Let's end our procession of photo frames with this offering from Turn-of the-Century England. A handsome oval is topped with a festoon of ribbon. It's a lovely, classic treatment for a favorite vintage photo. You'll learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. And see our full range of vintage frames in our on-line store.
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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A "Snaffle" is a style of equestrian "bit"—that is, the metal device held in the mouth of a horse which allows the rider to control his steed. And, considering England's horsey heritage, an equestrian aesthetic should be a tried-and-true favorite. This little brass frame, made in the 1880's or 1890's, will lend a handsome (and horsey) feeling to your bookshelf, mantlepiece or bedside. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this frame. More vintage frames tomorrow. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design - Handsome Gifts"...
Frames with "Oxford Corners," like on the frame shown above, were not invented in Victorian England. One can find the occasional example throughout history. But, during the Mid-Nineteenth Century's Gothic Revival, "Oxford Frames" became quite the rage. Perhaps the "churchy" sensibility of the crosses suited the heavy, dark aesthetic of the times. Yet they have a remarkably clean and modern look—making them perfect in a room full of antiques or a room screaming Mid-Century Modern. Click on the photo above to learn more about this frame. More vintage frames 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...
Now to France—where this frame was made in the 1920's. A garland of fleurs-de-lys surround the circle, the perfect surround for any face you love. Click on the photo above to learn more about this frame.
More vintage frames tomorrow.
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Here's something a little different—and sweet. It's a Victorian English double brass chain frame, c. 1880's - 1890's. Pop-in your two little Munchkins and your Mom will be forever grateful. Note the frame's current inhabitants: two tiny embroideries! Click on the photo to learn more about this frame.
More vintage frames 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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Everyone loves to receive a photo—parents, grandparents, godparents and more. Slipped into a handsome vintage frame, a simple photo can be elevated to a whole new level. Since most of our frames are from the late Nineteenth or early Twentieth Centuries, they tend to be small—which is not all bad. A small frame takes up less space; it can be placed into a tight spot or in front of larger objects (other frames). And giving a small frame (and picture) as a gift, means a smaller space imposition required of the recipient. The frame above was made in Victorian England, c. 1880's - 1890's. The brass chain fits easily within any decorative aesthetic—whether a feminine dressing table or a masculine...
This Edwardian English brass turtle, made around 1905, stands up off the ground and has a hinged-shell lid. It's a nice place to keep a spare key, a few pairs of cufflinks, matches on a mantlepiece or clips on a busy desk. Please click on the photo above to learn more about him. And take a look at our nice collection of Handsome Gifts for the Holidays—many just acquired on an English buying trip.
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I once spent a short week in Budapest, Hungary. My, what a wonderful city! Walking through the streets (or sailing down the River Danube) one can see that the city was, indeed, once the crown jewel of Europe—and important (at different times) to the Romans, the Ottomans, the Holy Roman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (who made it their capital). Architecturally, she hit her peak in the Nineteenth Century and kept going right through the Art Nouveau period. When the Soviets took-over (1948 - 1989), the building largely stopped—though, perversely, this lack of "modernizing" may have helped to preserve the wonderful, older architecture. Amongst Budapest's many wonders is the Kerepesi Cemetery. Opened in 1847, it is loaded with theatrical, late-Nineteenth Century statuary...
This perky pair of pups—Boston Terriers—will push-up your precious publications. Made in the 1920's, these cast iron canines are nicely-modeled and finished with a golden patina. They really have a lot of attitude—not to mention, style. Perhaps they'd be cherished by a Boston Terrier keeper—or any dog lover. Click on the photo to learn more about them. On our website, you'll also see many other handsome pairs of bookends.
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America's 16th president is captured—in crisp, bas relief profile—on this pair of 1930's cast iron bookends. A little Neo-Classical, a little Art Deco, they will make a handsome (and useful) addition to the library of your favorite historian, lawyer or president-to-be. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. And while you're on the website, check-out our large collection of bookends—a gift sure to be appreciated by any bibliophile.
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Books are associated with study, wisdom and erudition. With this in mind, an aging scholar—"Ye Philosopher"—studies his scroll while holding-up your books. These heavy, bronze-clad beauties were made in the 1920's—and they work as well as they ever did. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them and check out our on-line shop where we have dozens of handsome bookends—which make the perfect Handsome Gift!
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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For the past two days, we've been looking at the precursors of the modern bookend—specifically, book racks or "slides" designed to hold a small collection upon a desk, table or shelf. In the Twentieth Century, with the expansion of the Middle Class (with its new-found wealth and significant disposable income), books were found in more and more homes. This was a great time for the publishing business—and a great time for the foundries which made bookends! The 1920's and 1930's, the period between the Wars, is sometimes called "The Golden Age of Bookends." We have a large collection of bookends made during this Golden Age. Shown above, a pair of English brass bookends from the 1930's. A pair of spaniels...
Here's another Victorian English folding book slide, made in the 1870's - 1890's. Heavy rosewood is decorated with hand-pierced brass mountings which are riveted to the wood. Like yesterday's posting, this one has a Jacobean Revival aesthetic. It will slide open to hold from about eight to a dozen books. A perfect way to honor your special collection or to keep-handy your most-used reference books. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. And visit our website to see our collection of "Handsome Gifts"—many of them newly-acquired. 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:...
In the old days, only the wealthiest could afford a library. A wall filled with books was a sign of intelligence, worldliness and lots of money. Poor people might have two or three books, including a Bible. And middle class families might have a dozen books—including poetry, a cooking book, an atlas and a few other reference books. For such a middle class booklover, a desktop "book slide" (or book rack), shown above, would suit his needs. Perched upon the desk, it kept those cherished books close-at-hand. This folding book rack—embellished with hand-cut brass and riveted bone strips—was made in Victorian England, c. 1880. It revives the style of the Jaccobean period, some 350 years earlier. "Modern" pairs of bookends,...
Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, "What road do I take?" The cat asked, "Where do you want to go?" "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it really doesn't matter, does it?" What a font of wisdom, this mysterious, mischievous cat! Shown above, an Edwardian English brass dish—in the form of a (grinning?) cat—made around 1910. Most Englishmen of the day would have known Lewis Carroll's books and its array of crazy characters. This little dish could be used to hold coins, rings, keys, cufflinks or clips on a desk. It is one of the many new treasures—Handsome Gifts—recently collected in England. To learn more about it, please click on the...
After Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland (1865), he wrote a sequel: Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. It was published in 1871—some 30 years before this mirror was crafted. Still I couldn't help thinking, when I found it in Oxford this summer, that some "first generation" reader of the Alice novels might have peered-into this glass. Now the mirror is stateside, ready to bring it's mystery (if not magic) to some American home. 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...
This “Bank Manager’s Lamp” is classic, heavy and perfect for a stately desk. And the base forms a convenient “tray”—the perfect place to stash business cards, notepads, paperclips or your mobile phone. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More brass lamps tomorrow. LEO Design’s Greenwich Village […]
Joining our “parade” of lamps is this simple—and simply handsome—option. It’s a tapered brass column, set upon a heavy square base, and finished with a completing tapered final. This lamp is not too big, not too small—just perfect for bedside, sideboard or mantlepiece. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. And please call us for further information about our lamps, including various shade options, lead times, or any other questions you might have.
Here's another handsome brass lamps, made by a small New England company. Heavy, well-finished and very good looking, it comes with a soft antique finish which will darken over time. If you want, you can polish it up for a bright finish. Personally, I like to give it a kiss of polish every six to nine months—just enough to make them look clean, not too bright. The lamp above is formed of a heavy column upon a handsomely-turned base. It provides substantial punctuation in any room—singly or in pairs. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it and feel free to call for further information on shade options, lead times or dimensions. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is...
A handsome, contemporary brass lamp, this one lashed with brass laces and punctuated with brass studs. This lamp sits equally well in either an antique, traditional or Modernist setting. It has a specially-crafted finial which completes the laced, tapered look. Please click on the photo 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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On this day in 1850, the first “National Women’s Rights Convention” was assembled in Worcester, Massachusetts. Lectures, discussions, and speeches addressed issues of equality for women: wages, education & careers, property rights, and, of course, voting. Also present were groups advocating temperance and the abolition of slavery. The idea germinated ten years earlier, in 1840, […]
On this day in 1857, the city of Anaheim, California was founded by 50 German families—grape farmers and vintners. The name is a compound of “Ana” (for the nearby Santa Ana River) and “Heim,” German for “home.” When the grape crops were destroyed by disease, farmers began to plant nut trees and citrus. On the […]
When I found these brass bookends in England recently, they did not make me think of Halloween. Instead, I was reminded of the the many great British illustrated children’s books from the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries—the Golden Age of children’s literature. Artists like Walter Crane, Randolph Caldecott, Kate Greenaway, Howard Pyle, Beatrix Potter […]
Most pewter-clad boxes I find fall clearly into an Arts & Crafts or an Art Deco column. This one is slightly different; the hand-tooled design seems folk-inspired, however sophisticatedly stylized. It’s a glove box, from the 1920’s, and it would be perfect for modern use on a desk or at bedside to hold small, precious […]
Sometimes a little bit of luck can’t hurt! Maybe this sterling silver wishbone will push things over the finish line. Made in California, this little sculpture makes for a thoughtful “good luck” wish—and a reminder to give thanks for lucky moments in the past. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. […]
Very handsome, very British. A hand-hammered pewter box with hinged lid and rope trim. Perhaps it was a cigarette box or part of a bigger desk accessories collection. Or maybe it was a tea caddy and part of an Arts & Crafts tea service. Whatever it’s past use, its modern uses are numerous: business cards, […]
All right. Sometimes bigger is better. And this pair of Victorian English brass candlesticks (c. 1860’s – 1880’s) would make a wonderful statement on your beautifully-laid table. These are just one sample of many newly-acquired items, now on-line at LEO Design. And more items—recently collected in England—will be posted to the on-line store in the […]
In the past, I’ve typically associated nice candlesticks with big candlesticks—or at least heavy, substantial candlesticks which make a strong statement on a beautifully-laid tabletop. This recently-acquired pair, however, is actually rather smallish, just under seven inches tall. And yet, despite this modest stature, they still have something to contribute in terms of presence, proportion and […]
Fresh from England: a nice quality small, round, bevelled mirror with a hand-hammered brass repoussé frame. In the manner of the Keswick School of Industrial Arts or the Glaswegian (Scottish) aesthetic, this British Arts & Crafts mirror is surrounded with a scrolling, stylized grape vine motif—complete with clusters of fruit and leaves. Useful as a mirror, it […]
Happy Father’s Day—to my wise owl and to all the wise owls out there! To celebrate the occasion, a pair of bronze-clad owl bookends from the 1920’s. They were made in New York City of sculpted plaster, then electroplated with a solid bronze “skin,” patinated and painted. They will add an air of wisdom and […]
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 […]
For those of you following us on Instagram, it’s known that we’ve been on a two week buying trip to England—and have now returned, laden with Handsome Gifts for our discriminating customers. The last carton has now arrived and the items are being cleaned, priced and photographed as quickly as our little hands will allow. Part […]
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 […]
Father’s Day is nigh. Perhaps your book-loving dad would appreciate a little poetic inspiration in his library? Here’s Dante Alighieri—perhaps the world’s greatest poet—alongside his muse, Beatrice. The pair of bookends, made in the 1910’s or 1920’s (in New York City), are bronze-clad and then polychromed (hand-painted in multiple colors). To learn more about them, […]
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 […]
Florentine poet, Dante Alighieri, found himself on the wrong side of a local political dispute. After backing the wrong party, he was banished from his beloved home city-state on point of death. He moved to Ravenna, some 65 miles away, where he lived and continued writing. It was during his banishment that he crafted […]
Careful observers know that LEO Design has pulled-up its New York stakes and moved 375 miles west—to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is a rich and interesting city. Though its industrial heritage is (mostly) a memory, the gritty, practical and physical nature of the city lives-on. Pittsburgh attempts no pretense beyond its nature; what you see is […]
I really like these bookends and for so many reasons. First off, I love books—and, therefore, I love bookends by association. Secondly, I love lions; I am a Leo and even named my business after the sunsign. And, interestingly, they remind me of my little pup, Benji. Every morning, once he’s crawled out of bed […]
Although these handsome Indian Chief bookends are not strictly Arts & Crafts, Native American elements always look great within American Arts & Crafts interiors. It was common—throughout the Western world—for designers and craftsmen to incorporate into their work the ancient history, culture or folklore of their native lands. The English used Medieval literary characters; the […]
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 […]
One of the first acquisitions I made—after moving to Pittsburgh—was this handsome pair of slightly-ruffled owls. These bronze-clad bookends were finished with a brassy wash and hand-painted. They alighted and, just as quickly, they were gone! I like them so much, though, that I thought I’d share the photo nevertheless. Please check-out our on-line store […]
Most bookends are a pair of identical metal sculptures: two identical dogs, two identical temples, two identical busts. One bookend sits at one end of the collection, the second sits at the other end. Much less common is a “mirrored” pair of bookends—a duo which face each other (as mirrored opposites). These are less common […]
Scottish icon, Robert Burns (1759 – 1796), is captured in this dashing pair of bronze-clad bookends from the 1920’s. Voted “Greatest Scot” (ever) by his fellow countrymen (in 2009), the Eighteenth Century farmer-poet wrote in both English and the Scots language—often adapting age-old folk songs as he did with “Auld Lang Syne.” He died […]
I thought that the hot and dusty drive from Alexandria to Giza was long and tiresome. What of the poor Sphinx who has been enduring the Egyptian heat and sandstorms for some 4,500+ years? The Great Sphinx of Giza was carved right into the bedrock of the quarry which supplied the limestone for the nearby […]
Chow Chows are one of the “Ancient Breeds” of dogs which still survive. They originated in the frigid steppes of Siberia and Mongolia and were eventually trained to serve as guard dogs in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and Chinese royal palaces. Referred to as “Fluffy Lions,” they are thought to have been the original models for […]
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 […]
As a boy, I was always intrigued with Saint George. I was mesmerized with the action-filled depictions of the brave (and handsome!) Knight—mounted atop his rearing steed—thrusting his lance (“Ascalon”) into the writhing Dragon. As I got older, and began to understand the story as a metaphor for good conquering evil, I loved the story […]
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. […]
History’s two greatest poets—Medieval Florentine Dante Alighieri and Ancient Greek Homer—stand proudly in-profile on this pair of heavy cast iron bookends by Bradley & Hubbard. Dante was the author of The Divine Comedy, in which he is given a tour of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise (lead by the Roman poet Virgil). Homer is known for The […]
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 […]
The moving truck comes tomorrow morning. The boxes are (mostly) packed and the shop fixtures are arranged by the front door. In two days, I’ll set-sail for new (and exciting?) shores. If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by and say goodbye. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please […]
Over the past three weeks, I’ve been blessed with visits from my most loyal and supportive customers. At some point, they ask, “How are you handling the closing?” My response is always the same: “If I weren’t so busy closing-up, I might have time to feel a bit wistful.” In three days, when I turn […]
It’s our last week at LEO Design; our brick-and-mortar shop will be closing on 31 January. A few treasures remain—and everything left is now marked-down (in-store and on-line). Please come-in or check-out our on-line shop. You’ll find something cool, like this pair of bronze-clad Pirate bookends shown above. LEO Design will be closing its […]
Before we close our doors, we want to go-out with a bang! All merchandise (in-store and on-line) is marked-down—from 25% to 75%. Please come in and, perhaps, get yourself that late Christmas gift—now on-sale. But hurry; merchandise is moving fast. Shown above: bronze sculptures of a mare and her foal. LEO Design will be […]
Not too much time left—this weekend will probably be the last chance to find a full assortment of merchandise in-store. We’re selling a lot and starting to pack. And all merchandise—in-store and on-line—is now marked down (at least) 25% (and some even more). Here’s a cast iron owl paperweight from Japan—now on sale! LEO […]
LEO Design has never had a sale before—until now—and, boy, are we busy! Because we are closing on 31 January, we have marked-down all merchandise (in-store and on-line). Please come-in or check-out our on-line shop. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please visit the store (or website) where all remaining […]
Like the handsome feline sculpture above, our customers have been pouncing on great buys at LEO Design—where everything (remaining) has been marked-down (both in-store and on-line). Please come visit us or check-out our on-line shop. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please visit the store (or website) where all […]
It’s been a while since I fit into my Cub Scout uniform—but I do remember the motto: “Be Prepared!” And, indeed, this little Boy Scout sculpture is prepared to take up residence on your desk, bookshelf or mantlepiece. Please come in and see him. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now25% off—and some merchandise is […]
Things have been very brisk since we announced the pending closure of our brick-and-mortar store in Greenwich Village. Despite the excitement, this Canadian bronze snail continues his slow and careful pace. Come in to the shop to see him. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—making it the perfect time to […]
Who says America doesn’t make anything anymore? In fact, these handsome pewter frames (electro-plated with 18 carat gold) are hand-crafted right here in New York City! A good range of styles and sizes still remains—although (at 25% off) they are going quickly. Please come into the shop to see them and their un-plated brethren (which […]
Tomorrow I make my first truck-run to storage—in Pennsylvania where I’ll begin stashing unsold merchandise until I’ve reinvented. While I hope to sell as much as possible (during our closing sale), I also realize that I will need good stock to begin the new LEO Design venture—and I’m extra-partial to certain items like this English […]
From afar-off Japan, a little bronze penguin, finely cast (see his feathers?) and cold-painted by hand. He’s enjoying the cold snap now visiting us here in New York City. And he’s one of the many Handsome Gifts still in-stock and now on-sale at LEO Design. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—and […]
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 […]
“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 […]
Prepare for The Season of Lights with this cast bronze Modernist Menorah. Sculpted in the American Midwest, it will see you through the eight days of Hanukkah in style. Please come into the shop to see it in-person or click on the photo above to learn more about it. Happy Holidays! Today—and daily […]
Our cast bronze Rocketman has just touched-down—and climbed-down from his cast aluminum rocketship (which is also a bank!). The space ship has the early Twentieth Century riveted look of a Jules Verne travel craft. It will make a nice aesthetic statement in any modern or vintage setting. And it provides a great place to start […]
This little guy—a baby elephant—is a doorstop and was made of cast iron from the 1920’s. He trumpets to his mother—while never leaving his post (right beside your open door). Please click on the photo above to learn more about him. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon […]
I love brass and I buy a lot of brass decorative accessories. Trays, bells, desk accessories—and, quite often, candlesticks. Sometimes brass is “hot” (as it is now), and sometimes it’s not (as it has been many times in the past). I don’t care—I continue to buy handsome brass objects year in and year out, mostly […]
A wise owl has alighted at LEO Design—atop a pine bough on this Art Nouveau letter rack. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s, he’ll bring both knowledge and style to your desk or bookshelf. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will […]
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 […]
Over the years, I’ve had many variations on this theme—rings or “links” of metal forming a a round, square or rectangular photo frame. But, 99% of the time, the rings are brass—not copper like the frame above. To my eye, the frames have a vaguely equestrian sensibility. Perhaps the chain reminds me of a snaffle […]
A British fish swims through his undersea domain on this Edwardian English brass letter rack, c. 1905. Let it bring a little peace (and order) to your home desk or office. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til […]
Vesta was the Roman goddess of family, home and hearth—a virgin symbolized by the flame which would burn at her temples throughout the Empire. Her name is believed to be derived from the word “to burn” and her Greek equivalent was Hestia. “Vestal Virgins” were the women dedicated to serving Vesta in her temples. Vesta […]
We sell a lot of men’s personal accessories including money clips. The example above, made in a small Philadelphia metal smithy, is crafted of annealed bronze—a process by which metal is heated and slowly cooled, thus strengthening the metal and enhancing its ability to hold its bend. But, before it is annealed, the flattened strip […]
A pair of handsome bird dogs stand ready-to-retrieve in this pair of American bronze-clad bookends, made in the 1920’s. Though once considered a “poor man’s bronze,” today, this type of work is quite collectible. First, the figure was cast in a “composite” material—a combination of plaster, resin, and other binders. Then the piece was electroplated with […]
Though you’d rather not break-apart this wishbone, it still is lucky, nevertheless. Cast of sterling silver in California, it is a handsome and sentimental token—a good luck wish and a thoughtful gift. Please come into the shop to see it or call us for further information. From the 5th to 23rd of […]
A guilty-looking fox paces tensely just outside the garden gate—in this English brass letter rack from about 1920. He’s part of a recent shipment from England—where I found a large number of Handsome Gifts now in-store. Please come into the shop to see the complete shipment or click on the photo above to learn more about the […]
This little bronze donkey is made in California and he has a little secret. Under each of his four hooves is a letter spelling K – I – C – K. Let’s Kick Ass! Another subliminal suggestion, brought to you by your good friends at LEO Design. See new merchandise first! Follow […]
Six days to go. Feeling puzzled? I am. It’s not so much a matter of not knowing who to support; I fell-in behind my 2016 candidate eight years ago—during the tearful “Roll Call of States” at my party’s summer Convention in Denver. I haven’t wavered or even thought twice about who I would support the […]
I can never find enough lions. Especially on bookends. Especially these bookends! Made in the 1920’s, they capture a regal lion, paws extended in relaxation, but, nevertheless aware that he is always being observed. Let him bring a touch of his royal mien to your office, den or bookshelf. Please click on the photo above […]
I spent a good part of the month shopping in Europe—England and Scandinavia, to be precise. One of the “little treasures” I found is this simple, folded brass letterknife, fastened tight with a copper rivet. It makes no pretension at grandeur. It is just a simple, handsome and useful thing. Please come into the shop […]
It’s brass. It’s Baronial. And it’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen—amongst letter knives, that is. Cast in England around 1920, it’ll make a grand statement on your desk or a fabulous prop in Tosca (she could stab Scarpia with it!). Please come into the shop to see it in person or call us for […]
I bought these bookends simply because I thought they were beautiful—and I had never seen a similar pair before. A little research has yielded quite a lot about the Indo-Saracenic Revival, after which these were modeled. “Indo” usually denotes “of Indian provenance or influence.” “Saracenic” is from a Latin term, coined by the Romans, which […]
The Galgo Español is an ancient breed of hound from Spain, documented as far back as the second half of the Middle Ages. This time period coincides with the Reconquista—that is, the period when Spanish Christians re-claimed the lands held by Iberian Muslims. As Spanish Catholics began to move-down from the more mountainous areas and […]
Ahh, La Belle Époch. “The Beautiful Age.” It was a time of relative peace, economic expansion (for the middle and upper classes), empire (for Europeans and Americans) and wonderful design and craftsmanship. Roughly speaking, the period comprised the final quarter of the Nineteenth Century and the start of the Twentieth Century (until World War […]
Italy’s most famous writer gazes hawkishly from atop his plinth which is styled as a Medieval book. Dante Alighieri (1265 – 1321) finished his epic poem, The Divine Comedy, a year before his death. In it he describes a creative Medieval view of the afterlife as he is taken on a tour of Hell, Purgatory […]
Let’s end this little parade of newly-acquired Handsome Gifts from England with a hand-hammered and tooled English Arts & Crafts cigarette box, made circa 1900. While the soft wood lining shows signs of its hundred year age, the brass exterior looks as good as new. And, though it came into this world as a cigarette […]
I have always loved dogs, though none as much as my little shop dog, Benji. While he sleeps in his crate behind the cash wrap, little vintage canines rest contentedly in the antique display case. In England this week, I’ve added a few more to the collection, examples shown above. A silver-plated brass Dachshund folds […]
I am not a purist when it comes to collecting. I like Handsome Gifts from many periods: the Gothic Revival, Aesthetic Movement, Bauhaus, Art Deco, even (some) Modernism. But Arts & Crafts will always be my starting point—and has been the jumping off point of my collecting for LEO Design. When I find a […]
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 […]
It’s Labor Day, an occasion to recognize and thank the men and women who—by the strain of their backs and the sweat of their brows—have (already) made our country great. There was a time—even in America—when heroic male nudes were used in art, monument and architecture. With a tip of the hat to the Classical […]
Though I’ve found and sold many different Abraham Lincoln bookends over the years, I have never seen this pair before. Made in the 1920’s or 1930’s, they still retain quite a bit of their original paint—making for a handsome and useful addition to any library, desk or bookshelf. Please come into the shop to see […]
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 […]
Remember when a president's nickname might be . . . flattering? What would “Honest Abe” think of his political party today? Would he vote? Would he abstain? Would he switch parties? I suppose trying to answer these questions requires a bit of conjecture. What is true: Abraham Lincoln is widely-considered America’s favorite president and possibly its greatest.
The cast iron bookends, shown above, were made in the 1920’s and still retain some of their original hand-painting. Please come into the shop to see them in-person and, perhaps, spare a thought for his election year predicament.
We end our little parade of newly-acquired English items with this English Arts & Crafts brass pen tray. Made about 1900, it is stamped with an exuberant assortment of stylized botanicals. Intended to hold pens or other desk accoutrements, it would also be perfect at bedside to hold rings, bookmarks, collar stays or a small collection of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Before the Twentieth Century, most homes did not have many books. It was the well-educated (and mostly rich) who could afford the luxury of a home library (think Downton Abbey). But with the post-War rise of a middle class—which had the money and propensity to collect books—a modest home library became more common. For this […]
