Anne Hathaway (1556-1623), wife of William Shakespeare, lived most of her life in and around Stratford-on-Avon, England. Her husband, the prolific playwright, spent much of his time working in London, leaving Anne in Stratford with their three children.
As a girl, Anne grew up in a spacious twelve room Tudor farmhouse, about a mile from Stratford-on-Avon. The house, now called "Anne Hathaway's Cottage," was built over 500 years ago and has been added-to over the centuries. It sat on a farm of 90 acres. The timber-framed house has a thatched roof and multiple fireplaces, the largest of which was used for cooking.
The Hathaway family lived in the house until 1892, at which point it was taken-over by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust which has converted it into a museum. The Trust removed any inappropriate (later) modifications and have furnished it as it would have appeared in Shakespeare's day. The period rooms are surrounded by a period garden and a sculpture garden inspired by The Bard's works.
These handsome cast iron bookends depict a bas relief rendering of Anne Hathaway's Cottage—still a popular tourist site today. Interestingly, it is framed with a Regency-Style "proscenium arch," more appropriate to the early 1800's. 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