Today is “Star Wars Day,” a day on which sci-fi geeks and film buffs celebrate all things Star Wars. The date, May 4th, was chosen because it sounds like the iconic phrase “May the Force be with you.” The first organized celebration was held in Toronto in 2011. Activities included a trivia game show, a […]
On this day in 1955, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama was awarded to “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by playwright Tennessee Williams. The judging committee, comprised of four critics and one academic, had always been subject to override by the Pulitzer organization—and, in this instance, Joseph Pulitzer, Jr. lobbied hard on behalf of Tennessee […]
Begun in Canada in 1984, International Workers’ Memorial Day is celebrated to remember those who have perished at work and to highlight the often-preventable nature of such incidents. In the United States, 12 people die every day in work-related accidents. Worldwide, a worker is killed every 15 seconds. Advocates continue to push for safer working […]
From William Shakespeare, Harry Truman, and Queen Elizabeth II, to David Beckham, Penelope Cruz, and Cherilyn Sarkisian (aka: Cher), Taureans have long been pushing-forward, holding-the-line, and making the world a more comfortable place. Known for their determination and sensibility, Taureans are also quite aesthetically-minded. They like comfortable—though not necessarily grand—surroundings and value words, music and […]
A pair of dramatically-sculpted bison will stampede across your bookshelf in this handsome pair of bronze-clad bookends, made in the 1920's. Enormous herds of bison roamed the American grasslands until the Nineteenth Century, when they were hunted to near-extinction. Today, small herds have made a comeback—mostly in National parks. Weighing upwards of 2,200 pounds, the animal is the largest "bovid" in the world and the largest wild land animal in the Americas. Please click upon the photo above to learn more about these bookends. 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:...
Notre Dame de Paris is one of the World's great cathedrals. The name means "Our Lady of Paris" and refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Construction was begun in 1163 and continued for the next 182 years. It was built in the "new" French Gothic style on the Île de la Cité—a natural island floating within the Seine—which was the defensible center of Medieval Paris. The building, including its many gargoyles and chimera, was originally colored though (after 800 years) the paint has mostly worn off. And the structure is the first building in the world to employ "flying buttresses"—the arched ribs which hold-up the cathedral's walls. Two bell towers stand at the front of the church. In the Southern...
On this day in 1796, America’s first elephant arrived in New York City. Captain Jacob Crowninshield purchased her in India and sailed from Calcutta. The captain bought her on speculation—for $450, including transit—expecting he could profit from exhibiting her. And exhibit her he did! For more than a dozen years, she was trundled from New […]
Rodin first created "Le Penseur" in 1880 as part of a larger sculpted grouping called "The Gates of Hell." The work was based on Dante's The Divine Comedy. It wasn't until 1904 that the first large stand-alone casting was made—and the broad public got its first exposure to a work which perfectly suited the times. Psychology increasingly was viewed as a legitimate science and the public was intrigued with the human mind and the theories of Sigmund Freud. "The Thinker" became an icon of the Turn-of-the-Century zeitgeist. The bookends shown above were made in the 1920's—when "The Thinker" was still a relatively recent novelty. First, an artful and accurate model—which captured the spirit and energy of Rodin's original—had to be sculpted. From this...
Henry Bergh was the son of a wealthy shipbuilder and, as such, enjoyed a life of privilege, art and leisure. While in London, he studied The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and committed to starting such an organization in America. On this day in 1866, Bergh founded the ASPCA in New […]
Reginald Guy Cowan was born in 1884 in East Liverpool, Ohio—at the time an important center of American ceramics production. His father worked as a pottery designer. While Cowan was still a boy, his family moved to Syracuse, another pottery-producing center. Cowan was trained at the New York State School of Clayworking and Ceramics, a […]
The first dog show was held in the United Kingdom in 1859 and they became increasingly popular as the Nineteenth Century progressed. Participants could find the competitions frustrating, however, as there was little consistency from show to show: no governing body, no breed standards, no consistent show rules. Dog breeder and enthusiast Seawallis Shirley assembled […]
Amongst the finest pieces of ceramic sculpture I’ve ever had is this Danish stoneware monkey by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Sculpted in the 1920’s, it captures a most-dramatic scene of a (howling?) monkey threatened by a coiled snake, ready-to-strike. The gorgeous sang de boeuf glaze adds drama—and a bit of Orientalist mystery—to the timeless […]
A joyous Easter to my Christian customers—and a wonderful Springtime to all!
This little jackrabbit is ready to hop off to your desk, bookshelf or mantelpiece. Please click on the photo above to learn more about him.
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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In the mid-Seventeenth Century, Sweden was quite the world power. Its European territory included Sweden, of course, plus Finland, Estonia, and parts of modern-day Russia, Germany, Poland, and Latvia. And so, when the riches of the New World began glimmering across the Atlantic, Sweden was loathe to leave the riches to the French and English. […]
Two Italian brothers, Josef & Benito Marcolin, learned the art of glass-making on the Venetian island of Murano, Italy, long-regarded as one of the world’s top art glass producers. They moved to Sweden and, in 1962, opened a little workshop in Ronneby—the picturesque “Garden of Sweden” on the southern tip of that peninsular country. […]
On 21 March 2006—twelve years and a lifetime ago (to some)—Twitter was inflicted bequeathed upon an unsuspecting world. Since then, in as few as 140 (make that 280) characters, fortunes have been made, careers have been ended, and proper grammar, punctuation and spelling have been tossed out the window.
Well, let the Twits keep their Tweets! As for me, I prefer my twitter-ing from the songbirds in the trees—perhaps the most pleasant sound of all.
Speaking of Tweets, please observe the Danish Modern ceramic plaque, made by Beth Breyen for Royal Copenhagen in the 1960’s or 1970’s. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
Look who scampered in today! With the all the character—and the energy—of the real thing, this sculpture slouches perfectly on a desk, coffee table or bookcase. He could even be used as a bookend or doorstop. Please come in to visit (and, perhaps, adopt) him or click on the photo above to learn more about […]
Musk oxen are an Arctic mammal, found in Greenland, Siberia, Alaska, Northern Canada and parts of Northern Scandinavia. They travel in small packs of 8 – 12 animals which, during the June and July breeding season, consist of a dominant male (“bull”) and several females (“cows”)—plus their offspring. They have extremely thick coats—which protect them […]
In Ancient Rome, the New Year began with March. To celebrate the end of the old year—and to honor the god Mars—Romans marked 27 February as Equirria, a day of horse racing in the Campus Martius (“Field of Mars”). In a sense, every New Year was a “Year of the Horse.” Mars—the God of War […]
Today's a red letter day at LEO Design—we launch our new and improved website! While our older website has served us well for several years, we wanted a site that allowed for bigger, better product pictures and would be reliable (under the hood) for years to come. Our new site allows customers to contact us via e-mail and jump directly to our Instagram and Facebook accounts. We hope you like it! Mountains of credit go to my webmaster extraordinaire, Brad Soucy, who created this new site—despite a super-busy life as a father, husband and technology bigwig at Virginia Tech. If he weren't so busy, I'd propose all of you hire him. You'd not regret it! He's a talented artist, a super person...
The U.S. Capitol building—one of Washington D.C.’s cardinal landmarks—sits atop a hill, overlooking the Washington Mall. It’s most basic function is to house the two chambers of the Congress, although many other important occasions are celebrated or performed there. Presidents are usually inaugurated upon an exterior platform built off the West façade (which overlooks the […]
All right, I admit it. I am not now and never have been a fan of American Football. Part of it's the violence and the concussions. Part of it's the anonymity of the players—buried as they are under layers and layers of concealing nylon and plastic. For me, American Football will never be as satisfying as the real Football (which is kicked with one's feet)—which, I think, requires much more stamina, fitness and constant running. If you're a fan of American Football, perhaps this “crystal ball” will score. Made in Japan in the 1970’s or 1980’s, it would make a handsome paperweight or conversation-starter on a desk or bookshelf. And with, Father's Day in the near future, perhaps it will help Dad...
February is National Bird-Feeding Month, a period during which the public is educated about the feeding and watching of wild birds. It began on 23 February 1994 when Representative John Porter (R – Illinois) introduced into the record a plea for individuals to provide food, water, and shelter for wild birds—especially in February, one of […]
A Satyress is the female version of the Satyr—in this case, a human woman, usually bare-breasted, with the legs of a goat. While male Satyrs are commonplace in art, architecture and design, female Satyresses are not. Because the male creatures are usually associated with drunkeness, mischief and raw, animalistic sexuality, perhaps Classical and Rennaisance artists avoided […]
Bronze is an alloy (a “blended” metal) of copper (generally 88%) and tin (12%)—though the mixture is often manipulated depending upon the intended use of the crafted object. The first known use of bronze was in what is modern-day Iran, around 3600 BC. The name, “bronze,” is derived from the Italian bronzo (from the Latin […]
Besides keeping busy as a true Renaissance Man, Benjamin Franklin found time to help found The United States of America. He was born on this day in 1706. Franklin was one of 10 children, born to a poor soap- and candle-maker in Boston. Ben was smart and industrious; alas, his father could only afford two […]
When the Woolworth Building was completed in 1913, at 792 feet it was the tallest building in the world—and would remain so until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930. Employing state-of-the-art principles like steel frame construction and high-speed elevators, the Woolworth Building paved the way for even taller skyscrapers in the future. Yet, despite […]
Let's start the New Year with a jump: a frisky feline leaps—half-heartedly—toward his temptingly delicious prey on this Danish Modern stoneware plaque. Sculpted by artist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen, this oversized tile can be hung on the wall or permanently mounted with other tile work. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
Today the Sun enters the heavenly zone of Capricorn (21 December - 19 January). Capricorns are the "Big Daddies" of the zodiac. They are realists, goal setters and strategists. They analyze, pick their destination, determine the shortest route and then keep their foot on the gas pedal. They make good, practical leaders, who keep their troops on the straight-and-narrow—not easily pulled off-track to "smell the flowers" or "try something new." They enjoy family and work life, and are often happiest when they can blend work and pleasure. All this stoic self-direction can have negative aspects, however. Ruled by Saturn, Capricorns can be stern taskmasters—with no appreciation of spontaneousness or creative chaos. Foolish decisions really get their goat! And their paternalistic...
I spent 10 days in Japan this summer—and did not see ONE of these fantastic hand-carved Hokkaido bears. Instead, I came across a Japanese collector in London who was selling his collection of them! I bought four (which can be seen on the website, www.LEOdesignNYC.com). This one is the biggest—and amongst the biggest carved bears I've ever had. 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 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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Although I love this bull—sculpted in stoneware by Danish artist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen—the other kind of bull has left me depleted (and we haven’t even reached Inauguration Day!). Buy him now, before we close our store, and get him for 25% off. Please come into the shop to see him or click on […]
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 […]
Another Christmas is here—and there’s a new year waiting right around the corner! This has been our 22nd Holiday Season in the neighborhood. Where has the time gone? We are grateful for the support of our many wonderful customers. Wishing all a joyful and restful Christmas. May 2017 be a year of unexpected happiness. Today […]
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 […]
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 […]
The season will soon be upon us. Perhaps a handsome (and sizable) stoneware bear might be just the right gift. Large enough to make an impact on any table, sideboard or mantelpiece, this bear was sculpted by Arne Ingdam in Denmark in the 1960’s. Please come into the shop to see him or click on […]
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 […]
I found this little fella in Pennsylvania, maybe a year ago. Since then, I haven’t had the heart to put a price ticket on him. No, instead he’s been sitting on the oak filing cabinet behind the sales counter—quietly radiating a subliminal suggestion to every customer and passerby. He was made in the 1960’s by […]
Scare the neighbors—and their Trick-or-Treating kids—with this European ceramic wall plaque from the 1960’s. This sculpted, bas-relief “Aries” is a bold and expressive rendering of the zodiac character—who is also a notorious player from mythology and fable. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design will be open from Noon […]
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 […]
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 […]
And you thought Mad Men was over! Not quite yet. Shown above, a Danish Modern stoneware plaque by sculptor Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Made in 1968, it was intended as a decorative object to hang upon the wall or it could be permanently mounted within a larger ceramics installation. On the plaque, two playful bucks cavort amidst a […]
In the aftermath of World War II and its devastation, the world’s leaders sought a means to prevent such conflicts in the future—and decided to create the United Nations. Multiple sites were considered, including Flushing Meadow, in Queens, site of the 1939 World’s Fair. When a development project in Manhattan (along the East River) fell-apart, […]
I just took my seven year old niece to Washington, DC. We saw the White House, the Capitol, the National Zoo, the Lincoln Memorial and the Museum of Natural History. What did she like best? The squirrels! My niece, who was visiting from Hawaii, had never seen one of the restless rodents before. She put […]
When I think of Ruscha West German Modernist art pottery, I usually think of vases—vases with wonderful dripping, complex and organic glazes. Until I found the plaque above, which shakes-up my concept of Ruscha. Here sea grasses sway, anchored in a bed of blooming anemones, while bubbles bobble to the surface. Brown lobes of coral […]
Come into the shop to see this sweet little pair of hand-painted ceramic chickens—a rooster and a hen. They’re made in Southern California (where they are cast in vintage molds), and, while they aren’t antiques, they have a wonderful old-time coloration to them. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: […]
A Boy Scout is always prepared—but does he have a vintage trophy? Celebrate the scout (or former scout) with this 1920’s cast spelter statuette modeled by Canadian Renaissance Man Robert Tait McKenzie in 1915. Around its base are inscribed the characteristics which form the ideal Scout: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, […]
From afar off Japan comes this winsome little bear—made of cast iron and dressed in an antique brown finish. He’d serve happily as a paperweight or loyally just standing-guard on your desk. Please come into the shop to see him or call us for additional information. See new merchandise first! Follow […]
At LEO Design we love the King of the Forest—and all things Leonine. But, long before lions ruled, there was another King: the Tyrannosaurus Rex. His name, literally translated, is “Tyrant Lizard King.” He was the apex predator, top of the food chain. At 40 feet long, his long, heavy tail was required to balance […]
Pigs are popular—all things pigs! Shown above, a cast brass piglet, finished with a verdigris bronze patina. He’ll sit happily on your shelf, desk or windowsill—or even in your garden (though he will weather in the out-of-doors elements). Come in and see him—and his “sty mates”—or call us for additional information. See […]
I like Dante. And so do my customers, apparently. I buy just about every pair of Dante bookends I can get my hands on and they continue to sell. Here’s a pair that’s a little different. Instead of the typical dour Medieval Florentine poet, we get an energized—almost sprightly—Dante, leaning forward in his throne. The […]
Boundless gratitude to all the women who have lifted us up, made us smile and showed us that we were the most important thing in their lives. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
While all mothers are welcomed at LEO Design, “Leo Moms” always stir-up a little extra enthusiasm. And for just such a mother, how about an Italian cast pewter lion? Hand-made outside of Florence, this King of the Jungle will be happy to reign over your mom’s desktop, bookshelf or mantelpiece. Please come into the shop […]
For “Cat Mothers,” perhaps our (half-sized) Crouching Cat sculpture would do the trick. Made of cast brass and finished with a verdigris bronze patina, this feline is all tension and coiled energy—eyes on the prize, ready to spring! It would look great on a hearthstone, bookshelf or even in the garden (where it will develop […]
April bids us “Farewell”—or rather this winsome rabbit does. He’s made in Japan of cast zinc and has a Cubist design. He’s part of our large collection of rabbit sculptures—in zinc, bronze, brass and ceramic. Please come into the shop to see him and his warren mates. See new merchandise first! […]
A pair of engaging birds—a warbler and a nuthatch—have alighted at LEO Design this spring. Made in Canada of heavy cast bronze, they’d be happily employed as paperweights or content to just sit around, looking pretty. Please call or come into the shop to see them. See new merchandise first! Follow […]
With the winter’s cold, in comes this trio of playful Danish bears. Designed by sculptor Knud Kyhn and made by Royal Copenhagen in the 1970’s, they have taken-up residence with our large collection of mid-century stoneware bears. Please come by to see them and their case-mates here at LEO Design. See new […]
We’ll end our “Week of the Monkey” with this simian fellow—tense with anticipation, wound-up and ready to spring! He was made in 1959 by artist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. He’d bring a good deal of coiled energy to your bookshelf, mantelpiece or coffee table. Please click on the photo above to learn more about […]
Here’s a super monkey for the Year of the Fire Monkey. Made in the 1920’s by Danish ceramicist Knud Kyhn, it is impressive in size, style and artistic impact—certainly a “statement piece” in any interior design setting. Please click on the photo above to learn more about him or come into the shop to see […]
Since we’ve just started the Year of the Monkey, why not make it the Week of the Monkey? Over the next few days, we’ll share a few of our interesting primate offerings from the shop. Shown above, a happy chimp, arms raised in victory. Modeled by ceramicist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen and produced in […]
After (seemingly endless) months of campaigning, boasting and (yes, sometimes) lying, the candidates vying for the White House will get their first dose of “meaningful feedback” tomorrow as the Iowa Caucuses finally take place. Why a small number of people in a handful of small towns in a couple of small states should have such […]
René Lalique was born in 1860 in Ay, France, 85 miles east of Paris. His father died when René was four and the young boy was soon apprenticed to a Paris goldsmith where he developed an early appreciation for beautiful design and quality workmanship. At 12, René began art school where he studied drawing and […]
The soft spring colors of these two ceramic birds—mother and chick—have alighted just as winter’s snow begins to fall! Nevertheless, they’ll be happy (and safe) ’til Spring. The pair was made in the 1960’s by Artist Erik Engqvist for Swedish ceramics workshop Jie Gantofta. “Jie” was the nickname of John Ewert Johnson and he founded […]
Recently though our door: a trumpeting cast spelter elephant. On his back, a little removable “pagoda” under which one can place a cone of incense. He was made in Japan in the 1920’s or 1930’s ($175). Please come into the shop to see him or call us for more information.
I’m on-the-road this week, replenishing the shop after a busy Holiday season. One of my new finds is the trio of British tin elephants, shown above. Made in England in the 1930’s, they were likely part of some child’s circus menagerie—during those special years between the wars. They are nicely cast, hand-painted, and have the […]
Best Christmas wishes to all—and good tidings for the New Year! After a long Holiday sales season, LEO Design is closed today. We will re-open tomorrow, 26 December, at 12 Noon. Thank you for your patronage throughout the year. Holiday Week Hours—26 December through 3 January—Noon ’til 6:00 pm.
‘Tis Christmas Eve, when Christians around the world prepare for the coming of the infant Jesus. Here at LEO Design, we prepare by placing a pair of (late Twentieth Century) Italian Renaissance angels into the shop window—in what’s become our Christmas Eve tradition. The same-sized originals—carved of marble by a teenaged Michelangelo—are found upon the […]
Bears are popular: carved bears, stuffed bears, cast bears, printed bears. We sell a lot of bears. And we’ve just received a really nice addition to our collection, shown above. He’s a carved wooden Blackforest bear, made in the mountainous south of Germany, circa 1950. He’s rather large (as such carved bears go) and nicely-sculpted. […]
Silent, perhaps. Nevertheless, these bronze-clad bookends will make a statement! Made in the Twenties or Thirties by the Marion Bronze workshop in Metuchen, New Jersey, they depict a mounted knight, tense with anticipation, astride his eager steed—both ready for the charge. Lance in-hand, he will add a touch of romantic, Medieval style to your office, […]
Paul Dresler is considered one of the most important ceramicists between the wars. He was born in Siegen, Germany in 1879 and, as a boy, planned to be a painter. On a visit to Munich in 1910, Dresler saw an exhibit of Islamic ceramics—an experience which proved to be a turning-point in the artist’s life. […]
Said ancient Greek poet Archilochus (680 – 645 BC), “A fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing.” Some 2,600 years later, Latvian-British philosopher and Oxford scholar Isaiah Berlin (1909 – 1997) published a treatise expanding upon this notion. In a nutshell, thinkers and writers fell into one of two camps: “foxes” who […]
Like yesterday’s angel ornaments, this hummingbird is also made of carved tagua nuts—also known as “palm ivory” or “vegetable ivory.” He’ll happily hover amongst the branches of your Christmas tree or levitate year ’round in your kitchen window. Made in a fair trade workshop in Ecuador ($28). For the Holiday season, LEO […]
With Christmas three weeks away, perhaps it’s time to think about trimming the tree. Over the next few days I’ll share with you some of my in-store ornaments—new finds and old favorites. Shown above, little angels carved of tagua nuts. Also called “vegetable ivory,” tagua nuts grow on a variety of palm tree found in […]
Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to all—and a joyful Holiday Season! As we rush-about our ever-busy lives, let’s endeavor to enjoy a few quiet, focused moments with those we love. Hanukkah begins tonight—at sundown—and ends Monday evening, eight days from now. The Cypress Tree Menorah, pictured above, is cast of solid bronze in Canada. Please click […]
Today—at 4:21 am Eastern Time—Summer will turn to Fall. And today we’ll experience the Autumnal Equinox—one of two days in the year when the lengths of night and day are the same. The equinox (“equal night”) is the point when the sun crosses the equator (in this case, from North to South). As the sun […]
On this day in 1871, aviation pioneer Orville Wright was born in Dayton, Ohio. Sixty-eight years later, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed a proclamation making this day National Aviation Day—a day dedicated to educating American citizens about aviation and promoting an interest in the subject. The plane above, crafted of cast aluminum, was inspired by […]
No—from the other Saint Petersburg! Florida! A cast spelter Pelican opens his bill to hold your keys, coins, or cigarette ashes. A delightful souvenir from 1960’s Florida—and sure to be a conversation piece in your office, kitchen or at the doorway. Perfect for holding paperclips. ($95). Please come into the shop to see him or […]
In 1506, Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha sighted the remote South Atlantic islands now anglicized as Tristan da Cunha. Because of bad sea conditions, he was unable to land, but, before sailing away, named the largest island after himself. Almost immediately, European maps began to include the archipelago under the Portuguese explorer’s (English) name. In […]
Today is World Elephant Day, dedicated to promoting knowledge of elephants and educating the public about the plight of these majestic, endangered creatures. The annual event strives to reduce poaching, eliminate the trade of elephant ivory, and promote better care and management of Asian and African elephants—in captivity and in the wild. Wild elephant populations […]
On this day in 1675, by order of King Charles II, the cornerstone was laid for the Royal Greenwich Observatory—an institution which would provide tremendous scholarship and advancement in the fields of astronomy and navigation. Greenwich, on the River Thames (just outside of London), has long been associated with maritime activities. Bustling docks and a […]
On this day in 1886, Liszt Ferencz (known in the West as “Franz Liszt”) died of pneumonia in Bayreuth, Germany—home of the famous Wagner Music Festival. Liszt was a prolific composer, one who had an influence on the following century’s great composers, and he was considered, in his day, to be the world’s greatest pianist. […]
Whether your father likes to hunt game or would rather appreciate animal beauty with his eyes alone, here’s just the Father’s Day gift! Made in mid-century Denmark by sculptor Arne Ingdam, this ceramic stoneware sculpture captures a fourteen-point bull elk in full call. Please come into the shop to see him or click on the […]
I’ve taken to the road this week, traveling throughout New England, in-search of “Handsome Gifts” for the shop. Though I’m never quite sure what I’ll find, I do have a wishlist. At the top of the list? Great Father’s Day gift ideas. Shown above is one such idea: a pair of Goebel German Modernist terra […]
On this day in 1912, American aviatrix Harriet Quimby flew from Dover, England to Calais, France—making her the first woman to fly across the English Channel. Alas, she achieved little recognition; her accomplishment was overshadowed by reports of the RMS Titanic which had sunk the previous day. Quimby was born in a Michigan farmhouse in […]
A Joyous Easter to those who celebrate it—and a Spring season of gentle warmth and growing happiness to all. Shown above, a polished brass rabbit, handcrafted in Japan. You may see him in-shop, alongside a small menagerie of other whimsical, Modernist creatures. LEO Design will be open today from Noon ’till 6:00 pm. Please hop […]
Another of our new Japanese brass creatures is this Happy Hippo. She stands on four pointed feet, contemplating her good fortune. She joins her other Japanese brass mates—Rabbit, Pig, and Kitty. $165 each.
We’ve just received a small collection—a menagerie—of handsome and stylish Japanese brass animals. First they are cast in heavy brass, then laboriously hand-finished, resulting in sleek lines and a mirror finish. Perfect as a paperweight, a shelf decoration, or just a nice thing to pick-up and handle, any one of the four animals would make […]
