When we think of lions, our imaginations often go straight to the African variety—presiding lazily over the prairie with a regal mane and a sleek, athletic build. But mountain lions—sometimes called pumas, panthers or cougars—are a North American variety of wildcat. There also is a variety of the "melanistic" (black) jaguar, in South and Central America, called the panther; in Africa and Asia, the black panther is really a variety of leopard (and one can see the distinctive spots hidden within the dark fur). The bobcat (or lynx) is an entirely different species—very much smaller (15-30 pounds) than mountain lions (150-225 pounds).
The sports team mascot of the University of Pittsburgh (which lies half a block down my street) is the Pitt Panther. Wild panthers once roamed my neighborhood, long before the area was settled by Europeans. In fact, "Panther Hollow," a ravine a mile from my house, was once a hunting ground of panthers (sometimes called cougars. pumas or mountain lions).
The cast iron bookends, shown here, capture a famished panther on-the-hunt. They were sculpted and cast in the Twenties. The artist skillfully captured the desperate tension of the hungry beast. Click on the photo above to learn more about these handsome bookends.
More handsome LEOs tomorrow and in the 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).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.