Erik Magnussen (1940-2014) was a Danish Modernist designer who designed contemporary ceramics, furniture, lighting and metalware—like the desktop notepad holder shown above. Some of his designs were even translated into best-selling plastic versions. This piece, designed for Royal Selangor, is made of polished cast pewter. You can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. More stocking stuffers in days to come. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to...
Over the next several days, we'll be sharing some of our favorite "little gifts"—perfect stuffers for the stocking. We start with this cast pewter ornament. Though you may hang it from the tree, it would look good sitting on a windowsill or could be used as a holiday candle snuffer. This bit of folk craft will help ensure a Merry Merry Christmas. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. More stocking stuffers in days to come. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla &...
Our last newly-received photo frame is this handsome style, cast in pewter with a handsome lion's claw motif. Made in New York City, it can be used for both vertical and horizontal photos. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. And visit our on-line "frame department" to see more frames for your precious images. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment...
This frame style—a classic, twisted "rope" design—was the first frame I purchased for the shop. Photo frame design does not get more classic than this. It is made of cast pewter in New York City. A swiveling hinged back allows the frame to be positioned either horizontally or vertically. Click on the frame above to learn more about the 5" x 7" version, shown here. We also have a few hinged "double" rope frames, like the one shown here. We offer it in 4" x 6" (shown here), 5" x 7" or 8" x 10". Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More pewter frames tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO...
This frame's profile—heavy, strong and bold—imparts a "clubby" look upon any photo it presents. Its heavily ribbed (spring-like) design, draws the eye inwards, toward your precious photo. We currently have the frames in 4" x 6" or 5" x 7" or 1.75" x 2.25" sizes. Click on any photo to learn more about that particular frame. And, if you ever see a photo frame style that you like—but want to know if we can procure it in a different size—please reach out to us on the "Contact Us" link on the website. More frame offerings tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to...
Over the next few days, we'll be sharing a handful of newly-stocked pewter photo frames, now available in our on-line shop. They are made in a small foundry in New York City. Pewter is an alloy of tin (about 95%) with antimony, copper and bismuth added for strength. Additionally, these frames have been manufactured with a small amount of sterling added, to give the metal a little more "pop." This style of frame, which has a "Double Beaded" perimeter, may be the most adaptable of all our frames. Not only will it sit well in a Traditional, Art Deco or Modernist interior, it also gives every photo a subtle "lift"—a very light punctuation—without calling attention to itself. It is shown...
The icy chill is here—and with it the final month of 2019. Welcome, December, and your birthstone, the turquoise. Turquoise has been mined for over 5,000 years—in Persia, the Sinai Peninsula, Mexico and the American Southwest. Egyptians buried their dead with carved turquoise talismans carefully inserted within the deceased's body wraps. The Book of Exodus refers to the High Priest's turquoise encrusted breastplate. And, in the New World, archeologists have found ancient turquoise artifacts of the Zuni, Pueblo, Aztec and Mayans. To this day, Native Americans from the American Southwest use turquoise in their exquisite silver jewelry. Worldwide, turquoise has long been believed to be a holy or lucky stone. The cufflinks shown here are not turquoise, but enameled with turquoise (and white) colored...
The Holidays are coming and many of us—wanting to host our loved ones in style—will be pressing into use our nicest serving pieces. This American Arts & Crafts cake plate is hand-hammered and silver-plated. It's perfect for serving a cake, tart or cookies, chocolates, aperitifs or tasty hors d'oeuvres. It's also nice for elevating items at the back of the table, giving a varied landscape to your holiday spread. It was made by Derby in Meriden, Connecticut, and you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also...
Amongst the most elegant of Moscow buildings is the Great Kremlin Palace, built within the Kremlin's walls and completed in 1849. It was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas I in 1837 as the new Moscow residence for the royal family (when visiting from the capital, Saint Petersburg). His instructions to architect Konstantin Thon was "to emphasize the greatness of Russian autocracy." The handsome marigold and white building conjoins and expands-upon the earlier royal residences—the Terem Palace (1637) and the Faceted Palace (1491)—and is attached to some of the nine cathedrals in the Kremlin. It has five sumptuously-appointed ball rooms, two of which were conjoined to form a large council chamber for the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In recent years, the two...
Russia's love of classical music is well known, both the music they made and the music they played. Chopin was very popular—revered even—in Russia after the 1830's. Tchaikovsky, for one, was quite familiar with the Polish composer and Chopin may have influenced the Russian's work yet to come. It is no surprise, then, that the Polish maestro would be commemorated at the Muzeon Park of Arts, an attractive sculpture garden sited along the Moskva River's Southbank. Chopin, on the other hand, had a more complicated feeling about the Russians (or "Moskali" as they were known in Poland). The Invasion of Warsaw (sometimes called "The Uprising") ended the Polish-Russian War of 1830 - 1831. During the two day siege, Poland collapsed and evacuated...
Reigning over the Moskva River, at the Northern foot of the Patriarshiy Bridge (and not far from the Kremlin), stands the regal white marble Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It looks like it's stood here for a century—but has it? Actually, no. The Cathedral was commissioned in 1812 by Tsar Alexander I to commemorate Napoleon's empty-handed retreat from Moscow. It was to be an expression of "our gratitude to Divine Providence for protecting Russia" and a memorial to those who died in the war. After a change of site, change of architect, change of design and a change of tsar (to Nicholas I), construction finally began in 1839. Interestingly, in 1882, Tchaikovsky premiered his brand new 1812 Overture at the...
My biggest reason for visiting Moscow was to attend the premiere of the Bolshoi Ballet's new Giselle which opened tonight. My partner, Robert Perdziola, designed the evening's sets and costumes, inspired by multiple earlier Giselle productions by the Russian designer-artist Alexandre Benois (1870 -1960). Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky re-created the steps of an earlier production by Marius Petipa (1818 - 1910)—embellishing the dance with long-lost gestures and other conventions that have been abandoned over the past century. The project aimed to revive and present (to a modern ballet audience) the look and sensibility of the ground-breaking ballet master, Petipa, 200 years after his birth. Giselle is based on a German folk tale about a young peasant girl who is pursued by...
While checking-in to The Hotel Metropol in Moscow, I could not help but think of the protagonist, The Count, in Amor Towles's best-selling novel, A Gentleman in Moscow. I had locked-up my home door behind me some 26 hours earlier—and I was more than a little fried from the very long journey (on three cramped airplanes, through four bustling airports). Nevertheless, I was invigorated by the historic hotel's warm Art Nouveau interior—and fell in love with the original period brass chandeliers which hovered over the storied lobby. In my mind's eye, I could picture The Count, seated in the corner of that very lobby (partially hidden by a potted palm), silently observing the object of his desire, the film star Anna Urbanova, as...
We've just added an interesting collection of Victorian English knife rests to our on-line shop. Before the 1950's, doing the laundry was a tedious, difficult and time-consuming task—and people developed strategies to extend a linen's usefulness between launderings. One such tactic was the use of a knife rest to keep a dirty knife off the tablecloth. Today they can be used for knives, chopsticks or to display-in-style any number of precious possessions. For a few days this week, we'll share some of these new additions. We end our parade of Victorian English knife rests right where we started—with a design in the manner of Dr. Christopher Dresser. Dresser was born in Glasgow Scotland (1834) to English parents. His boldly inventive—indeed...
We've just added an interesting collection of Victorian English knife rests to our on-line shop. Before the 1950's, doing the laundry was a tedious, difficult and time-consuming task—and people developed strategies to extend a linen's usefulness between launderings. One such tactic was the use of a knife rest to keep a dirty knife off the tablecloth. Today they can be used for knives, chopsticks or to display-in-style any number of precious possessions. For a few days this week, we'll share some of these new additions. Long before Fernando Botero (or Jeff Koons) was born, an anonymous Victorian English designer conceived these striking knife rests. A "rusticated" horn shaft is suspended between (somberly whimsical) "cluster ball" supports, turgid and silver-plated. They have a...
We've just added an interesting collection of Victorian English knife rests to our on-line shop. Before the 1950's, doing the laundry was a tedious, difficult and time-consuming task—and people developed strategies to extend a linen's usefulness between launderings. One such tactic was the use of a knife rest to keep a dirty knife off the tablecloth. Today they can be used for knives, chopsticks or to display-in-style any number of precious possessions. For a few days this week, we'll share some of these new additions. X marks the spot with this trio of Victorian silver-plated knife rests, made in the 1880's. X-form struts support a heavily-ribbed shaft. Ball feet complete the Early Modernist look. Please click on the photo above...
We've just added an interesting collection of Victorian English knife rests to our on-line shop. Before the 1950's, doing the laundry was a tedious, difficult and time-consuming task—and people developed strategies to extend a linen's usefulness between launderings. One such tactic was the use of a knife rest to keep a dirty knife off the tablecloth. Today they can be used for knives, chopsticks or to display-in-style any number of precious possessions. For a few days this week, we'll share some of these new additions. With just a touch of Jules Verne Industrialism, this pair of Victorian English silver-plated knife rests will add a bit of crisp punctuation to your dining table. Stepped bases support a "spooled" shaft—with each piece...
We've just added an interesting collection of Victorian English knife rests to our on-line shop. Before the 1950's, doing the laundry was a tedious, difficult and time-consuming task—and people developed strategies to extend a linen's usefulness between launderings. One such tactic was the use of a knife rest to keep a dirty knife off the tablecloth. Today they can be used for knives, chopsticks or to display-in-style any number of precious possessions. For a few days this week, we'll share some of these new additions. In the late Nineteenth Century, the Western World was enchanted with Asian culture—or, at least, their romanticized conception of it. Asian-inspired themes and motifs would be incorporated into both precious and everyday objects, like the...
Several years ago, I found myself on a November buying trip to London. I was in the Safeway supermarket in Bloomsbury, of all places, probably hunting for exotic and delicious biscuits to take back to my nearby hotel room. Unexpectedly, the voice of the shop's assistant manager came over the loudspeaker: "We will now observe a two-minute silence." I was not familiar with the custom, but stood patiently, imitating the (mostly) homemakers standing at their carts, their heads bent in remembrance. It was the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month—celebrated in England as "Remembrance Day." Before it was renamed Remembrance Day, it was known as Armistice Day. On 11 November 1918, at 11:00 am, a signed...
In my opinion, the "Greek Key" is the handsomest of decorative motifs. It is sometimes called a "Meander" (from "Maiandros") or a "Greek Fret," and it's formed by a continuous line formed into a repeating "wave" of right angles. Its unending line has come to symbolize eternity or infinity—as well as everlasting love, friendship and devotion. It was commonly used in Greek and Roman art (starting in the Greek "Geometric Period" around 900-700 BC), including architectural friezes (especially in temples), painted ceramics, stone sidewalks and tile or mosaic work in private villa interiors. It can also be found in Chinese design much earlier, during the Shang Dynasty (2000-1000 BC). The Maiandros or Meander River was in the Ancient Greek city...
At one time pearls, which represent purity, innocence and humility, were the most precious of jewels. Egyptian aristocrats were buried with their pearls. The Greeks thought pearls were the tears of the gods. The Bible tells of the wise merchant who would sell all his stock to buy one perfect pearl and “pearls before swine” is the classic metaphor for wasting something wonderful on someone who cannot understand or appreciate it. Even the gates of heaven are described as being pearls—”The Pearly Gates.” The famous American gemologist, George Frederick Kunz called the pearl “a gift of nature on which man cannot improve.” The Cartier Building, at 651 Fifth Avenue, has an interesting history involving a beautiful double-strand of natural pearls....
This morning, 13 October in Rome, Pope Francis canonized Saint John Cardinal Newman—Oxford educator, Anglican priest, writer, philosopher, and towering intellectual. As a clergyman in the Church of England, he developed and lead “The Oxford Movement” which encouraged the return of his church to the Latin rites and theology used by the Roman church. In 1845, Newman converted to Roman Catholicism and, eventually, was elevated to cardinal. In 2010, he was beatified (at which point he was called “blessed”) which was the final step before canonization to full sainthood. In 1888, the first Newman Club was established at Oxford, inspired by the writings of Cardinal Newman. Today there are Newman Centers found around the world—Catholic student centers at otherwise secular universities. Newman...
Today is World Heart Day—a day when we should stop to consider how important our hearts are and to learn how we can better care for them. Heart diseases are the leading cause of death in America and Worldwide. And how can we pamper our hearts? See your doctor. Participate in vigorous activity (commensurate with your age and fitness level). Eat healthy foods (especially fruits and vegetables). Don't smoke or vape. Lose weight. Simple, yes (though not easy). The hearts above are cast of pewter and finished with a brassy finish. They are "punched and ringed" to be used as a keying. Perhaps it would be a nice "love token" to one's beloved. Or a reminder to care for our hearts—which...
Frogs and toads don't hold the copyright on being mis-judged. At least one swan baby (a "cygnet") has been bullied—and called "an ugly duckling." And we all know how that story ends. This little swan, cast in bronze, is well-past his awkward age. Let him skim the surface of your desk—or sit atop a stack of papers. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call...
This solid bronze tree frog is beautifully sculpted. His feet and finish suggest a clammy viscosity on this climber's clinging surfaces. He'd make an intriguing paperweight on your desk or credenza—or a clever accent in your planter pot. Click on the photo above to learn more about him.
Another "hidden prince" tomorrow.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
This resolute little toad seems to be "over it." Perhaps he struggled to climb upon his rock? He's cast in brass and finished with a verdigris bronze patina. He would abide an outdoor location, though his finish will age and weather much more quickly. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. Another "hidden prince" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private...
This "Prince-in-Waiting"—warts and all—is, indeed, rather handsome. He is silver-plated and plays "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Though intended as a baby gift, he will be just as popular sitting on an adult's desk. Click on the photo above to learn more about him.
Another "hidden prince" tomorrow.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Literature is replete with stories of beautiful creatures hidden behind an ugly mask. Toads are often cast in this role; a spell-bound prince is trapped in the warty skin of a repulsive toad—and he only needs a kiss to break the spell. This toad—admittedly more repugnant than charming—was made of cast iron in Japan. I promise he'll make a loyal companion on your desk; I cannot ensure that he'll turn into a charming prince. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another "hidden prince" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found...
Early this morning—at 3:50 am Eastern Time—the Earth will experience the "Autumnal Equinox" which marks the first day of Fall. "Equinox" means "equal night" and it refers to the moment when the center of the sun is right over the Earth's Equator. All around the world, night and day will be approximately equal in length. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, going forward, the nights will begin to be longer than the day. In the Southern Hemisphere, days will begin to be longer than the nights. The golden leaf, shown above, is a little plate, sculpted in the form of a maple leaf. It is finished with a brassy wash and would make a perfect place for you to...
This is a heavy heart—in the best sense of those words. Rustically modeled and cast in pewter, it is a sculptural paperweight or a substantial token to the object of one's affection. It is also available in a brassy finish. Please click the photo above to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
All the long, lazy mornings In pastures of green The sun on your withers The wind in your mane Could never prepare youFor what lies ahead The run for the roses so red. -Dan Fogelberg A handsome pair of horses—one "winning by a nose"—feature on each of this pair of bookends, made in the 1920's or 1930's. Crisply modeled and cast in iron, each pair is framed by a horseshoe. Is there any animal more noble than a horse? Made by Bradley & Hubbard, they would make a wonderful gift for your favorite equestrian (or bookie). Please click on the photo...
The highlight of these American Art Deco cufflinks from the 1930's is the handsome amber-colored glass enameling which rests over radiant guilloché etching. They are finished with gold-plated backs, a nice attention to detail. Although the enamel is amber-colored, it does not contain the actual gemstone. But these cufflinks do bring-to-mind, however, the beauty and geological fascination of amber which has fascinated humans for over 10,000 years. Amber is the fossilized remains of tree (usually pine) sap which was buried and transformed into the gemstone under heat and pressure. Away from sunlight, rain, microbes and extreme temperatures, the sap hardens over the course of millions of years. While some amber has been dated to 370 million years ago, it is believed that 2 to...
Who can resist a pair of "Puppy Eyes"? This little fella will be picked-up a lot—delighting the curious with his wind-up musicality. This little spaniel pup plays "Brahms's Lullaby" and looks adorable while playing it. Though a baby gift, adults seem helpless under his spell. Click on the photo above to learn more about him.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Easter is about seven months away—yet our collection of cuddly bunnies already are awaiting their cue. Let's end our three day parade of rabbits and hares—all ready to hop your way—with this adorable little creature. Our precious silver-plated baby bunny is actually a wind-up music box which plays "Rock-a-Bye Baby." Though intended as a baby gift, he is better left in the hands of a careful adult. But his classic tune may help a little one drift-off at bedtime. He'd also be a favorite plaything on an executive desk or coffee table. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit...
Easter is about seven months away—yet our collection of cuddly bunnies already are awaiting their cue. We're in the middle of our three-day parade of rabbits and hares—all ready to hop your way. The brass hare, shown above, is finished with a verdigris bronze patina which gives him an aged, outdoorsy look. In fact, he can stand living out-of-doors—although it will expedite his weathered look. His sculptor captured the tentative energy and slightly skittish nature of a watchful rabbit, ready-to-flee. Learn more about him by clicking on the photo above. Another rabbit tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). ...
Easter is about seven months away—yet our collection of cuddly bunnies already are awaiting their cue. Over the next three days, we'll share a trio of rabbits and hares, all ready to hop your way. Shown above, a heavy solid-bronze standing rabbit. He was made in Canada and his modest size belies his hefty weight. Let him keep you company on your desk (as a paperweight) or watch over the proceedings from your windowsill. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. More rabbits in days to come. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also...
On this day in 1321 (or was it yesterday?), Italy's greatest writer, Dante Alighieri, died in-exile in Ravenna, Italy. Dante, born in Florence, found himself on the losing side of a political battle, after which he was banished from his beloved hometown on pain of death. He settled in Ravenna, some 65 miles away. It was here that he wrote his greatest work, the Divine Comedy. Ravenna, at first glance, is a somewhat modest town. But the city's plain appearance belies the glorious Early Christian (5th & 6th Century) mosaics which encrust the interiors of many churches and tombs. I sometimes imagine Dante standing before (or under) them—they were already 800 years old when Dante lived in Ravenna—gaining inspiration for his...
On this day in 1321 (or was it tomorrow?), Italy's greatest writer, Dante Alighieri, died in-exile in Ravenna, Italy. Banished from his beloved Florence, il Sommo Poeta ("The Supreme Poet") perished—but not before changing the history of Western literature. Before Dante, serious Italian literature was written in Latin, a language accessible only to the educated elite. Dante wrote in the vulgate, Italian, using the local Tuscan dialect of his home town, Florence. Additionally, Dante's depiction of the afterlife in his signature work, the Divine Comedy, affected artists' portrayals of Heaven, Purgatory and Hell for centuries to come. Of course, those of us who have looked at that artwork have been affected by Dante, too. Even future writers have credited Dante with...
Once the printing press caught-on—and books became affordable for the middle class—there was a boom in mass publishing, bookbinding and book selling. One method of bookbinding was to print longs "strips" of paper (composed of numerous pages printed side-by-side on both sides) which would then be folded (accordion style) to form a "signature" or "gathering" (a single portion or segment of the larger book). Many signatures would be printed, folded and stitched-together to form the complete book. The last step was to "cut open" the pages which gave the book's edge a classic "deckled" texture. On occasion, a reader might discover that a page had been missed by the cutter. In order to progress, the reader would have to cut-open the...
For several days, we will be sharing some of our newly-acquired letterknives—some antique, some contemporary. Please check our website—under "Desk Accessories"—to see the full collection. We end our parade of letterknives with this contemporary beauty, also made in a Rhode Island jewelry workshop. The knife is cast in pewter, plated in 24 karat gold, enameled with a seductive olive green, and decorated with hand-set Swarovski Austrian crystals. It would make a handsome and useful addition to any desk—at home or at the office. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). ...
For several days, we will be sharing some of our newly-acquired letterknives—some antique, some contemporary. Please check our website—under "Desk Accessories"—to see the full collection. There's something about British Thirties design that really intrigues me. Perhaps it is the understated simplicity—the result of difficult economic times—combined with a small dash of style, an optimistic stretch towards better times ahead. This polished brass letterknife is a perfect example of British restraint and refinement—just a hint of style which will not interfere with getting the job done. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. More newly-acquired letterknives tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where...
For several days, we will be sharing some of our newly-acquired letterknives—some antique, some contemporary. Please check our website—under "Desk Accessories"—to see the full collection. Made by a Rhode Island jeweler, this contemporary letterknife is a joy to hold and use. First it is finely-cast in pewter, then treated to a 24 karat gold plating. Finally, the handle is punctuated with hand-set Swarovski crystals from Austria. I usually do not like to buy items which too closely resemble true antique pieces. In this case, however, I could not bear to pass on the letterknife's handsome design and exceptional quality. It is made to the very high standards one might have bought new 120 years ago. Please click on the photo...
For several days, we will be sharing some of our newly-acquired letterknives—some antique, some contemporary. Please check our website—under "Desk Accessories"—to see the full collection. This understated beauty is perfect in its modest dimensions. Brass sheeting is cut, folded and riveted before being sharpened and polished. It's a bit of functional English Arts & Crafts simplicity—handsome and useful. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More newly-acquired letterknives tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of...
For several days, we will be sharing some of our newly-acquired letterknives—some antique, some contemporary. Please check our website—under "Desk Accessories"—to see the full collection. Shown above, a contemporary Italian pewter letterknife—understated, handsome, functional. The polished pewter blade is topped with a stag's horn finial. It's the perfect combination of urban sophistication and countryside chic. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More newly-acquired letterknives tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane...
For several days, we will be sharing some of our newly-acquired letterknives—some antique, some contemporary. Please check our website—under "Desk Accessories"—to see the full collection. We start with an English brass letterknife, executed in the Rococo Revival style. The original Rococo Movement was developed in France and Italy before moving North to Germany and Russia from about 1730 to 1780. It was typified by its theatrically exuberant style, often using asymmetrical scrolling, shells, flowers and other botanical elements. Curving lines, over-the-top decoration and the illusion of motion and drama aimed to cause the first-time viewer to be overwhelmed with surprise and awe. Critics of the Rococo considered it vulgar and in the following decades it was replaced by the Neoclassical...
Up North, we're enjoying these last, gentle days of Summer—and beginning to brace ourselves for the cold season to come. Down "on the ice," in Antarctica, it's still winter. Penguins huddle against the cold, keeping eggs warm in very harsh conditions. This little penguin, made in Japan, seems to be a little more carefree. He's cast in bronze—so finely, in fact, that one can see his feathers!—and then cold-painted in the tradition of the best Viennese bronzes. He's perky, winning and a very nice companion on your desk or bookshelf. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line...
Little "Billiken"—"the god of things as they ought to be"—would be a good luck charm wherever one goes to school. It's most effective, however, at Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri. Created by Florence Pretz in 1908, this little bank was made of cast iron in the 1910's or 1920's. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh...
Two British poets—a Scotsman and an Englishman—will bookend the growing library of your favorite British Literature scholar. Made by Bradley & Hubbard in the 1930's, they celebrate words, wisdom and knowledge. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
What to give that Italian Classics major? She'd love this pair of stately bookends from the Twenties! Dante Alighieri, seated upon his chair of knowledge, leans forward, eager to hear every word. They are bronze-clad, patinated with an aged brass finish, and hand-painted in sections to give them a handsome "pop." And, while they will certainly supply inspiration during the school years, they will be a welcomed companion for decades to come—holding-up books and lending a classic air to any office, library or bookshelf. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell...
Listen for that school bell—any minute now—for class will soon be in-session! And what a way to start: with this handsome (and loud) English Aesthetic Movement bell with turned ebonywood tip. It was made around 1880 of polished cast bronze. You'd be teacher's pet, for sure, if you gave her (or him) this lovely gift on your first day. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of...
Not really "Lords A'Leaping." Not Donner or Blitzen, either. But we are four months from Christmas Day! A good time to start shopping! Perhaps these Art Deco cast iron "Leaping Gazelle" bookends will do the trick. They're handsome, useful and very stylish—not to mention the ultimate "green gift." Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. Let's end our "Dog Days" parade with this happy chap, a "Slouchy Puppy" sculpture cast in brass and finished with a verdigris bronze patina. Large enough for a bookend or doorstop, he's the perfect combination of physical relaxation and attentive energy. Please click on the photo above to learn more about him. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. Whether you remember Donny Osmond or not ("Someone help me!—help me!—help me p-l-e-a-s-e!"), you probably remember your first Puppy Love. And this delightful little chap will help soothe the memory. He's made of cast bronze, sculpted and crafted in California, and he bears the letters L, O, V & E on each of his four paws. A lovely gift for your Puppy Love—right now or from years ago. Click on the photo to learn more about him. To hear the song,...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. This pampered pooch is rendered beautifully in cast brass, made in England in the 1920's or 1930's. He'd make a perfect gift for the Pekingese lover in your life—and bring a little touch of Imperial Grandeur to your office, den or bookshelf. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. More "Dogs of Summer" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. This sculpted brass "Slouchy Puppy" captures the relaxed—yet attentive—energy of a handsome and beloved pup. He'll loyally await your time and attention, never getting older nor chewing your favorite Italian leather shoes. Click on the photo above to learn more about him. And look for his larger sibling, also on-line in the LEO Design store. More "Dogs of Summer" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. American Bulldogs are a popular breed—as they were in the 1920's, when these bookends were crafted. Why, then, are Bulldog items so difficult to find? Perhaps bulldog lovers are loathe to give-up their treasured Bulldog accoutrements? In 25 years, I've found precious few Bulldog bookends, like the pair shown above. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. More "Dogs of Summer" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well!...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. This winsome fellow, sculpted in California and cast in bronze, hides a little secret: each paw is marked with the letters L, I, F & E. Perhaps he'll be a loyal talisman, keeping-away misery & misfortune. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. More "Dogs of Summer" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also...
While we sweat through The Dog Days of Summer, let's not forget: the Fall will be upon us shortly. Here are a few handsome canines—now in-stock at LEO Design—which will bring a little cool for the next few weeks. Bring a little touch of shooting party "Downton Chic" to your office, mantelpiece or bookshelf—while sparing the birds. This pair of "Hunting Bird Dogs" bookends, made in the 1920's, will hold-up your books loyally. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. More "Dogs of Summer" tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be...
I don't know about you, but I need a little Christmas right now! And, so, it was fortuitous that I happened to unpack another box of merchandise from our Village shop—and out-popped this cast pewter Christmas ornament! It will happily hang on your tree (or window latch), it could stand on your desk (or mantelpiece) and it could even be pressed into service as a jolly candlesnuffer. Click on the photo above to learn a bit more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla &...
John Ruhl (1873-1940) always knew he wanted to be an artist. His hardworking German father—who ran a shoe shop—discouraged his son's dream at every turn. Instead, 14 year old John was compelled to take a clerkship in an insurance office. The next year, John began taking art classes at the Metropolitan Museum where he entered an art competition (unbeknownst to his parents). When John's sculpture won, his father was impressed with seeing his son's name in the newspaper as well as the $100 prize—more than a month's earnings in his shoe shop. Ruhl was allowed to quit his job at the insurance company and apprentice himself to a prominent NY sculptor. He later joined the Piccirilli Brothers—one of the foremost...
It's 23 July—the first day of the sunsign LEO! It was during this month (24 years ago) that LEO Design first opened shop on Bleecker Street. What a time it's been! Although we've moved three times (eventually to Pennsylvania), we have not stopped buying and selling "Handsome Gifts" and home furnishings. Take this handsome pair of lions, perched on rocks, surveying their domain. They are bookends and are dated 1926—which makes them 93 years old. When I opened my store in 1995, they were only 69 years old! That's the nice thing about antiques: they just keep getting older and older. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently...
"The Eagle has landed." With these words, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module touched-down in the Mare Tranquillitatis ("The Sea of Tranquility") on the moon's grey and dusty surface. NASA was meticulously ticking another box—each step a milestone in American (and Humanity's) history, science and knowledge. It happened fifty years ago today. After 76 hours en route to the moon (some 240,000 miles), three astronauts were just hours away from completing their historic mission: to set human foot upon the moon. Astronaut Michael Collins stayed behind, manning the Command Module "mothership", while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the moon in the Lunar Module (the Eagle) which would spend some 21 hours on the moon's surface. Like the rest of the multi-segment...
"Lift off! We have a liftoff!" With these words, the world watched as Apollo 11 slowly struggled to hoist its massive body skyward—and the world moved into a new age of science, technology and understanding. Sitting on the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Apollo 11 was actually a "stack" of different parts, each section to be disposed of after use, starting from the bottom. Only the very top of the rocket, the part that held the three astronauts, would (hopefully) return to Earth eight days later. Indeed, most of what we saw on the launch pad were the fuel segments to get the spacecraft off the ground and away from the Earth's enormous gravitational pull. It...
When it comes to the decorative arts, I have a soft spot for themes of literature and music—and I have an especially hard time passing-by a nice Dante Alighieri bust. After once tendering my respects at his handsome tomb in Ravenna, Italy, I feel like he's even more of a friend or family member now. Thus, I fell in love with this Italian bronze bust (c. 1920's - 1930's) the moment I saw it. I purchased it and spirited him home, intending to let him preside over my newly-finished library for a few months (at least). Well, Dante is moving-on! No sooner had I snapped a photo of him (and shared it with a like-minded collector), a sale was consummated—and Dante is...
Why are Teddy Roosevelt Bookends so difficult to find? While Lincoln bookends are somewhat commonplace, TR bookends are quite scarce—and, therefore, costly. I have a few ideas of why this might be. First of all, factory-produced bookends are an early Twentieth Century phenomenon—and really reached their production zenith during the 1920's and 1930's. Before the Twentieth Century, few people who could afford to assemble large collections of books (only the wealthy). Working people (who made up the bulk of the 19th Century US population) might own a small handful of books—a Bible, perhaps a cookbook and a few books of poetry—thus, mass-produced bookends were not really needed. Wealthy collectors had rooms, shelved libraries, to protect, organize and store their tomes. Roosevelt's...
Join me on my summer holiday as I travel (mostly) through Italy—as always, in search of beautiful sites, sculpture and all things sculpture-ish. Not far from the tomb of Saint Peter—above which the Papal Altar, Bernini's baldacchino and Michelangelo's dome rise—sits this bronze sculpture of the first pope, Saint Peter, clutching the keys to the kingdom close to his breast and raising his right hand in blessing. For centuries, the faithful have venerated the sculpture; in the Middle Ages, pilgrims (on their months-long walk to Rome) would petition the saint to help them make it home from their journey. Christians have traditionally kissed or touched the sculpture's extended right foot—which is now worn-down to a nub. For years, it was...
Join me on my summer holiday as I travel (mostly) through Italy—as always, in search of beautiful sites, sculpture and all things sculpture-ish. Once the "new" Saint Peter's Basilica was constructed, it became time to design and install a fitting marker over the Papal Altar and tomb of Saint Peter, the Church's first pope. Enter architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, engaged by then Pope Urban VIII of the wealthy and influential Barberini family. The canopy over the altar is technically called a ciborium—although the broader decorative term baldacchino is more commonly used instead. Bernini designed and oversaw its production between 1623 and 1634. It is a massive form, assembled of individually cast bronze pieces, stands some 95 feet high, and...
Join me on my summer holiday as I travel (mostly) through Italy—as always, in search of beautiful sites, sculpture and all things sculpture-ish. Saint Michael, the protector, is one of the three Archangels recognized by the Catholic Church (alongside Saints Gabriel and Raphael). An enormous bronze statue of him stands guard above his namesake Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome—a fortress overlooking the River Tiber. The sculpture was modeled by Flemish artist Peter Anton von Verschaffelt and installed in 1753. He is shown sheathing his signature sword, commemorating the end of the plague in 590 AD. The Castel itself has a much older history. It was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family (between 134...
Join me on my summer holiday as I travel (mostly) through Italy—as always, in search of beautiful sites, sculpture and all things sculpture-ish. Lucca is a handsome, human-scaled Tuscan city, still encircled by its original Renaissance era brick wall. It is also the birthplace of composer Giaccomo Puccini (1858-1924) who wrote popular operas including La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot. Puccini was one of nine children and he was raised in a family with music in its blood. His father (and grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather) was the "Maestro di Capella" at Lucca's Cathedral of San Martino (since the Middle Ages, an important stop for pilgrims working their way to Rome). Little Giaccomo probably would have followed in his forefathers' footsteps...
It's the Graduating Season and sometimes an uplifting gift is in-order. Amongst the world's best writers—and, certainly, Italy's greatest writer—is Dante Alighieri, scholar, poet and author of The Divine Comedy. In the Late Middle Ages, when Dante was writing, it was customary for serious literature to be written in Latin. Dante ignored this convention, writing in the Italian language (and, what's more, in the Tuscan dialect of his beloved Florence). Since his death in 1321, Dante has influenced numerous writers, right up to the current age. Dante's relevance to the modern age is not confined to his writing—but concerns his politics. It seems he found himself supporting the losing side of a political scrum in his home city of Florence. Alas,...
A regiment of stylized repoussé tulips stand sentry around the border of this modestly-sized English Arts & Crafts copper tray. It sits on four brass ball feet and is perfect for a teapot and two tea cups. It would also be well-suited as a dresser tray (holding a collection of perfume bottles and other elixirs) or as a cruet tray on a dining table. Or consider three heavy, pillar candles aligned along the center of the tray—a stylish centerpiece on a coffee or entry hall table. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome piece. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store...
These tenacious tuskers will really put their heads into keeping your books upright. Nicely modeled elephants are clad in a skin of bronze and finished with an antique patina—resulting in a handsome pair of bookends from the 1920's. They'd be right at home on your bookshelf, mantelpiece or holding-up reference tomes on your desk. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange...
Thank you to the women who raised us, taught us, set-us-straight. The women who encouraged us, fed us, gave us life. Your sacrifice, heartache and unconditional love can never be repaid.
Happy Mother's Day!
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
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We end our little parade of handsome cast pewter frames with this delicate beauty, hand-made in New York City. A thin trail of stylized florals encircles the 2" x 3" image—the size of a wallet photo or small school picture. Learn more about this frame by clicking on the photo above. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow us on Instagram:...
This large 8" x 10" photo frame is the perfect stage for your treasured vintage wedding or graduation photo. With styling reminiscent of the 1940's—a scalloped profile and four corner caps—it will really bring your heirloom photo to life. Made in New York City of cast pewter, it can be found in our on-line store. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center...
A heavily ribbed profile (like a tightly-coiled industrial spring) surrounds this 8" x 10" photo frame. While substantial, the metalwork is well-proportioned, given the large format of the frame. And it will sit either horizontally or vertically. It is but one of many cast pewter photo frames now available in the LEO Design on-line ship. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this frame. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique...
A sculpted bas relief "garland" of flowers encircles this 2" x 3" cast pewter photo frame, hand-made in New York City. Perfect for a daughter's (or granddaughter's) school photo, you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook:...
Though small, this handsome cast pewter frame packs a big punch! Made in New York City, the diminutive frame (only 1.75" x 2.25") is surrounded with a heavy spring-like ribbing. Click on the photo above to learn more about this frame—and to see other options in different sizes and styles. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248...
Rich with Forties Style, this little (2" x 3") photo frame is perfect for showcasing your vintage photograph. A repeating scalloped profile is punctuated with corner fleurs-de-lys. Made of cast pewter in New York City. See it (and many ofter styles and sizes) by clicking on the photo above. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow...
Two 5" x 7" cast pewter photo frames—comprised of a crisp "rope" design—are hinged together, presenting a perfect setting for a pair of precious portraits. This is but one of many cast pewter frames (both singles and doubles) now available in our on-line store. Please click on the photo above to learn more about the frame. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh...
The heavy ribbing on this frame—like a tightly-coiled industrial spring—boldly punctuates this 5" x 7" cast pewter frame, made in New York City. It will bring a sense of gravitas to any photo which has the fortitude to push back. Learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248...
A crisp basketweave bas relief surrounds this little (3" x 4") photo frame, hand-made in New York City. Classic and just a little masculine, it's part of a larger collection of such frames, now to be found in the LEO Design on-line store. Please click upon the photo above to learn more about this frame. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom...
We have a large and nice assortment of contemporary cast pewter photo frames, hand-made in New York City. See them in our on-line shop. This version, an 8" x 10" frame, is surrounded with a course of pearls. While it helps your favorite portrait "pop," it won't distract from the important focus of the photo itself. Learn more about it by clicking on the photo above. Another hand-cast pewter photo frame tomorrow. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center...
The windswept island of Iona, off the Western coast of Scotland, has a long (and sometimes mysterious) reputation as a place of remoteness, solitude and tranquility. Saint Columba founded a religious community here after arriving from Ireland in 563. From here, Christian missionaries moved further into Scotland. The island is the home of Iona Abbey, still a locus of monasticism and spiritual retreat. And Iona is considered (by many) one of those places that just feels holy—imbued with an intangible sense of spiritual energy. The Scottish agate brooch, shown above, was made on the island of Iona. A red and white striped agate cabochon is mounted within a scrolling botanical setting of sterling silver. Please click on the photo above to...
Mother's Day is on the horizon (12 May). It's never too early to get prepared! Shown here, a cast pewter photo frame, handmade in New York City. A crisp basketweave pattern pops from the 5" x 7" frame's profile. And there are many other frame options to be found on our website. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome frame—always a perfect gift for Mom (especially if it holds your photo!). More Mother's Day gift ideas tomorrow... Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at...
On this day in 1616—precisely four hundred and three years ago—the world’s greatest poet and playwright died in his home town of Stratford-on-Avon, England. While there is some mystery surrounding Shakespeare’s death, we do know (or think we know) a few things. He had returned to Stratford (and his family) after 20 years of working in London. His day of death may have also been his 53rd birthday (though we don’t know his precise birthdate, only the day of his baptism). And he was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church, whose then vicar, John Ward, was a fan of The Bard. The cause of Shakespeare’s death has been debated. The Reverend Ward wrote in his diary: “Shakespeare, Drayton and...
Fretwork. Meandering. Greek Key. These are varying names for the type of geometric, continuous decorative element shown on the pewter frame, above. Although the Greek Key was used in the decor of many different cultures, its popularity on painted Ancient Greek ceramics has forever linked the handsome repeat with Hellenic art and architecture. Learn more about the frame above, made of cast pewter in New York City, by clicking on the photo. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique...
Today is the most solemn day on the Christian calendar—the day when Jesus endured His Passion, was crucified and laid into the tomb. Coming after Lent, a long period of atonement and reflection, this darkest of days will soon be followed by the most joyous of Christian events—Easter and the Resurrection. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow us on Instagram:...
When I first opened my store on Bleecker Street in 1995, I had little money to spend on luxuries. And yet, I wanted to have gift-boxing which befitted the moniker "Handsome Gifts." Wrapping paper was out of the question—too expensive, too wasteful, too impractical and too time-consuming at the cash desk. So I searched for alternatives and settled on a plain kraft gift box—embellished with a copper LEO Design "hot stamp" embossment (which did cost a little something)—tied-up with black grosgrain ribbon. Though not very jolly, this gift-boxing was easy, inexpensive, non-seasonal, non-denominational and (most importantly) distinctive—no one else was doing anything like it. Several years in, all's going well, and Marc Jacobs opens his first (of many!) stores on Bleecker...
Welcome, April—and its birthstone, the Diamond! The phrase "A Diamond is Forever" comes from an ad campaign for DeBeers, which, until fairly recently, was undisputedly the world's largest diamond seller. Perhaps "forever" is an overstatement; regardless, diamonds are an impressive work of Mother Nature. They are the hardest known natural substance, making them suitable for industrial uses (in addition to decorative applications). They are incredibly old: most natural diamonds were formed deep within the Earth (90 to 500 miles down) 1 - 3.5 billion years ago. More recently (hundreds of millions of years ago), the Earth's volcanic activity moved some of them closer to the surface where they were discovered by man. Some diamonds were also formed by the heat...
Although quite traditional, the thinness of this frame—not to mention its crisp casting—gives it a timeless, even Modern appeal. It would suit a traditional or contemporary setting and will (rightly) keep the focus on your treasured photo. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248 Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on...
Sometimes smaller is better. When you need "just a little something" with which to remember someone special, perhaps this little oval frame will do? Made of cast pewter (in New York City), it features a heavy, swirling rib which runs around the frame's perimeter. It's discreet and won't take up too much room on a busy work desk. See it at LEO Design by clicking on the photo above. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane...
Three hours comes fast when you're exhausted and have just gone to bed. But we were living on adrenaline and wanted to get to our house before the moving van did. We hit the road hours before sunrise. It was 7:00 am when the phone rang—we were crawling through Pittsburgh rush hour—and it was the house seller, telling us that the Verizon man was waiting for us. It turns-out, she hadn't moved-out when we thought she had—and we were suddenly relieved that we had not shown-up at three in the morning, terrifying her while trying to get into the house! Within an hour the moving vans (plural!) showed-up. It seems I had under-estimated the number of book boxes they would be...
In the last installment of this story, you found Bob, Benji, Lucky (The Hurricane Parakeet*) and me squeezed into a Pittsburgh-bound rent-a-car with our "carry-ons" (stuffed into every crevice of the vehicle, window-to-window). Naturally, it was rush hour—which means it took an hour to get down to (and through) the Holland Tunnel. The drive usually takes us about seven hours, eight hours when traveling with the pup, and we really wanted to make it in one go. The seller had just moved-out and we wanted to sleep in our new house! But we were exhausted—and faced an equally big day tomorrow. Alas, four hours in, we surrendered to Prudence (rather than Passion) and decided to break our journey en-route. Midnight,...
Two years ago today—has the time passed that quickly?—Roadway Movers rang the bell at my Chelsea apartment and started loading a mountain of boxes onto a large, double-parked truck. It was my last day as a bonafide New Yorker. Were it not for the whirlwind of packing "24 Years of Apartment" (immediately after packing "23 Years of Store"), I'm sure I would have been Desolation's Poster Boy. But I didn't have the time. I pushed my exhaustion into one of those expensive wardrobe cartons and assumed supervision of a pleasingly well-oiled moving crew. Within eight hours, all that remained was the four of us: Bob, Benji, Lucky and me—with Lucky's squawky chirps echoing off the now-bare apartment walls and floor. We lugged...
Here's another handsome pewter photo frame, likewise hand-made in New York City. A quartet of four scalloped corner emblellishments punctuate the Art Deco style of this handsomely crafted frame. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts"
Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design - Handsome Gifts"
The Greek Key—sometimes called "meandering scrollwork"—is amongst my favorite decorative elements. It's crisp, mathematical, architectural and oh so handsome. It's masculine yet elegant—a winning combination of traits! This 2.5" x 3.5" frame is hand-cast in New York City. It is decorated with a border of precise Greek Key scrolling. Let it give a lift to a favorite photo of yours. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of...
I bought this wonderful bronze seahorse bottle opener in England—just outside of Oxford—some seven or eight years ago. For that entire period, I kept him tucked away in my desk drawer, so loathe was I to part with him. My hope was to have him recast in bronze (multiple times, of course) which I could sell as contemporary items. I even flirted with keeping him for myself, permanently. Well, six years passed and so did our precious time in Greenwich Village. I packed him up for our move to Pittsburgh two years ago—and he sat deep within a box for those two additional years. He was finally unearthed last week and I decided that, if I were going to duplicate...
Pearls are one of Mother Nature's perfect creations. Their shape, their sheen, their modest flawlessness—no other "gem" achieves such majesty so effortlessly. And, until the 20th Century, they were so costly that they remained solely in the possession of emperors and monarchs. With such characteristic merits, it is no surprise that pearls have been used as decorative motifs—in architecture, painting, sculpture and the decorative arts. One contemporary example is the cast pewter frame, shown above. On it, a string of pearls—lined-up like soldiers—provides a delicate yet stately framework for your precious photo or paper memento. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our...
This frame (and its on-line siblings) is a bit of a happy miracle. Beautifully designed, expertly crafted, it was made right here in the United States. And in New York City, no less! It's proof that quality manufacturing can survive in our otherwise service-oriented economy. It's a pleasure to support such local industry which does not attempt to plumb the lowest common denominator. As such, this frame is not trendy, it is not disposable, and it is not cheap. Instead, it is a one-time purchase which will last a century or more—physically and aesthetically. And it's reminiscent of a time when Americans were willing to pay more for something that would last a good, long time. Please click on the photo...
