Roseville's ceramics legacy is divided into several different "periods" of output (Early-, Middle-, and Late-) and their highly-varied design lines over many years. The company began in Roseville, Ohio, in 1890, making "utilitarian wares": crocks, flowerpots, cuspidors. In 1898, Roseville purchased a larger ceramics factory in Zanesville, Ohio (some 10 miles away), and, by 1900, had expand into a range of higher-end, hand-painted art wares. Designer Frederick Rhead joined the company as Art Director (1904-1908) and had an enormous impact on "aiming" the company in the right direction. Frederick's brother, Harry Rhead, took the reins in 1908 and created several profitable lines. Then, in 1918, Frank Ferrel became Art Director (for the next 30 years) and oversaw the explosive creation...
From the earliest human civilizations, ceramics have been one of the most important signifiers of mankind's ingenuity and aesthetics. Indeed, shards of pottery—sometimes painted, sometimes carved—are amongst the most illuminating remnants of an ancient culture. Pottery was used both functionally and decoratively. It was used to hold liquids: water, wine, oil. It could be used to store foodstuffs: olives, spices, salt. And it could be used ceremonially: in religious or funerary rituals. But ceramics also have been made for strictly aesthetic reasons. And the finest works—wherever in the world they were made—were highly coveted by those who could afford them: monarchs, warlords, industrialists.
On 28 August 1995, LEO Design opened its doors for the first time. It feels like only yesterday . . . What started as a shoestring operation grew in time. There were thousands of (unpaid) hours logged and more than a few lucky breaks along the way. Nothing would have happened without wonderfully supportive customers. And, most of all, we built a staff that exceeded every expectation I could have envisioned. My staff made the business work; they befriended our precious customers; many of them have become dear friends—even to this day. LEO Design premiered at 413 Bleecker Street. At the time, Bleecker Street was unselfconsciously (and unapologetically) "mom and pop." There was a pet bird shop (which later became...
In 1904, Dr. Herbert Hall opened a "handicraft shop" at his sanatorium in Marblehead, Massachusetts. His goal was to provide occupational therapy—woodcarving, weaving, metalwork, ceramics making— for female patients committed with "nervous disorders." He believed that creative work would have a curative and "normalizing" effect upon his patients. Arthur Eugene Baggs, an 18 year old ceramics student from Alfred University (in Western New York State), worked with the Marblehead patients during his summer break in 1905. At the end of the summer, when he should have been returning to school, Baggs was induced to stay permanently—to "professionalize" and manage the hospital's ceramics studio. Alas, most of the patients did not possess sufficient talent to produce high-quality wares and, in 1908,...
Is there anything more beautiful—more pristine—than a lovely summer sky? Whatever the shade of blue, whether with clouds or without, nothing is more perfect than a bright, heavenly-blue firmament. These sky blue candlesticks were made outside of Manchester, England, by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian. The company had a very inauspicious start. In 1889, the four Pilkington Brothers began to dig for coal along a new seam in Clifton, Greater Manchester. They found no coal; all they got was clay! At first, they attempted to make bricks, but the "marl" they uncovered was not ideal for that use. The secretary of the coal company happened to know William Burton, a chemist at Josiah Wedgwood, which was a successful, 130-year-old ceramics factory in...
The US Mint has announced that it will discontinue the production of pennies in early 2026. It seems that the humble penny is yet another American institution which will not survive the nation's Semiquincentennial. The Philadelphia Mint "struck" the first official US Penny in 1793, the year after the Mint was established by Congress. It has been copper (or copper-plated) ever since. From 1859 to 1909, the Mint produced the "Indian Head" penny. Then, in 1909 (which was the Centenary of Abraham Lincoln's birth), the Mint produced the Lincoln Penny with the president's profile on the obverse (and wheat sheafs on the reverse). This coincided with a period of "Lincoln Mania" in America—and the public really embraced the new coin....
On this day in 1991, Kiev adopted the Ukrainian Declaration of Independence, proclaiming its freedom as a separate, sovereign and independent nation. In February of 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, occupying Crimea. Russia escalated its attacks on the rest of the country in February of 2022. Today, Ukraine is fighting to defend its independence. It is fighting for its very existence. All good people who believe in Democracy and the Rule of Law must support the Ukrainian underdog. Appeasement of dictators never ends well. And dictators, once emboldened, rarely stop their oppression. Slava Ukraini!
We call "our star" The Sun. Others call it the Sunne, Sünn, Sonne, Sinne, Sunna, Sunnō, Sauil, Slunce, Sōl, or Sól. The Greeks call it Hēlios and the Welsh call it Haul. For billions of years, the Earth has been flourishing thanks to the Sun's heat and light—which takes about eight minutes to get from he Sun to the Earth. We end our parade of "Solar Ceramics" with this handsome and imposing piece by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian. It was made in England in the Twenties or Thirties. It wears the handsome "curdled" glazes—yellow and orange—which have inspired this week's exploration of the Sun. It would make a substantial impact in your home, either standing alone or centering a collection of...
Scientists tell us that the Sun is approximately 4.5 billion years old—nearly half-way through the "Main Sequence" of its lifespan. It has another 5 billion years (more or less) of hydrogen to burn, similar to the way it burns now. When the Sun no longer has enough mass remaining to stay tightly-compact, it will expand enormously, becoming a "Red Giant"—swallowing Mercury and Venus and making the Earth too hot to be habitable by living organisms (eventually swallowing-up the Earth, too). After the Red Giant burns-up any of its remaining fuel, it will contract into a hot, small, White Dwarf—no longer generating new heat but undergoing a long cooling process (over trillions of years) into a Black Dwarf, which will continue...
The Sun provides the Earth's heat and light—without which, the Earth could not sustain life as we know it. Without the Sun's radiant heat, the Earth would freeze in space's frigid atmosphere. Without light, the Earth's plants could not grow—which provide oxygen and food for other creatures. The Earth's orbital track is the perfect distance from the Sun, beautifully situated in a "sweet spot" that is not too close, not too far. Of course, the seasonal tilting of the Earth (from winter to summer) has an enormous effect on regional temperatures and light. Even this small amount of difference (in distance from the Sun) can make a big difference in regional conditions. Imagine if the Earth's entire orbit were to...
What is the Sun? How was it made? Scientists have spent lifetimes studying, contemplating, speculating, and advancing our knowledge of the Sun. For millennia, the Sun has been a frequent object of human veneration—sometimes even worshipped as a god—by societies who recognized its life-giving force, without which life on Earth would cease. In a nutshell, the Sun is a star—the biggest, brightest and hottest object in our Solar System—around which Earth (and other planets) orbit. The Sun (and the Solar System) was formed when an ancient "Molecular Cloud" began a process of "gravitational collapse," probably triggered by another star's violent explosion. Most of this material (99.86%) rushed to the center, forming the fiery Sun. The remaining few bits (0.14%)...
Is it me? Or is Summer somehow more . . . brutal . . . than I remember? Sure, we've all grown accustomed to the comforts of air conditioning. But this Summer has seemed continuously hotter and drier than the previous Summer (or the 50 Summers before that). In the past, the occasional summertime hot spell was interspersed with more moderate, sometimes cool-ish (and rainy), periods. Now it just seems always to be hot and dry. My little garden has been savaged. My tiny patch of grass is brown. The Sun—that flaming, molten ball of fire in the sky—seems to be more threatening than ever. Climate change and man's damage to the atmosphere add greater alarm. Over the next...
We're marking the last few days of The Dog Days of Summer (which ends today) with a sampling of our collection of handsome dogs—all currently in-stock at LEO Design.
Here is another charming pair of canine bookends. These were made in the Seventies by "Philadelphia Manufacturing Craftsman." The company was founded by the Startzman family in 1911. Initially, they fabricated metal parts for other manufacturers. In the Fifties, they added "slush-metal" bookends to their production, using old moulds which they had purchased from other bookend makers and some of their original designs. In the Seventies, they moved to Florida and continued to produce bookends.
I love dogs. Especially my dog. But I do love all dogs—whether real, painted, sculpted or photographed. I also love books. And I love sculpture. Thus, it will be no surprise, that bookends are a large and cherished part of the collection at LEO Design. Bookends tick many boxes for me. The "Golden Age of American Bookends" flourished between the wars, in the Twenties and Thirties. This is the era in which art and good taste, combined with accelerating industrial mass production, resulted in the country's biggest and most-varied output of excellent bookends. Cast iron was the most common material employed. Solid bronze was used, to a lesser extent. Hollow cast spelter (white metal) was used sparingly (though it would...
This quirky little pet brings with him a touch of whimsical charm. Charismatically sculpted and cast in polished bronze, his feet reveal a little secret: the letters L-I-F-E imprinted on the bottom of each paw. "Dog's Life." The phrase was coined in the 1500's to refer to an unhappy and miserable existence—such was the lot of dogs at the time. Today, however, most dogs have a rather charmed existence—at least my pup, Benji, does. I wish for the day when all dogs (and cats and birds) can enjoy such a wonderful dog's life.
The "Dog Days of Summer" are upon us. This year, they occur from 3 July through 11 August. As we count-down the last four days of the season, we'd like to share some of our favorite canines, now in-stock at LEO Design. Sirius—called "The Dog Star"—is the brightest star in the sky. Astronomers have noted and tracked it for thousands of years. They charted its annual appearance and movement through the skies and, eventually, began to anticipate when it should return . Dies Caniculares ("The Dog Days") begins when Sirius makes its first appearance on the horizon at dawn (this year, 3 July). By coincidence, this is the hottest time of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). Ancient Greeks and Romans...
Handsome meets Lovely in this Scottish sardonyx and sterling silver brooch from the island of Iona. A bold striped cabochon-cut stone is set within a sliver Celtic scrolling botanical mounting. It was sent to Edinburgh in 1962 for hallmarking. The holy island of Iona has sustained a mystical prominence for centuries. Irish saint, Columba (521-597 AD), built a monastery on this windswept island in 563 AD. Today, Iona is one of the oldest continuously-operating religious locales in Western Europe and many Christians make pilgrimages to its Abbey each year. The island's calm, natural beauty, handcraft and religious history makes it a compelling place for Christian retreat and communal living. It was here that Celtic Christianity was established. The iconic carved...
The Edwardian era marked the start of the Modern World. Shown here, an Edwardian Scottish inkwell, formed of handsome slabs of sardonyx, which tip the hat toward the Modernism which was to come. Stripes of reds, oranges and white create a strikingly handsome inkwell—certain to punctuate a well-appointed desk. Includes the original removable glass liner.
Here we show something made a few decades later—in the Art Deco Thirties. Stripes of root beer, caramel and white create a delicious pair of English sardonyx cufflinks. They look good enough to eat! And would look great on many a dress shirt (especially light blue).
Here's another piece of sardonyx with a nicely restrained flourish. This Victorian Scottish brooch boasts a wide palette of warm reds—from dark russet to a translucent blush. But, to add a tasteful touch of sophisticated sparkle, the piece is faceted to gently catch and reflect the light. The piece is set within a silver mounting; made around 1890.
Jolly stripes of red, white and honey sardonyx give these Edwardian Scottish cufflinks the look of candy lozenges. The colored portions are "sard" while the white stripes are made of "onyx." Put them together and you have "sardonyx."
The cufflinks are attached with a silver chain between them. Note that the components are arranged so that you may choose whether the "outward" faces have a little more or a little less of the amber striping (depending upon your mood or the color of your shirt).
Sardonyx is August's traditional birthstone. For the next few days, we'll be sharing some of our favorite sardonyx items, currently available for purchase in the LEO Design on-line shop. Each piece of sardonyx is unique—and each stone is further refashioned and adapted depending upon how the jeweler chooses to cut color, polish or mount each piece. Nature's random composition of color, striping and form is enhanced in the hands of a talented artisan. The Edwardian Scottish brooch, shown above, is rather understated at first glance. Varying shades of brown, tan and white form the striping, shot-through the stone millennia ago. Now, imagine seeing such a piece displayed on the lapel of a camel, buff, or winter white coat. It would...
We welcome August—and her traditional birthstone, Sardonyx.
Sardonyx is irregularly "striped" with two different variations of Chalcedony: "Sard" (the blue portion shown here) and "Onyx" (the narrow bands in white). The range of possible natural colors is quite wide (including black and white) and, like onyx, the stone can be color-treated with heat or chemical washes (usually various acids) to amplify or change the stone's natural color.
In the antiques retail trade, sardonyx is sometimes casually called "agate." Agate and sardonyx are related—different varieties of chalcedony. Agate is usually softer than sardonyx and agate's bands are more irregular than the straight-ish lines found in sardonyx. Both sardonyx and agate are used decoratively, including in jewelry.
John Singer Sargent led a remarkable life. Not only was he preternaturally talented (as a draughtsman and painter) but he pursued his art by traveling to wonderful places. His deserved reputation as the finest portraitist of his time opened doors belonging to the rich and famous—many of whom would become social acquaintances, if not good friends. He befriended, travelled with, and captured on canvas some of the most interesting artists of his day. He also painted compelling and beautiful "everyday people" on his trips around the world: Italy, Spain, North Africa, America. His talent as an artist—and his alacrity in diverse social environments—provided a wonderful life for a man who aimed to live life to the fullest. Wouldn't Sargent have...
One of the great blessings of being an artist is having friends who also are artists. Young (broke) artists can sit (gratis) as models for their friends. They can give pictures to their friends. Or they can trade works with their friends—thereby growing their collections and creating works which will have great historical importance in the future. John Singer Sargent was blessed with many artist-friends—many of whom he painted for pleasure (not as commissions). Shown above, an experimental double portrait of two friends of Sargent's, both French artists: François Flameng and Paul Helleu (c. 1880). It may have been inspired by a work by Frans Hals, The Banquet of the Officers of the St. George Civic Guard (1627) which Sargent...
Madame X is, perhaps, John Singer Sargent's most famous painting. It is certainly his most notorious. Sargent kept it in his personal collection for 32 years, hanging it in his studios in Paris and London and exhibiting it occasionally. In 1917, he appealed personally to the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, imploring him to purchase the painting for the museum, saying, "I suppose it is the best thing I have ever done." They purchased the painting. Sargent breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Madame X should now be well-protected. When I moved to New York City in 1990, the Metropolitan Museum still was (shamefully) hanging Madame X in a back stairwell. As mentioned previously, the academic art...
For a long time, John Singer Sargent was recognized principally for his society portraiture. He was the greatest portraitist of his time and he made his living painting pictures of wealthy people. He charged his patrons up to $5,000 for a picture (equivalent to $190,000 in today's dollars). Alas, it was this portrait work which would be disparaged by "academic elites" in the Modernist Era (educators, curators, art dealers, and jealous artists who lacked Sargent's technical brilliance). They viewed Sargent as "simply" a talented technician who painted flattering pictures of rich social climbers. It is probably truthful to say that, for this kind of money, the subjects wanted something impressive to hang in their dining rooms. But Sargent's oeuvre included so...
We came to New York City back in June with two purposes in-mind: to attend our dear friend, Anne Kaufman's, memorial service and to see the Singer & Paris exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum. (Had Anne still been alive and mobile, she most certainly would have come to the exhibition with us.) We succeeded on the first goal; it was wonderful to see Anne's friends gathered-together in her honor. But, on that Wednesday morning, as we walked-up to the museum, we were confronted with the big red signs: "The Museum is Closed on Wednesdays." During all my years living in New York, the Met Museum was always (and notoriously) closed on Mondays! We were so close! And, yet, we were...
Cloisonné is the French word for the artistic enameling technique in which a metal surface (usually copper or brass) is artfully subdivided with metal wires or strips to create small fields—each holding a different color of enamel. Glass powder is blended into a paste and applied to each field (called a "cloison") following the designer's color plan. Once the colored pastes are applied, the piece is fired in a kiln (to melt, that is "vitrify," the glass powder into enamel). Once the piece has cooled, it is polished to create a smooth, lustrous surface. In some cases, whole gemstones were cut-to-fit and inserted into the fields. But the use of glass enameling was a quicker, less costly way of achieving...
Like any culture, the Chinese have certain important and meaningful symbols which inform their literature, art and aesthetics. The dragon is amongst the most significant. He (for the dragon is seen as a masculine being) is closely associated with the Emperor—a provider of strength, prosperity, and success. To the Chinese, the dragon is a beneficent symbol of good luck and wealth (unlike in the West where the dragon is associated with evil and destruction).
The phoenix is another auspicious Chinese symbol. She (a feminine being) brings peace, happiness and prosperity. The Chinese phoenix is different from the Western mythological creature; she cannot resurrect like the western phoenix (who rises from the ashes after catastrophe).
Oak—as it gets older-and-older—impresses me more-and-more. It seems to get heavier (at least the old oak furniture seems to). And the patina of time on oak becomes richer-and-richer. Symbolically, mighty oak ("from little acorns grow") is hardy, durable and down-to-Earth.
This pair of Victorian English vases is crafted of turned-oak. They were made in the mid-Nineteenth Century, during the first twenty years of Victoria's reign. I suspect that they had been decorative elements, mounted atop a sensational piece of furniture or, perhaps, part of an architectural installation. They look perfect when empty—set at opposite ends of a mantelpiece—or holding dried flowers (holly berries at Christmas, dried cornflowers in the Summer).
Today is the first day of LEO. It is also my birthday! On this day, thirty years ago, I remember (very clearly) spending half the day on my hands and knees, belt-sanding the edges of the wooden floors at 413 Bleecker Street, my first shop in Greenwich Village. I remember that I only worked 8 hours that day. Since it was my birthday, I took it (a little) easy on myself. Most days—seven days a week—were quite long and truly exhausting. I was working alone (I could afford little help) and I really wanted to open-up the shop before the season of LEO had come to an end. I didn't hit that early goal; I opened on Tuesday 29 August,...
This handsome—and slightly startled— LEO seems to be saying, "Are you talking to me?" The sculptor created a bronze sculpture with character and personality—not the standard, stalwart lion. Nevertheless, this LEO remains regal, despite his quizzical mien.
Lions have always been a popular theme in art, literature and the decorative arts—throughout history and in all places. I suppose it's the lions' nobility as well as their bravery, skill and beauty.
In the decorative arts, when a whole lion is not required, sometimes his paws alone might make an appearance. Carved wooden lion's paws are popular in furniture. Cast iron paws might be used in "street furniture" (light fixtures, gates or fences). And sculpted bronze paws are found on everything from lamp bases to andirons.
Shown here, a little Edwardian English cast brass stamp box. Its lid is fashioned like a strap-hinged trunk and the box stands upon four lion's paw feet.
Most lions featured in art and culture focus on the males—regal specimens with lithe, muscled bodies and glorious manes. Yet, 75% (or more) of adult lions in the wild are female! Certainly, we should give the lady lions a little more attention. Especially since the lionesses do most of the hunting and raising of the young. But, regrettably, this gender imbalance amongst lions highlights the tragic fate most of their males face: a gauntlet of life-or-death challenges under the constant spectre of Darwin's "Survival of the Fittest." These "Leonine Social Dynamics" illustrate a grim picture of the raw, unforgiving "Law of the Jungle." Lions are organized within tight, durable family groups called prides. There is one dominant male, a few...
From the point-of-view of the lion, the story of Young Hercules and the Lion is rather chilling. But it is a classic and bears repeating. In Greek mythology, the Young Hercules—before he became the superhero we know today—was assigned Twelve Labors by his uncle, King Eurystheus of Tiryns. Hercules was being challenged as penance for having killed his family after the goddess, Hera, drove Hercules mad. (She was trying to get back at Hercules's father, Zeus.) The Labors were intended to be impossible for the Young Hercules to accomplish. Hercules's First Labor was to kill the Nemean Lion. Nemea was a village about 20 miles southwest of Corinth. The fearsome Nemean Lion was invincible due to its beautiful golden fur,...
We're a few days away from LEO—which begins 23 July—when the Sun moves into that celestial lion's Territory-in-the-Sky. For the next few days, we will count-down the days 'til LEO with a selection of our favorite leonine items—currently in-stock at LEO Design.
Shown here, a cast iron "circus lion" bank from the early Twentieth Century, wearing his original gold paint. Cast iron banks (and mechanical toys and door stops) were very popular at the Turn-of-the-Century—and several Northeastern factories expanded to mass produce them.
This bank is made of two separate pieces, held-together with a screw. I have not tried to unscrew the two halves, not wanting to strip the screw or "break-the-bank."
"Oxford frames," like the example shown above, became popular in England in the second half of the Nineteenth Century (and, a little later, in America). It refers to the "criss-cross" corner treatment which became associated with "The Oxford Movement" in England. The Oxford Movement was a group of Anglican Protestants (academics at Oxford) who sought the return of many Catholic-style "High Mass" rites and rituals within the Church of England. The crosses on each corner were thought to be especially suitable for framed religious sayings, pictures of saints, or other pictures with religious themes—like images of monasteries, cemeteries or the Holy Land. As the frame style became more popular with the broader public, however, they began to be used for...
Fruit preserves are made all over the world. They contain endless combinations of ingredients—sweet fruits, savory fruits, sweeteners, spices—and go by many different names. In America, we tend to think of "jam" as a sweet fruit preserve, which still contains chunky bits of fruits (sometimes a little fruit, sometimes a lot of fruit). Jelly, on the other hand, usually refers to a clear (strained) fruit concoction which has been gelled. Good jellies "quiver" when shaken, while maintaining their form and they can be cut cleanly with a knife (and still hold their shape). More than one song from the Thirties and Forties included the phrase, "It must be jelly 'cause jam don't shake like that!"
Today my neighborhood, Oakland—the academic and medical center of Pittsburgh—is being visited by various petro-chemical tsars, fervent tech bros, and other high-profile (well known) political characters (mostly from Washington, D.C.). Carnegie-Mellon University, a short walk from my house, is hosting an "Energy and Artificial Intelligence Summit" on their campus. The most enthusiastic attendees seem to be those with a financial interest in the policy outcomes—as well as those protesting their presence (albeit while being held at a safe distance). Fearsome and heavily-militarized police are protecting the summit's perimeter. These particular visitors—and the critical topics under discussion—remind me that America needs to be a force for good in the world. Powerful leaders exert powerful influence—for good or for bad—over the behavior...
I wrote the following journal entry a year ago. It seems just as relevant one year later. Alas. So I will simply run it again.
Happy Bastille Day. - - - Are humans naturally drawn to Authoritarianism? Or, rather, do people yearn to live free? For centuries, historians and philosophers have studied various peoples living under monarchs, dictators and thugs. Why do some people prefer "to just let Daddy take over"? In 2024, we still do not know this answer.
As they sing (vigorously) in Les Miserables, "One Day More!!!" Tomorrow the French celebrate La Fête National (Bastille Day).
The covered ceramic urn, shown above, is a celebration of French Art Nouveau style. Botanically-inspired, randomly organic, and hand-crafted beyond reproach—this piece, made by Denbac around 1910, is the poster child for handsome Art Nouveau aesthetics.
In its day, it might have been created to hold tobacco. But it could be used for many other things. A place to keep spare house keys. A jar to keep paperclips on the desk. Or even a fitting place to keep the remains of a beloved (small) pet
As we count-down to La Fête National—also called Bastille Day—we'd like to share a couple of handsome items from France, currently for sale in the LEO Design on-line shop.
Shown here, a pair of prints of the Louvre, printed (and hand-tinted with watercolor) in the Nineteenth Century (although they depict the castle in the centuries prior to that).
The images were first drawn by Francois-Auguste Trichon (1814 - 1898) and then engraved (in wood) by Ferdinand Delannoy (1822 - 1887) in 1881. After printing, they were hand-colored.
It's Seven-Eleven! And, when I think of 7/11, it conjures the word "convenience." In our modern world—with so much coming at us all the time—I (try to) rely on habit and discipline to help smooth the (otherwise) rough edges of getting through the day, on time. For me, I could not function without designating a place to keep my "exit essentials": keys, wallet and various "membership cards" which I need at different points in my schedule. In our household, we have a handsome French ceramic pie plate, glazed navy blue on the outside, glazed white on the inside (complete with a beautiful ruffled edge). It was the wonderful gift of a friend, Steve Leamer, who once made us a pie...
When it comes to art pottery manufacturers, some were high-end—with artful glazes and costly hand-finishing—while others sought to mass-produce an attractive product, attractively priced. Fulper Pottery, from Flemington, New Jersey, was one of the high-end, high-minded makers during the late Arts & Crafts period.
Fulper began (as many ceramics makers did) making utilitarian wares: stoneware crocks, tiles and plumbing pipes. Samuel Hill established his namesake company in 1814. His partner, Abraham Fulper, took-over in 1860, when Hill died. He renamed the company Fulper. By the Arts & Crafts period, his grandson, William H. Fulper II, was at the helm. He established the art pottery line, called Vasecraft, in 1909.
Henry Wilkinson was born in 1788 in Norton Hammer, a village in Southern Yorkshire, some three miles south of Sheffield. Sheffield was already playing an outsized role in England's Industrial Revolution: specifically steel manufacturing, cutlery-making and the production of other metalwares.
At the time Wilkinson was born, silver-plating was only a few decades old. The process of bonding a thin layer of sliver to a copper ingot—and then rolling-it-out into a workable sheet—had been developed and improved in Sheffield. These sheets could then be stamped (in metal forms) to produce cutlery, trays, and all manner of silver-plated wares—commonly called "Sheffield Plate."
Most of the letter knifes we have offered over the years have tended toward the heavy and masculine—like a prop out of Tosca, Act II. The elegant letter knife, shown here, is more subtle. It is fashioned of tapering stainless steel and is set within a silver handle, hand-engraved with scrolling botanicals. The handle conceals another little bonus: a folding stainless steel pen knife. As useful as it is, this knife is still very elegant—an object of sophisticated refinement. It was made in Japan in the Fifties.
Artworks made of carefully cut, polished and tightly-assembled stones is ancient, indeed. Ambitious works—geometric patterns on floors or intricate images on walls—have been found from Ancient Rome. But the Italian Renaissance—specifically in Sixteenth Century Florence—is where Pietre Dure reached its artistic high point. Popes, dukes and other aristocrats supported the art form with schools, guilds and expensive commissions. Church floors, altars, walls and tombs were covered with varieties of pietre dure works: geometric patterns, still life renderings, portraits and ambitious scenes. Some of the smaller Florentine works were exported around the world. When some reached India, Mughal rulers had local artists adapt the art form into their aesthetic—which they called Parchinkari. The Taj Mahal is decorated with astounding parchinkari works.
Murray the Outlaw of Falahill (1940-1952) was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's beloved Scottish Terrier. He was named after one of the president's Scottish ancestors. But he was best known by his nickname, Fala. He was FDR's constant companion—usually to be found curled-up in the same room as the president. He even travelled with Roosevelt. Fala was an American institution. He frequently was mentioned-by-name in the press. And, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War Two, "Fala" became the secret code word for American soldiers to identify themselves to their comrades. At the moment Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia, on 12 April 1945, Fala—who had been lying quietly in the corner of the room—jumped-up snarling and barking....
We have just acquired a handsome collection of Art Nouveau theatre programs, mostly printed between 1911 and 1919. They are a treasure trove of period design inspiration: the beautifully illustrated covers, the bold advertisements, the graphic layout of the title pages—even the styling (and the content) of the "editorial articles." Several of the programs come from 1918—the last year of The Great War and the year American forces joined the fight. As a result, many of the advertisements within those programs have patriotic or military-themed designs.
Today we celebrate America's independence from England—hard-fought and won at a bloody price. But was that the end of the struggle? Or does the fight for independence continue? And exactly what is the "Independence" which we seek and celebrate?
America's journey toward Democracy—an expanding and comprehensive Democracy—is far from complete. And, perhaps, it never will be finished. Today we are witnessing that American Democracy may be more fragile than we previously had realized. While some eras in American history favored Democracy, today we are at risk of losing it.
Scotland is a leading source of agate (from the family Chalcedony, a type of quartz). The stone is translucent, comes in many colors, and has distinctive banding including white and clear portions. Agate was formed within the crevices of ancient volcanic lava flows, though the loose "nodules" can be found along Scotland's eastern beaches, in plowed fields, or within cliffside crevices. Agate comes in many natural colors and also sometimes is dyed artificially. The Scots have been using agate decoratively and as a "talisman" since prehistoric times. They are thought to provide stability, balance, good luck and protection. Their use reached the peak of fashionable popularity in Victorian jewelry. But agates have always been prized as a cultural icon amongst the...
Although this pair of Nineteenth Century French faience vases are small, they punch-above-their-weight when it comes to hand-painted decoration. They were made in the third quarter of the Nineteenth Century.
Faience uses tin-glazes. The addition of oxide of tin to the paint gave the piece an opaque—usually white—base coat upon which other colors could then be applied. This tin-glaze effectively concealed the (usually red) clay beneath, thus "priming" the ceramic as a blank slate (ready for additional, fanciful decoration). This development was an important milestone in the evolution of ceramics- and tile-making.
Welcome, July, and your birthstone, the Ruby! Rubies are one of the four "cardinal" gemstones, alongside diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. In fact, rubies and sapphires are the same stone: Corundum. Chromium impurities within the mineral turn the corundum red; iron and titanium impurities turn the corundum blue. Otherwise, they are the same base gemstone. The name "Ruby" is derived from the Latin word "Ruber," meaning "red." The finest specimens, Pigeon's Blood Rubies, are mined in Burma. But rubies also have been found in Thailand, India, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Australia, Africa and South America. In the United States, rubies have been found in Wyoming and the Carolinas. Rubies are found in a pink variety, however, by law, such stones must be sold...
In 1822, Joseph Huntley opened a biscuit and confectionery shop in Reading, Berkshire, an important stop along the stagecoach route between London and the West of England. Huntley's shop was across from the town's major inn and his customers were the travelers who lodged there for the night. In order to protect his biscuits from being crushed, he packed them in metal tins. His son, also named Joseph, opened a factory for producing the tins. Before long, the idea was hatched: why not make the tins beautiful and collectible—making them a significant part of the consumer experience?
We all have precious objects which need to be presented and protected—an item which calls for a reliquary, of sorts. This bevelled glass footed casket is a handsome solution to that task. Spelter ("white metal") framing joins the bevelled glass panels. The top lid hinges open. Use it to display a pocket watch, an awards medal, or some other cherished possession.
In less than a month's time, the Sun will be passing through LEO. I suppose I could wait to present these bookends, but I'd rather share these beauties now! These bookends were modeled by American sculptor Gregory Seymour Allen (1884-1934). He was born in Orange, New Jersey, and worked in New York City before moving west to Glendale, California. He is known, primarily, as a sculptor of "historical" themes—usually famous personages—in politics, history or the military. He designed plaques, medallions, medals, and the occasional pair of handsome bookends (or other desktop accessories). Allen often sculpted in the bas relief style, including this pair of regal lions. Allen was also a talented Impressionist painter, mostly having painted California landscapes. These handsome...
The Art Nouveau Movement—which we translate as "The New Style" or "The Modern Style"—came on the heels of the Nineteenth Century's "Great Leap Forward." It was a time of progress and increased understanding of science, discovery and critical understanding. At the Turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century, industry boomed. The Middle Class grew. And more people (for the first time) had a little extra money to spend on luxuries, rather than spend every last penny on necessities. This expansion of wealth and markets had an enormous effect on artists, designers, and those who employed them to create and produce merchandise for a growing Middle Class. Whereas, in the past, artists were "commissioned" to work for the "very few, very rich" patrons, artists were now...
The Ancient Egyptians had detailed and specific funerary rites—carried-out with precision and filled with religious symbolism. Of course, the more wealthy and powerful received more elaborate (and expensive) treatment. Embalming was a part of this process. Embalming was meant to safeguard the body from decomposition. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the body must be preserved in order for it to be reborn into the afterlife. Egypt's dry climate certainly aided in the preservation of bodies. But practitioners of the funerary arts knew which methods worked best. It was important to remove from the body any of the parts which were likely to decompose, thus putrefying the body: the lungs, liver, stomach and intestines. These organs were removed, salted, and each...
A flower frog is a device used to assist in floral arranging. It helps to hold-in-place the stems which might otherwise shift out-of-place. Most often, one will see frogs used when arranging stems in a low bowl. With a taller vase, the high walls and "throat" of the vessel helps to consolidate the flowers. But arrangements in a bowl—especially when very few stems are used—can be much more challenging to affect the perfect look. It is believed that flower frogs originated in Japan in the 1300's. The Japanese dubbed them kenzan, which means "sword mountain." They were spiky, needle-like structures which were perfect for ikebana arrangements—in which very few (three? five?) perfect stems were positioned (perfectly) in a low, horizontal...
A nice frame really sets-off the image within. Whether looking at a painting in a museum or a photo on a bedside table, a good frame draws attention to the picture—and complements it—without overpowering or distracting from "the main event."
This photo frame, made in the Twenties or Thirties, is crafted of brass—pierced to give it a filigree effect. The four corner embellishments provide a small flourish which helps conceal the joinery. And the original glass is softly curved, giving the surface a slightly convex lift (which protects the image from direct contact with the glass).
In one month from today—on 23 July—the Sun enters the zodiac sign of LEO! 30 years ago today, in the early Summer of 1995, we were scrubbing, building, painting and arranging—preparing to open our first store at 413 Bleecker Street. While the contours of the shop, its appearance and content, have shifted (and clarified) over the last three decades, I knew from the very start that the store would be called LEO. I have always appreciated my sun sign, for which I thank my mother and father. Shown here, a group of 65 painted, wooden blocks. Most of them have lettering; some of them are decorated with the silhouettes of Disney characters or other fanciful illustrations. And some of them...
Yesterday was the first full day of Summer; the Summer Solstice began at 10:42 pm on Friday night. And (boy!) it's getting hot! Sweat-it-out in style with this handsome turn-of-the-century thermometer. The mercury thermometer is mounted upon a brass plate, engraved with the graduated temperature readings. The brass plate, in turn, is mounted to a wooden backing—fitted with a hanging loop. Gall & Lembke was founded in 1869 by Joseph Gall and Charles Lembke. They were headquartered at 21 Union Square and considered the premier maker of optical devices. The thermometer, shown above, was probably not made by the company. But it was intended to promote the company. The company name and address are engraved at the top of the...
For most of my adult life, I have lived in apartment buildings. If you count college dorm rooms, I had lived in an apartment for 35 years before moving into a house. Houses provide space, most importantly walls for hanging art and building bookshelves. They also (sometimes) are surrounded by garden space. Houses also provide isolation, though this feature is less important to me. Apartments, on the other hand, provide convenience (the Superintendent is a phone call away). Apartments also are green and cost-effective—which, I suppose, is the benefit of their "economies of scale."
To my taste, the most "alluring" apartment building in New York is The Dakota. But The Apthorp has always been appealing, too.
The second "major event" of this week's trip to New York was to see the Sargent & Paris exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love John Singer Sargent. After my husband (Bob), Sargent (1856-1925) is my favorite artist who lived in the Twentieth Century. When I first moved to New York in 1990, I was horrified to discover that the Metropolitan Museum was hanging Madame X—possibly Sargent's greatest painting—in a stairwell. In a stairwell! This notorious painting, exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1884, caused such a scandal (in Paris!) that Sargent eventually moved from Paris to London in 1886. He lived with the picture in his private collection for three decades until 1916, when he appealed to...
We've come back-to-the-City, just for a visit. Boy do I miss it. Every. Single. Day. We've been here for a few nights. A couple of events top our agenda. First, we attended a memorial service celebration for our dear friend, Anne Kaufman. It was held in a fourth floor function room at Sardi's, a restaurant in the theatre district. The photo shown here was shot out the restaurant's window. Anne died this past March at the age of 99—just 102 days short of her 100th birthday! Anne was the daughter of the American playwright George S. Kaufman. She was full of stories: about her colorful girlhood, about her father's colorful affairs, about the colorful stars and artists she knew from...
Never underestimate the eagerness of the English to remind the French of their biggest battlefield loss to the English (or vice-versa). In this case, The Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815) remains the permanent reminder of England's military dominance. That battle also marked the end of the Emperor Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).
The brass lion sculpture, shown here, was made in England in 1915—a commemorative item at the time of the battle's centenary.
Waterloo, in 1815, was part of the Kingdom of Netherlands. (Today it is part of Belgium.) Two allied armies—one led by England's Duke of Wellington, the other led by Prussia's Field Marshal Blücher—confronted the French under Napoleon Bonaparte.
This Italian leather canister is an intriguing example of Old World craftsmanship meeting Modern World technology (about a century ago). Florentine gold-embossed leather is "wrapped" around a Bakelite canister—and fitted with a screw-down lid. Bakelite was invented in 1907. It was a leap-forward in the development of synthetic materials—plastics, actually. This remarkable new invention could be molded into complex shapes. It was suited to mass-production. And Bakelite was heat resistant—making it highly adaptable to use in the exciting, new Twentieth Century. Light bulb sockets, lamps, radios and (later) television parts were made of Bakelite. In the right color (and polished) it was attractive, durable and easy to produce. Numerous desk and household items were crafted in Bakelite—as was jewelry...
In the days before electric ignition, matches were a common and necessary household implement—in the kitchen, in the dining room and at the fireplace. "Strike-anywhere matches" needed a safe and attractive container for safekeeping (sometimes called a "match safe"). As strike anywhere matches were combustible (and could, theoretically, be ignited if rubbed together), they required fireproof containment (in a vessel as air-tight as possible). And, because such a match holder was on prominent display on the mantelpiece, it should be attractive, too. This heavy cast iron match holder was made in the third quarter of the Nineteenth Century. It still retains its original black and golden paint. And the gold paint is richly-aged—never to be confused with the glitzy "shiny...
Happy Father's Day to all the men who helped to raise, teach and inspire children—men who provide(d) the best examples of self-discipline, integrity and kindness. Conceiving a child is the easiest step. So is letting someone else raise him or her. Growing a good, constructive and honest child is the hard part (and it is the part that counts). Shown here, a Danish Modernist stoneware sculpture by Axel Thilson Locher (1879 - 1941). He designed works for the Copenhagen ceramics studio Bing & Grøndahl. Locher was born in Copenhagen to an artistic family. His father was nautical painter Carl Ludvig Thilson Locher (1851-1915)—and Carl's father was a nautical painter before him. Both Carl and Axel lived and worked in Skagen,...
Nice "things"—Handsome Gifts—do not have to be expensive (though sometimes they are). This bronze bison, sculpted in Canada, is heavy, handsome and full of character. (And he's not too expensive.) Perhaps your dad loves "The Olde West." Maybe he comes from The Old West. Or, maybe he just likes bison.
Which brings-up an interesting question: is there a difference between a bison and a buffalo? Yes there is! A big difference!
The creatures sometimes (inaccurately) called the "American Buffalo" (like the bronze sculpture shown here) are not "buffalo" at all. They are "bison" (scientific name: Bison bison). They were found across the open grasslands of North America.
We're sharing some Handsome Gifts ideas for Father's Day. Perhaps you know a much-deserving dad?
For fathers who like to fish, this Korean bronze charger is likely to tick several boxes. The bas relief modeling is superb in its detail, precision, and energy. Grasses at the water's edge, bushes upon the shoreline, even ripples in the water are all portrayed with meticulous detail. And then there's the pike: arched in combat as he struggles to escape. This sculpted bronzework is beautifully rendered and crisply cast—truly the work of a skilled artist.
Now: something for the father who appreciates fine and good-looking . . . books. A pair of French terracotta bookends sculpted by Joe Descamps and produced in ceramic by Louis Lourioux. Joe Descamps (1869-1950), sometimes spelled Descomps, was a master sculptor who specialized in female nudes. His subjects were often placed in pastoral or floral settings. He worked in both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods (and, indeed, this pair of bookends seems to be "transitional"—that is, reflecting aspects of both aesthetic schools). Descamps also designed jewelry and metal sculpture. Ceramicist Camille Louis Lourioux (1874-1930) was born into a family of potters. In his Twenties, he managed a ceramics workshop with his father. But he soon set-out on his...
As we count-down the days to Father's Day, we are sharing some Handsome Gift ideas which might tickle your father's fancy. Some dads like hunting and fishing. Others like tinkering under-the-hood. Some dads cultivate plants. And other dads like to read Shakespearean sonnets and plays.
There are six known signatures of William Shakespeare surviving—signatures written in his own hand. These are found on legal documents such as a court deposition, the purchase of a home, the mortgage on that house, and his Last Will and Testament. No two (of these six) signatures are spelled the same way:
Danish artist Knud Kyhn (1880-1969) was a master of capturing "animal energy" in his stoneware sculptures. His bears exhibit ursine energy. His cats express feline energy. And, naturally, his bulls channel bovine energy—as does the "Bull in Repose," shown here. The animal swings its heavy head—atop an impossibly thick neck—perhaps expelling the bothersome flies which have landed on his massive back.
Knud Kyhn worked for Royal Copenhagen for many years, hand-sculpting the original "models" (many of them animals) and supervising their production and glazing. Royal Copenhagen was in the business of producing "collectible" artworks, thus, they would produce a small number of each design every year—usually marking the bottoms of each piece with a date-mark.
Father's Day is nigh—and we'd like to share some Handsome Gift ideas for "Dear Ol' Dad." Shown here, a hand-carved wooden bear from the island of Hokkaido, Japan. This northerly island is the most productive region in Japan for farming and fishing. But, during the cold winters (when farmers come-indoors for their seasonal hiatus), the people began carving such bears to keep busy and to provide an additional stream of income. These folk sculptures would be sold to Hokkaido's annual summer tourists—often Japanese visitors escaping the heat and humidity of Souther Japan. Such tourists come to Hokkaido seeking its cooler climes, enjoying its natural beauty, and experiencing the Ainu culture (which once dominated this area). As the bears became more...
We end our showing of handsome and useful leather wallets with this beauty: a hand-stitched American alligator credit card sleeve. Made of farmed alligator and tanned with a soft, unglazed finish, this wallet is both rustic and sophisticated at once. The sleeve has two pockets on each side (four total) and a central slot. As the piece is handled, it will develop a handsome "burnished" finish—giving a soft sheen to the skin.
Here we show another credit card sleeve, perfect for a night-on-the-town. It was handcrafted (in New York City) of vegetable-dyed leather, finished with a wax rubbing. The bold edge-stitching is a little more rustic than some of the other leather goods we've shown this week. This stitching—in addition to the natural leather—gives the piece a more relaxed, casual look. And, like all vegetable-dyed leathers, the piece will develop a rich, burnished patina as the piece is handled and used. There is a pocket on each side in addition to a central "pocket."
With Father's Day coming, we are sharing some of our favorite wallets—handsome and useful—which might be a welcomed gift by someone's loving dad.
Shown here, another version of the classic English dress wallet, hand-stitiched of black vegetable-dyed pebbled leather. It holds 14 cards and has four long pockets for holding cash currency. And this handsome dress wallet will hold a (horizontally-bound) checkbook, if you wish.
Tanned alligator is beautiful. It is ruggedly handsome and sophisticated at the same time. Alligator is durable while appearing delicate. And, because of the unique pattern of scales on every piece of alligator, no two objects are exactly the same. Alligator succeeds in being both rugged and luxurious at the same time. Alligators usually live in freshwater. They have blunt, heavy snouts and can live up to 50 years. Crocodiles, on the other hand, have longer, pointed snouts, usually live in salty or brackish waters and have been known to live as long as 100 years. Alligator and crocodile skins—the patterns and shapes of the scales—do vary by species. But there is one telltale sign which helps the amateur distinguish...
This week, we are sharing some of the wallets currently in-stock at LEO Design. One of them might make a nice gift for Father's Day.
Sometimes one wants to be streamlined—when a standard wallet feels too bulky for a night out in jeans. At times like this, a credit card sleeve might "fit the bill." Shown above, an English hand-stitched, black vegetable-dyed "pebbled" leather credit card sleeve. It is designed with a pocket on each side (with room for a debit card and a driver's license) and a central slot in-between (enough room to stash a bill or two). Another nice thing: a credit card sleeve like this can fit into a front pocket without being too hefty.
A "dress wallet"—like the one shown here—is a classic (perhaps a relic) of earlier, tailored times. Picture an elegant gentleman—perhaps Cary Grant, Laurence Olivier, or Paul Henreid—removing such a wallet from the interior breast pocket of his (double-breasted) suit jacket. It has 14 slots for numerous cards and four long pockets for bills (perhaps in different, international currencies). And this dress wallet will also hold a (horizontally-bound) checkbook.
A wallet like this is not for men alone. Some woman might like its handsome and understated design—and they would likely keep it in a handbag (rather than in a jacket pocket).
With Father's Day just around the corner, we thought we'd share some of our classic and handsome leather wallets—always a thoughtful and useful gift for a generous dad.
Shown here, an English leather wallet, hand-stitched of black vegetable-dyed calfskin. Vegetable-dyed leathers develop a beautiful patina with handling—meaning the wallet will look even better with gentle use. The zipper runs around three sides of the wallet, keeping one's items safe and secure within. It also gives the wallet a "light urban look"—just a touch of Punk Rock leather and metal.
We welcome June, and her flower, the rose.
Roses may be the most popular of flowers. There are over 300 different species of natural roses and there are thousands of man-made variants (cultivars) that have been developed over the centuries—selectively-bred to accentuate desired traits like color, size, fragrance, form or hardiness. 50-million-year-old rose fossils from the Eocene Period (which means, roughly, "The New Dawn") have been uncovered by archaeologists in Colorado. Roses are depicted in Minoan art (circa 1400 BC) and in Egyptian tomb paintings shortly thereafter. And ornamental roses are known to have been cultivated by the Chinese, Persians and Mediterraneans from about 500 BC.
Filagree is a method of decorative metalwork involving the twisting and bending and soldering of wires (usually silver or gold), in order to fashion jewelry or other decorative metal objects. The delicate metalwork is often suggestive of lace. Sometimes silver or gold beads might by incorporated into the work The oldest filagree pieces date to 3000 BC and were found in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Kuwait). The Etruscans and Greeks adopted the art form and the work spread—mostly through trade and Arab migration—and could be found from Ireland to North Africa to Asia (especially India).
In the Medieval periods, filagree was used for jewelry, naturally, but also liturgical decor: reliquaries, processional crosses, croziers, gospel book covers.
The village of Taxco, Mexico, has a long association with silver mining—and, more recently, silversmithing and jewelry-making. Since Pre-Columbian times, silver was mined here. In fact, an Aztec governor was placed in the old village of Taxco so that he could conveniently collect the "tributes" (of silver) payable (by the conquered subjects) to the Aztec ruler. When the Spaniards arrived, they modernized the silver mining—creating a "Silver Rush" in the Sixteenth Century which greatly enlarged the town's infrastructure. Taxco proved to be the biggest source of silver for the Spanish Empire. When the Mexican War of Independence (1820's and 1830's) expelled, killed or diminished the Spanish colonizers, most of the mines intentionally were closed-down as the Spaniards headed for the...
This Victorian English silver brooch, hallmarked Chester, 1887, is as much sculpture as it is jewelry. The deep crescent is laid-on with hand-engraved strap work, further embellished with scrolling botanical elements. The jagged perimeter adds an additional jolt of energy to the silhouette.
Whenever I've asked a British antiques trader to identify one of their hallmarks, they always seem to let out a bittersweet, "Oh, it's Chester..." upon discovering that city's chevron-shield hallmark bearing three wheat sheaves. Apparently, the assay (hallmarking) office in this charming city closed in 1962. To this day, English antiques dealers seem to fondly reminisce about this little town, near the Wales border (whether they have ever been there or not).
This week we are sharing some of our favorite silver brooches—designs which are enhanced by their precious metal composition (not overwhelmed by it).
Shown here, a Victorian English silver brooch with a whimsical Celtic correlate design—sitting atop an otherwise serious base.
Silver is an "element"—that is, a pure chemical substance which cannot be broken-down further into simpler components. And silver straddles a special place in the hierarchy of "metal preciousness." While it is not a "common" metal (like copper or brass or pewter or bronze), neither is it as precious as gold or platinum. To my eye (and my mind), items crafted of gold—no matter how beautiful—cannot escape their status as . . . well . . . gold. To me, their material composition often dictates their appraisal—visually and intellectually. I truly love all those non-precious "craft" metals—the metals (or alloys) fashioned by artists to create decorative objects (by sculpting, hammering or casting). Their earthy honesty is raised to decorative status...
The idea of visiting the graves of loved ones—perhaps cleaning, tending or decorating them—is an ancient custom, observed the world over. Throughout history, towns, cities, states or countries may have designated a specific day on which this might occur. After the American Civil War, Union General John A. Logan called on all Americans to observe 30 May 1868 as a National "Decoration Day"—a day on which loved ones could visit and lay flowers on the graves of fallen Union soldiers. By 1890, each US state, North and South, had adopted 30 May as Decoration Day. In 1968, the US Congress "regularized" the date to the last Monday in May—which also created a three day federal holiday. And, in 1971, the...
In the evolution of aesthetic schools, rarely is there a sharp division between the old and the new—separating what had been and what is to come. Rather, existing fashions might be modified with changes which reflect the aesthetic movement which is waiting in the wings. Such intervals sometimes (and conveniently) are called "Transitional Periods." In the case of the Arts & Crafts Movement, period artisans and designers often sought inspiration from earlier, historic ideas. Such inspiration—whether artistic, cultural, literary or historic—was specific to the locale in question. The English may have lifted references to Medieval Knights. Germans may have revived ancient folklore. The French might tip-their-hat to Gothic motifs. In the pair of English candlesticks, shown above, the hand-hammered...
Simplicity can be oh-so stylish. At least it is with this English Art Deco "looking glass," made in the Twenties or Thirties. The simple form—an elongated octagon—is lightly accented with a bevelled edge. Otherwise, it's just an uncomplicated, elegant, understated and useful addition to a powder room, near the front door, or over a bedroom dresser. And it would look terrific on a wall filled with mirrors—hung together in a cobbled, wall-to-wall arrangement.
How does one tune-it-out? Perhaps the Three Wise Monkeys can provide an example?
The earliest evidence of the Three Wise Monkeys—sometimes called the Three Mystic Apes—is found carved on a wooden panel above the stable door at the Tōshō-gū Shinto Shrine in Nikkō, Japan. The shrine complex opened in 1617 and the stable held the temple's sacred horses. The carved panel, portraying three Japanese macaques, has been attributed to the carver Hidari Jingorō (who may have been a fictitious artist, or the pseudonym of another master carver).
Even after photography became commercially popular—in the mid Nineteenth Century—having one's photo taken remained a rare experience. Unless you were a person of great fame or influence, you might take only two or three photos in your lifetime—perhaps at a wedding or some other important milestone. And the technology of the day gave the sitter few options regarding the resulting photo's size; most pictures were fairly small.
But, like today, a nice frame would make all the difference in presenting—and highlighting—a treasured photograph. Shown here, an oval walnut frame, with a curved, deeply-recessed "profile." The frame was made circa 1850—just about the time that people with a little money to spend might be able to have their photo taken.
Today's the Fourteenth day of sharing some of our favorite LEOs—commemorating the new pope, LEO XIV. We end this parade of lions with this simple, yet bold, bronze lion, made in Canada. In the world of heraldry, this LEO would be called a "Lion Statant Guardant Sinister." What this means is that the lion is standing (four feet planted on the ground), head turned (toward the viewer), and facing to the left (instead of facing "dexter," that is to the right, which is conventional). Note that "left" and "right" are oriented from the point-of-view of the soldier holding the shield (upon which such a lion is applied). Thus "left" and "right" are backwards from the viewer's point-of-view. Such "attitudes" are...
Cats of any sort—wild cats, house cats—will always be wild-at-heart. Deep within, all cats are hunters. Sighting, stalking, pouncing and (yes) killing are a part of any cat's repertoire. Perhaps it is this fierce, prehistoric impulse which has made lions an inspiration in the arts, literature and other human aspirations.
Shown above, a mountain lion, stalking atop a craggy rock. These cast iron bookends are deftly-sculpted, patinated with a (now well-aged) golden bronze patina and hand-painted with small details. The modeling—especially of the cat—seems to have a rough, "Rodinesque" sensibility, typical of the tastes of the Twenties. The sculptor has captured the desperate energy of a hungry lion.
The lions portrayed on this pair of cast iron bookends are modeled after Antoine-Louis Barye's 1840 sculpture called "Walking Lion" (which we shared in this journal a few days ago). The bookends were made in the Twenties by Bradley & Hubbard of Meriden, Connecticut. After the original bookend models were sculpted, the pairs were cast in molten iron and finished with a chocolate bronze finish. Bradley & Hubbard was known for its well-finished metal castings. While never at the elite level of a Tiffany or Gorham, Bradley & Hubbard was, nonetheless, very well-respected, making beautifully designed and finished metal objects for America's Middle and Upper-Middle classes. One more significant observation: This pair of bookends was designed with "mirrored" lions—that is,...
LEO Design is sharing some of our favorite LEOs this week, as we mark the election of the new pontiff, Pope LEO XIV.
Shown here, a Turn-of-the-Century cast iron lion bank. Years of aging has left a darkened and highly-textured surface—while traces of the original golden paint are still visible in the mane. At one time, deposited coins could be removed by unscrewing the two cast iron sides—held-together with a screw. Over the decades, the screw (and two connected halves) seem to have fused-together, making it difficult (or impossible) to open-up. But this handsome vintage lion would easily earn his keep just standing-around, looking good. And think: he was made sometime during the papacy of the last Leo, LEO XIII.
We started our parade of LEOs with this same sculpted design—however, finished in a darkened bronze patina. Here we have a pair in its original golden finish. Bookend foundries would customarily offer their wares in two or more finishes. Classic, chocolate bronze was probably most common. A copper patina was popular. Brass finishes were sometimes offered. And a golden finish, like we see above, was another option. Some (but not all) bookends might be offered in a hand-painted, polychromed (multi-color) finish. One hundred years of use and exposure to the interior elements add their own patina-of-time. The crevices are probably darker than they once were. Little chips of finish—or rub marks—add their own evidence of time. For this reason, I...
In honor of the new pope—LEO XIV—we are sharing some of our favorite felines here at LEO Design. All currently are available right here, on the LEO Design website.
This lion, cast in spelter (sometimes called "white metal"), is "cold-painted" after casting, cooling and chasing (that is, cleaning-off any burrs or irregularities from the casting process). This King of the Jungle expresses a gentle, stately demeanor—seemingly at-peace. He pauses atop a small mound, surveying his kingdom to the horizon.
