At about this time last year I visited my mother in the Southwest, where she lives. Though she inhabits a fairly large town, which is part of a larger cluster of towns, her community remains "amenity-free"—meaning, in this case, that the nearest operating airport is 4 hours away by car. (By the way, there also are no arthouse cinemas or comprehensive bookstores in her town, either). I surmise that few people in her region of 100,000 people ever go anywhere by plane (or see foreign films or read secular books).
So I flew to the nearest airport, rented a car, and drove the additional 4 hours to join her. Despite my annoyance (and travel exhaustion), it was a beautiful drive through the Southwestern desert. What appeared to be a dry, seemingly dead, landscape, was full of life. And the rosy sunset, reflected off the eroded mesa bluffs, radiated vibrancy and color. For someone not drawn to a desert atmosphere, I found the drive an enlightening experience.
The Art Deco rose bowl vase, shown above, possesses some of the same sun-baked color that charmed me on that sunset drive. It was made by Roseville in the 1930's. Although the shape has a Modernist, almost Industrial appearance, the dappled multi-color glaze gives the piece an organic softness. 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 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