The Universal Postal Union was formed in Switzerland in 1874. It was the first step to create an international postal network—and provided the start of a global communications revolution, allowing the efficient and reliable delivery of letters and other mail around the globe. On this day in 1969, the United Nations declared 9 October "World Post Day," in commemoration of the founding of the Universal Postal Union. America's Postal Service deserves a round of applause—and recognition for just how important it is to the lifeblood of The Nation. Postal employees are working under extreme stress; their equipment is being disabled by partisan political appointees while destructive changes to processing practices are being imposed from the top. The goal? To slow the delivery of the...
As the sentimental story goes, "Tramp Art" handcrafts were made by down-on-their-luck men who scavenged for the raw materials (fruit crates, wooden cigar boxes) then designed, cut and assembled the pieces, often using simple notch-cut "serrations" to create an elegant (yet folksy) decorative flourish to their creations. Personally, I believe that such chip-carved works were made by a far-broader range of people: weekend hobbyists, shop class students, even cottage industry souvenir producers. Whether these nostalgic stories are true or not, I nevertheless admire and like to collect Tramp Art frames, boxes and sculpture. They have a sophisticated—yet casual—elegance and always radiate the warmth of a painstakingly handcrafted object. This frame, above, would make the perfect home for a woodsy photograph...
Today we celebrate UNESCO's World Teachers' Day—and remember those wonderful teachers who taught us, formed us and made us who we are today. Besides one's parents, no one provides a greater influence on one's life than does his or her teachers. Oh, how I loved going to school—and how sad I was to say goodbye (and thank you) to a beloved teacher. Even today, more than 50 years later, I can remember so clearly certain moments in the classroom. They are memories—and lessons—which will remain with me all my days. The school bell. shown above, was made in England in the late Nineteenth Century. Its Aesthetic Movement design extends up the shaft to a nicely-turned ebonywood final atop the beautifully...
With so much talk of Taxes! - Taxes! - Taxes!, there's a lesson to be learned: be honest and keep organized! Perhaps this Edwardian English Oak Desk Organizer will help keep you sorted—and fend-off the Taxman (and his audit). The handsome quarter-sawn oak softens the otherwise workaday nature of this piece—which you may learn more about by clicking on the photo above.
This handsomely-carved wooden dresser box was made in 1937 in the Ukrainian "spa town" of Vorokhta , nestled in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains. Since the mid Nineteenth Century, the village has been a popular retreat for tourists and patients with respiratory problems (who benefitted from the clean, crisp air). In the late 1800's, train service increased the ease of reaching the spa and it became even more popular with visitors. Today, the region attracts skiers and ski-jumpers—though the town is popular year 'round. This box is delicately hand-carved and stained a rich ambered-honey. Notice the little glass beads, intricately hand-set into the wood. Learn more about this box by clicking on the photo above. Though our Greenwich Village store...
One of the hallmarks of Arts & Crafts design—regardless of the particular country from which it originates—is the "revival" of earlier design elements, the use of important cultural motifs, or the promotion of historical (or fictional) folklore and mythology. The English Arts & Crafts movement, during which these oak and pewter candlesticks were made, was known to reference Medieval literary themes, Gothic design elements, and the furniture or architectural aesthetic of earlier periods. These candlesticks, have oak Jacobean "Barley Twist" shafts, mounted upon Gothic hand-hammered pewter bases. It's a handsome and unusual combination—and you can learn more about them by clicking on the photo above. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and...
Welcome, February, and your birthstone, the amethyst! According to ancient Greek mythology, Dionysus—the god of wine—pursued a beautiful maiden by the name of Amethystos. Her prayers to remain chaste were answered by the gods: she was turned into a beautiful white stone. Dionysus, in his grief, poured wine over the white stone, turning it violet. And, thus, the first amethyst was created. The stone’s name comes from the Greek word “Methustos” which means “intoxicated.” Amethysts have long been believed to protect its wearer from the inebriating effects of alcohol—in fact, ancient Greek and Roman drinking cups and bowls were sometimes crafted of turned amethyst. During the Middle Ages, amethysts (and the color purple) were associated with (and reserved for) royalty—and...
At seventeen days old, our New Decade is still young. And our smoldering New Year's resolutions might still have a little life in them, yet. Keep your organizational plans on-track. Maybe this Edwardian English letter rack can help. It was handsomely crafted of quarter-sawn oak, circa 1905, and will sit on your desk or hang on your office wall. It can hold stationery, note cards, payments to be mailed or keep a collection of business cards close-at-hand. 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...
Boxing Day—the day following Christmas—is a holiday celebrated mostly in England and the Commonwealth countries. Traditionally, it was the day when servants were given their gifts (or boxes) from their employers—in addition to a day off (since they were, of course, required to work serving their masters on Christmas Day). Although the days of Downton-style servants are (mostly) a relic of the past, the holiday lives on as a "bank holiday." The Ukrainian "treen" wooden dresser box, shown above, was handsomely and finely-carved in the Carpathian Mountains. It is inset with glass beads and dated 1937. It would make a handsome bedside accessory for storing collar stays, cufflinks or other small precious objects. It truly adds great style and elegance...
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...
Let's start with a bang: Saint Basil's Cathedral at the South end of Red Square. Standing like an illustrated children's fairytale—or any fanciful stage production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker—this Sixteenth Century cathedral is the undisputed star of Moscow's rectangular Red Square. It was commissioned by Tsar Ivan IV (known as "Ivan the Terrible") in 1552 to commemorate his capture of the city of Kazan, a Mongol territory 500 miles east of Moscow. Despite Ivan's deservedly ruthless reputation (he massacred much of the Kazan population, destroyed the mosques and forcibly Christianized the populace), 8,000 Russian slaves were freed after the invasion, bringing an end to slavery within Ivan's empire (70 years before African slavery began in America). The cathedral, finished in 1561,...
This little hand-carved bear was born in the Blackforest of Germany in the 1950's. He sits atop a cork, giving your unfinished wine bottle a bit of rustic Olde World charm. 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
When your desk is in your dorm room—packed tight with two roommates—neatness and organization go a long way. This Edwardian English stationery stand will help you keep note cards, papers and important printed items at-hand. It was made around 1910 of quarter sawn oak. It is handsome, useful and will serve a student for many years to come. 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...
Your Mom will feel like "Queen for the Day" when she's served her breakfast on this English Arts & Crafts tray. Four transfer-printed tiles—each effusive with rose blossoms—form a beautiful and practical surface for holding serving pieces, hot, cold or otherwise. The whole is framed in walnut and fitted with two brass handles. Made around 1890. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this piece. 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 Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at...
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...
Prayer, fasting and alms-giving are universal practices in many of the World's religions. Usually viewed as pathways to redemption, holiness or enlightenment, such acts of charity and self-denial—observed with sincerity and purpose—can have a cleansing and centering effect on one's life, attitude and spirit. Christians begin the 40 day period of Lent today. It's Ash Wednesday and we are reminded "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Christians learn that we have been formed "of The Potter's clay" and we shall return to the Earth one day. The Edwardian English "Mite Box," shown above, was likely in a British church at one time. Made of mahogany around 1905, it would have been used to collect coins for charity....
With Ash Wednesday just two weeks away, it's time to start clearing the larders and thinking about the "spiritual cleansing" that the Lenten period offers. In addition to prayer, fasting and abstinence, charity is one of the cornerstones of the Christian (and other religions') seasonal practice of religious "re-calibration"—a striving for holiness. Alms giving is an age-old practice and a Mite Box, like the one shown above, was used to collect donations for the poor. This example is English, made of mahogany, and probably was used in a church. 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...
Art Nouveau craftsmen—whether they be in England, Austria, Scotland, France or the United States (and whatever they called their local Arts & Crafts movement)—often "recycled" decorative elements from their cultural or national pasts. English artisans often tapped Medieval themes (from literature or heraldry), aesthetic motifs from their ancient past (including Norse or Celtic elements) or significant design styles from the past (though centuries old). And the hand-crafted nature of Arts & Crafts production leant itself to the rustic work methods of earlier times. The English Arts & Crafts frame, shown above, was made around the year 1900. Nevertheless, it has a style and design of something from the Tudor or Jacobean period, up to 400 years earlier. Even the manner...
Store your mail in style. This English Arts & Crafts oak letter holder is clad with hand-tooled brass plates—which show stylized botanicals and a snarling, reticulated dragon. At top, a glass amethyst "turtleback" cabochon punctuates the entire design. Suitable sitting on a desk or hanging on the wall from its brass hook. 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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Victorian Brits of means loved to travel—especially to visit other parts of "The Empire." One such place was Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka), an island nation to the south of India. One of the traditional souvenirs from Southern Ceylon was crafts made of ebonywood and porcupine quills—boxes, frames, desk caddies and bowls, like the example shown above. They were mostly made between 1850 and 1900, and mostly for the tourist or export trade. Because porcupine quills fall-out of the animal naturally, no foul play was involved in the procurement of the material. And pieces of polished bone would be inset into the wood, giving additional punctuation to the handicraft. Sri Lanka gained its independence from England in 1948. It became...
For much of the world's population, religiously speaking, Jerusalem stands at the center of the world. I have visited this singular city and was amazed at how so many different people live so tightly together. Occasional tensions flare—sometimes very seriously. But, after thousands of years, the people mostly exist side-by-side, tolerantly and compatibly. Perhaps these Modernist olive parquet bookends, made in Jerusalem, can help illustrate the city's character: discrete, unique and separate individuals, though cobbled together, can maintain their identity while creating a greater (and beautiful) assemblage. Click on the photo above to learn more about them. 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...
This handsome business card case must be held to be fully appreciated! Japanese oak is hand-shaped to a softly-tapered point (see the reflection in the photo) and lacquered to a warm, wooden glow. It feels wonderful in the hand—silky, precise— and the magnetic latch closes the hinged lid with a soft and satisfying snap. It's certain to catch an admiring eye, sliding out of a tailored jacket's breast pocket. 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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Autumn brings us Halloween, chilly nights, and the sun sign Scorpio—23 October through 22 November. Born in the eighth sign of the zodiac, Scorpios are known for their passion, sensuality, and dynamism—characteristics which make them admired as lovers. Alas, deeply-rooted intensity can express itself as jealousy, possessiveness and manipulation. The carved and polychromed wooden plaque, […]
Artist, architect, textile designer, poet, historian, illustrator, writer, business man, social reformer, political agitator. Such was the resumé of Victorian Renaissance Man, William Morris. At Oxford, Morris studied theology with the intention of joining the clergy. He was fascinated with religion, Medieval literature, and the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. He visited churches […]
Enter the coming Autumn neat and tidy! This Edwardian English stationery stand will give your desk a bit of organization—not to mention considerable handsome style. Sections of quarter-sawn oak are shaped and assembled into a multi-pocketed rack. You'll find it on our website by clicking on the photo above.
LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
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A father's greatest treasure is his children. That is, of course, until he has grandchildren! For his less-significant treasures, how about a little hand-carved wooden treasure chest? Delicately chip-carved and incised in Poland, it is a nice place for keeping a few cufflinks, rings or collar stays. It is a convenient place for stashing the keys. And it would be a handsome receptacle for clips or rubber bands on the desk. 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). Follow us on Instagram: "leodesignhandsomegifts" Follow us on Facebook: "LEO Design...
Like Dad, this Edwardian English quarter-sawn oak stationery stand is handsome and useful. Made around 1905, the highly-figured oak is shaped with waves and assembled with finger joinery. It will bring a sense of organization and architecture to your desk or countertop. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
More Father's Day gift ideas tomorrow.
LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
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King James of England and Scotland inherited both of his thrones from women. He became James VI of Scotland, at 13 months of age, when his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate. Some 36 years later, when Queen Elizabeth of England died without an heir, James became the King of England and […]
For some years, we've proudly carried a line of European “water gilded” gold leaf frames, including the Art Nouveau-style frame pictured above. Made in Eastern Europe, the wooden frames are first assembled, then carved (here with the intertwined “whiplash” bordering), then painted with gesso (to smooth-out the wood, build-up any voids, and provide a suitable surface for the gold leaf). After this, thin sheets of 22 karat gold leaf are laid over the frame and affixed with a special binder. Before the binder dries, the gold leaf surface is “burnished” with brushes, fingers, rags and various rubbing tools to create a smooth surface on the object—which can give the appearance of being made of solid gold.
“Eastlake” is a term thrown-around rather frequently—often by Americans who don’t know to whom the name refers. Charles Locke Eastlake was born in Plymouth, England in 1836. He studied architecture and designed some furniture, although, since he was not a woodworker, any such pieces were produced by others. He is most well-known for his book […]
“All beautiful works of art must either intentionally imitate, or accidentally resemble natural forms.” – John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice, 1851 Another newly-expanding “world of science” at the turn-of-the-century was that of Neuroscience. Two scientists, Jean-Martin Charcot and Hippolyte Bernheim, made great strides in the understanding of the human brain, dreams, hypnotism, and mental disorders. […]
On this day in 1813, “Pride & Prejudice” was published in London—attributed only to “the author of ‘Sense & Sensibility’.” Today we know the author was Jane Austen. We also know the book was long in coming. Jane Austen began writing the book in 1796 and titled it “First Impression.” The next year, her father […]
In Arts & Crafts woodwork, the most highly-prized wood is usually “Quarter-Sawn.” In regular (non-quarter-sawn) wood milling, the log is run lengthwise past blades which cut the log into a number of parallel planks. When the cutting is done, the log could be reassembled like a sandwich—with the center planks being the largest and the […]
From the Ukrainian spa town of Worochta (in the Carpathian Mountain), comes this hand-carved folk box—inset with little glass beads. It's the perfect blend of sophisticated style and proficient folk craft and is dated 1937. 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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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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Here's another Victorian English folding book slide, made in the 1870's - 1890's. Heavy rosewood is decorated with hand-pierced brass mountings which are riveted to the wood. Like yesterday's posting, this one has a Jacobean Revival aesthetic. It will slide open to hold from about eight to a dozen books. A perfect way to honor your special collection or to keep-handy your most-used reference books. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. And visit our website to see our collection of "Handsome Gifts"—many of them newly-acquired. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). Follow us on Instagram:...
In the old days, only the wealthiest could afford a library. A wall filled with books was a sign of intelligence, worldliness and lots of money. Poor people might have two or three books, including a Bible. And middle class families might have a dozen books—including poetry, a cooking book, an atlas and a few other reference books. For such a middle class booklover, a desktop "book slide" (or book rack), shown above, would suit his needs. Perched upon the desk, it kept those cherished books close-at-hand. This folding book rack—embellished with hand-cut brass and riveted bone strips—was made in Victorian England, c. 1880. It revives the style of the Jaccobean period, some 350 years earlier. "Modern" pairs of bookends,...
With five days left before LEO Design closes its door, we’re frantically trying to pack and help customers—and, boy, are there a lot of customers! Sales have been brisk; it’s like Christmas in January! All merchandise is marked-down 50%, including what remains of our antique frame collection. Please come into the shop to find yourself […]
I loved this oak-framed, bevelled mirror the minute I found it! After dragging it through Rush Hour London (on the Tube), I got it back to my hotel where (dang!) it wouldn’t fit into by suitcase. As a result, I had to drag two (huge) suitcases plus a 1920’s English mirror through Victoria Station and […]
One might think that the hundred-year-old English Arts & Crafts box (shown above) is old. The inspiration for its carving, however, is many, many times older. The box is inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, a 230 foot long embroidery made in the 1070’s. It was commissioned to celebrate the Norman Conquest during which the English king, […]
Never again fret, “However shall I serve my olives or cocktail onions?” Now, in Edwardian oaken style, you may dispense with that (particular) dilemma. An oak “barrel,” affixed with silver-plated brass mountings, is fitted with an interior ceramic crock to hold your cocktail (or other) condiments. A silver-plated bident (yes, this is a word) serving […]
Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing some of the new finds from my recent English buying trip. Shown above, a strong and handsome Victorian English Gothic Revival oak box with brass strapwork and studding. Made in the 1880’s, it is lined with a (now) gently-worn fabric interior. It captures—in woodcraft—all the seriousness and […]
Like nothing I’ve ever bought before, and yet, very LEO Design. It’s a wooden dresser or trinket or desk box made of turned lemonwood which has been ebonized and hand-etched. Stylized flowers and graphic elements give it a vaguely Aesthetic Movement sensibility though it remains solidly-grounded in Mexican folk art. Please come into the shop […]
I’m always buying boxes—old boxes, new boxes, small boxes, large. Some are antiques, others are contemporary. Wood, pewter, copper, ceramic—there’s always a useful purpose to which a handsome box can be applied. Shown above, a selection of our antique wooden boxes (c. 1850’s – 1950’s). Please come into the shop to see them all. […]
Boxing day—celebrated in England and English Commonwealth countries—is not too-widely observed but it does have a long and interesting history. It is celebrated on 26 December and began during the Middle Ages, on the day when churches would open their alms boxes and distribute the money to the poor. In later years, it became the […]
An old favorite at LEO Design—back for another Christmas season. Peruvian fair trade craftsmen collect the gourds, dry them, then decorate them with paint, carving and a hot stylus. Cheery and bright and every one just a little different from his branch mates. Please come into the shop to see them in person or click on […]
Yesterday’s journal entry about Harvard sets-up today’s entry quite nicely: a different kind of ivy. Shown above, an English Arts & Crafts mirror which we’ve just acquired. Its bevelled, oval glass is surrounded by a thick quarter-sawn oak frame which has been deeply-carved with a trailing ivy motif. Perfect over a dresser, in a powder […]
Another elegant item I found on Kauai is the koa wood triple-divided trinket box, shown above ($175). Perfect for cufflinks, watches, collar stays or even on an office desk, it has a streamlined design, perfectly softened by the rich, lustrous woodgrain. In Hawaiian, a box is called “pahu.” We call it a “Handsome Gift” for a […]
As many of you know, I was born and raised in Hawaii. Earlier this month, I returned home to Kauai where my three brothers and I celebrated my father’s eightieth birthday—a happy milestone for our family. While on Kauai, I visited the local woodworkers, from whom I bought the photo frames pictured above. They are […]
I don’t use the word “sublime” a lot—I guess I dislike hyperbole. Nevertheless, these newly-received Japanese business card holders are just that. Made of hand-crafted and hand-lacquered oak, they are beautifully sculpted and finished—and a delight to hold. A tiny, embedded magnet closes the hinged top with a satisfying “snap.” Available in a medium brown […]
In the supposed “paperless world” of the modern age, one still can use the occasional help holding things together (now and then). Let this simple and handsome Japanese tape dispenser assist. Made of oak and offered in both dark and light finishes, the dispenser is heavy enough to stay-put while pulling a length of tape […]
We’ve just received a shipment of stylish and practical salt and pepper grinders, hand-turned in Los Angeles. Made of white oak (for the salt) and black walnut (for the pepper), both shakers are fitted with a precision grinding mechanism—stainless steel for the pepper and an industrial grade ceramic mechanism for the salt (since salt and […]
On this day in 1945, Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrendered, accepting the conditions of the Potsdam Agreement. World War II was over! During the previous week and a half, the United States had dropped atomic bombs on both Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August)—an act which unleashed heretofore unknown savagery upon the Japanese people. The […]
While the term “tramp” seems insensitive—in light of our modern understanding of poverty, mental illness and homelessness—it was used for many years to refer to a wide range of men (usually) who lived on the streets, in fields, or “rode the rails.” Sometimes the notion of “hobo life” was given a romantic twist—illustrated by a […]
Henry David Thoreau wanted to shake-up his thinking, clear his head and contemplate life, mankind and society. In search of solitude and simplicity, he moved into a cabin on Walden Pond, on the property of his friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, near Concord, Massachusetts. For two years, two months and two days, he lived alone, seeking […]
Let’s welcome August and celebrate one of the month’s birth flowers: The Poppy. Poppies are thought to have originated in the Western Mediterranean and have been cultivated by Western and Central Europeans from about 6,000 BC. Early on, people recognized the analgesic properties of the plant. Ancient Egyptian doctors had their patients chew a mouthful […]
Before the Twentieth Century, bookends were not commonplace—in fact, rarely were they needed. For before World War I, most “ordinary” families owned very few books—perhaps a Bible, a dictionary, some poetry, and the occasional cookery book. Large collections of books were to be found only in institutional libraries or the homes of very wealthy individuals—people […]
Remind your Dad who’s King of his Castle with this handsome, late-19th Century American Aesthetic Movement mirror, recently-acquired. While not the most typical of Father Day gifts, it will certainly make a handsome—and useful—addition to your father’s abode. Come see it in-person or click on the photo above to learn more about it. More interesting […]
From Laguiole, France comes this collection of handsome (and useful) pocket knives. Hardened stainless steel blades are clad in exotic hardwoods. Polished brass bolsters complete the look. At 3.75″ long (when closed), the size is big enough to be useful but small enough to be kept in one’s pocket. At front: Thuya wood. Behind (left-to-right): […]
I continue to travel through New England this week, in-search of “Handsome Gifts”—especially gifts for Father’s Day. I’ve assembled a collection of impressive mirrors, two of which are shown above. The front mirror, made during the 1840’s to 1860’s, is crafted of mahogany veneer over a curved “ogee” profile. The larger mirror, in back, is […]
What a dreary winter we’ve had! It makes sense that cooped-up New Yorkers would seek to bring more light into their apartments. For this reason, we sell a lot of lighting fixtures and mirrors—which produce and reflect light—during the Winter and early Spring. Shown above, a hand-carved oak-framed bevelled mirror, crafted in Victorian England. Made […]
Some folk craft is rustic and “naive.” Other pieces, like the wooden box above, displays a more refined aim and ability. Bold stripes create a striking effect and the original finish is curdled in a way that only the passage of time can deliver. We have a large collection of vintage boxes in-store and have […]
Like the Magi bearing gifts, use this English Gothic Revival box to store some of the things you treasure. Made of English quarter-sawn oak during the British Arts & Crafts period, this cassone—or “casket” or trunk—bears a hand-carved 16th Century aesthetic. It is part of the most recent English shipment now in-store at LEO Design. […]
Perhaps it’s a bit too late to store your outgoing Christmas cards here—but this would be a beautiful place to keep the cards you’ve received! This English Arts & Crafts letter rack, made of oak and decorated with hand-tooled brass panels, depicts a fire-breathing, winged dragon and a spray of stylized flowers and foliage. A […]
Well, my trunks are packed and my last-minute buying trip to England is coming to an end. I’ve found a lot of nice, Handsome Gifts on this trip including the English Arts & Crafts carved oak trunk, shown above. Throughout the worldwide Art Nouveau Movement, designers and craftsmen often revived earlier cultural themes or design […]
Amongst the nicest photo frames I’ve ever had, this English Arts & Crafts beauty is crafted of a heavy piece of hand-hammered copper mounted to a thick piece of quarter-sawn oak. A pair of willowy repoussé tulips frame the central photo. Truly a terrific piece of Arts & Crafts decorative objets—it surely won’t be in-store […]
A sense of gratitude can contribute to a life of happiness. I have many things to be grateful for—amongst them, my shop, my staff, and my customers. Thank you all! Service to others can be fulfilling and rejuvenating. On Thanksgiving, service may take the form of feeding friends and loved ones—or, perhaps, strangers or the […]
From Arts & Crafts England, a little musical jewel box and a hand-hammered brass tray. The music box, made in the 1920’s or 30’s, is crafted in the form of a planked trunk. It plays Irving Berlin’s popular tune, “Always”, which he wrote and gave as a wedding gift to his bride, Ellin McKay—along with […]
The English Arts & Crafts Movement—like its counterparts in other parts of the world—drew inspiration from the culture, mythology and aesthetics of the past. Gothic strap work, medieval characters, ancient heraldry all became sources for design inspiration for turn-of-the-century craftsmen. In the example above—a handsome pair of oak barley twist candlesticks with hammered pewter bases—the […]
The frames above are another part of our extensive collection of photo frames. Made in Europe, the frames are first constructed in wood, coated with gesso, then incised with various decorative elements if applicable to that design. Next, the frames are water gilded with 24 karat gold leaf—paper thin sheets of pure gold. Finally, certain […]
And, if yesterday marked four months ’till Christmas, today marks four months ’till Boxing Day—the day when (traditionally) English servants and tradesmen would get the day off—and maybe a present—from their employers. Speaking of boxes, the one pictured above—made of quarter-sawn oak in the early Twentieth Century—is very handsome, indeed. The oak strapping and brass […]
Bretagne—or “Brittany” as it’s called in English—is a little spit of land that juts off of France’s Northwest coast, into the English Channel, due south of England. It has a history of being invaded, occupied, and influenced by the various tribes and empires that came along: the Celts, the Romans, the Britons, and the Gauls. […]
On this day in 1778, British explorer Captain James Cook sailed past the Hawaiian island of Oahu with his ships the HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, making him the first European to lay eyes on Hawaii. Two days later he landed—this time on the island of Kauai—at Waimea. Cook made an impressive entrance, with his […]
Crafted of turned English oak, these candlesticks will add a bit of casual—but handsome—elegance to your holiday table. Come into the shop to see our wide range of candlesticks or visit our "Candlestick Department" in our on-line store.
A flock of little, red Holiday owls has landed at LEO Design, here to remind us: “Only one month ’till Christmas Eve!” Another reminder, this time from our ornithologist friends: a group of owls is called “a parliament.” Click on the photo, above, to learn more about these Peruvian, hand-made ornaments.
In the Hawaiian Islands, one finds an exotic and precious hardwood called Koa. In the time of the Ali’i (the Chief), Koa was plentiful—large trunks were hollowed-out for canoes, others were planed into surfboards, and smaller pieces were hand-fashioned into bowls, ukuleles, furniture, even flooring. Today the wood is protected; one must have a permit […]
I’m just back from the UK where I spent ten days hunting treasures for the shop. It was exhausting, yet fruitful; nevertheless, I’m glad to be back. I’m also glad to report that all merchandise has arrived—no worse for wear—and is cleaned-up, priced, and sitting on the shop floor. Awaiting your visit! The piece above, […]
Another favorite of mine is antique boxes—and I hunt for them on my trips. The oak box above, from a British collector, was made in the late Victorian era—1880’s or 1890’s. It has a light Gothic Revival feeling, modeled after a trunk, with studded strapwork and decorative brass mountings. See it in the shop, along […]
We welcome September and its birth flower, the Morning Glory. With its cordate (heart-shaped) leaves and climbing vines, the Morning Glory comes in many colors—usually blues and purples but sometimes in reds or oranges (like those which decorate the hand-painted English Arts & Crafts frame, above).
The attractive carved design element known as the “Barley Twist” enjoyed a revival in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (as shown in the wooden candlesticks, above). But the use of this design element is thousands of years old. They were originally called “Solomonic Columns” and are believed to have been used in the […]
