For the next few days, we'll be sharing some of our favorite LEOs—now on-line and available for purchase on our website.
Shown above, a nicely-cast spelter lion. The details are superb and the cold-painting (that is, done after casting) is lovely. It is not marked but I suspect it was made in Austria or Germany.
This fierce feline is ready! Ready to guard your precious tomes. This pair of fierce lion bookends was made of cast iron in the Twenties or Thirties and still wears most of his original golden paint. Beautiful, deep bas relief sculpting is well-aged by time—creating the perfect "high/low effect" on the patina, making the sculpture pop. Lions have been portrayed in the decorative arts for thousands of years. And they have been a significant part of European heraldry since the Middle Ages. In fact, every "attitude" (position or posture) of a heraldic lion has a specific name. A lion rampant stands upon its back legs. A lion passant is shown walking. A lion couchant is lying upright, on its belly (like...
I need little encouragement to celebrate—to lionize—LEO. This Turn-of-the-Century cast iron "Ferocious Lion" coin bank will help remind us that LEO starts seven months from today! He is nicely-cast and wears an age-darkened, original patina.
Let's mark the last day of LEO with this sensational, impressive piece. It is a beautifully-rendered model of the 1840 "Walking Lion" by French animalier par excellence Antoine-Louis Barye (1795-1875). Barye, who had little formal education, began his artistic career working for his father, a goldsmith and military engraver. He later was apprenticed to Napoleon's master goldsmith. After military service (1812-1814), he found work in a painting studio, followed by work with a sculptor. From 1818 to 1823, Barye studied at the esteemed École des Beaux Arts. His public debut as a sculptor occurred at the Paris Salon of 1831—after which he generated many government, religious and private commissions. When key patrons died, and commissions slowed, Barye began producing limited...
The Minoan Civilization—centered on the Mediterranean island of Crete—is considered the first civilization in Europe, which coalesced some 5,000 years ago. Around 1450 BC, they came under the domination of the Mycenaeans (Ancient Greeks) and a hybrid culture developed. But the art and society of the Minoans (as can be seen at the Palace of Knossos) was lively, energetic and wonderful. The island boasts a small but terrific museum. The vase above, made in Art Nouveau Belgium by potter Antoine DuBois, is inspired by ancient ceramics such as those found in Crete. A Minoan or Greek-inspired lion leaps beneath a band of Greek Key fretwork. On the reverse, a Greek stylized palm leaf can be found, similar to those found...
We're in the last three days of LEO; Virgo is waiting in the wings. Let's countdown the last days of LEO with an assortment of handsome feline gifts.
Shown above, a pair of cast iron bookends with portraits of a regal King of the Jungle. They were modeled by the talented sculptor Gregory Seymour Allen who was born in New Jersey in 1884 and died in Glendale, California in 1934. Alas, I can find little biographical information about the artist or his life. But I can see that he was a talented sculptor, judging by his work on this pair of bookends.
