It's the third Monday in February, Presidents' Day! Or is it President's Day? Or, perhaps, Presidents Day? The answer will depend on the mood of the writer (and which state s/he inhabits). Congress established a federal holiday, called Washington's Birthday, in 1879, intended to honor only the first president. The holiday was initially observed on 22 February, the first president's actual birthday. Individual states have similarly made it a state holiday—sometimes calling it Washington's Birthday or Presidents Day or President's Day or Presidents' Day. In 1971, Congress "regularized" many federal holidays, placing them on a certain Monday of a given month (thus, creating more three day weekends and not having strange, mid-week disruptions to the workweek).
This little "Ski Lodge Teddy" will happily be your Valentine—or convey the greeting for you (to someone else). Click on the photo above to learn more about him.
As we approach the anniversary of The Great Covid Hibernation, most people I know are more than ready to return to "normal life." We have places to go, friends to see, pounds to lose. Luckily, a rapidly increasing schedule of vaccinating is helping to dig us out of our national hole.
These Art Deco basset hounds, standing patiently atop their stepped bookend plinths, are biding their time, too. "Any day now," they seem to be saying. "Any day now...".
On this day, 2/12—212 years ago!—Abraham Lincoln was born at his family's "Sinking Spring Farm" in Kentucky. Raised to perform hard physical farm labor, he and his family moved several times during his childhood, eventually to Illinois when Abraham was 21. Lincoln was not a pampered child, born to comfort and luxury; he faced difficult challenges throughout his life—the most difficult, no doubt, as the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln was handed a country on the brink of civil war. Conservatives in the South were outraged at the election of this gangly, progressive leader (and alarmed that he would challenge their economic prosperity, based on enslavement). The month after his inauguration, the Civil War began.
A nice tray can be used to present food in its best possible light. But putting something atop a pedestal adds a whole new dimension to the exhibition. Place a cake or muffins or even cookies upon a raised plate (like this one, shown above) and you've elevated the presentation. This Arts & Crafts cake plate is made of hammered and silver-plated. It was made by Derby of Meriden, Connecticut.
This journal entry title may not be obvious—and it is quite far from clever. (I was attempting a reference to the 1962 film "The Days of Wine and Roses" and its haunting theme song by Henry Mancini.) But! There is an association! The film, made by Blake Edwards and starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, is the tale of a couple and their relationship to alcohol. This German Jugendstil tray, made by WMF in the 1910's, is decorated with a delicate repouseé of entwined vines, palmate leaves, and clusters of delicate berries. Though I have not, yet, identified the variety of berry, I have leapt to the conclusion that the Germans may have used these same fruit to make wine...
This little English Arts & Crafts copper tray is decorated with a hand-tooled radiant botanical design. It's not very big—just over nine inches across—but it has great style. It would look perfect hanging on the wall (in that "perfect little spot") or it would serve beautifully as a dresser tray, organizing all those bottles, tubes and jars which are part of one's daily ablutions.
It was in Seventh Grade when I was taught the word "juxtaposition"—that is, the placing of two items next to each other in order to compare or contrast their features. To my eleven-year-old mind, juxtaposition seemed to be a useful concept. But I had no understanding of how much I "would juxtapose" in my future life (or that I'd be writing about it 46 years later).
When I first found this English Arts & Crafts copper plate, I focused on the large-peen hand-hammering at its center. Such "brutalist" hammering is especially good for providing highly-visible texture from a distance (for example, as seen from across a room while hanging up-high on a wall).
Yesterday we talked about the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, specifically of those who gave their lives in war for Britain. This English Arts & Crafts copper plate shows a trio of poppy pods—yet to be opened. Additionally, it shows a trio of wild geese, flying around the rim of the plate. For Celtic Christians, the wild goose is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, much as the dove is for the broader church. And don't underestimate the intentionality of "threes" (either geese or poppies). A trio, in Christian symbolism, is a reference to the Trinity. This handsome plate conveys a symbolic meaning—hidden within its the skillful repoussé work of its maker.
This English Arts & Crafts copper "pie plate" is decorated with a repoussé whiplash and poppy design. In England, poppies memorialize the war dead and (today) especially those who gave their lives in World War One. Red poppies stain the open fields of France's Western Front—where British (and other) servicemen died (and some were buried). Additionally, the narcotic effect of opium (from poppies) has always connoted sleep, thus the close association with eternal rest. This copper plate is beautiful in its own right—and made even more special by the remembrance it engenders.
For most of human history, the world was dominated by a small number of monarchs, the aristocratic one percent, and all the rest of us—the 99% who served those monarchs and aristocrats. "Luxury" was out-of-reach for all but the tippy-top. And then came the Industrial Revolution. While the Industrial Revolution did create many problems—pollution, exploitation, and the relegation of human labor as an interchangeable commodity—it also allowed for the growth of a modern Middle Class. And this new middle class had something heretofore unknown to them: discretionary income. For the first time, a growing middle class could afford to buy things that they wanted, not just what they needed. But they were still not rich enough to match the...
Yesterday, we shared one of the finest trays in our collection. If one might call that one "Beauty," the shallow bowl, shown above, might be called "The Beast." But a beast is not without its usefulness—or its charm. Rustically hand-hammered copper is fashioned into a shallow bowl. Set upon a refectory table, it would be perfect for holding fruit, bread or a collection of decorative objects—pinecones, wine corks, seashells or glass balls.
After 26 years of collecting and selling English trays, this one may be the nicest I've ever owned. And, although it could be used to serve food, it would be much better suited to hanging upon the wall as a work of art. Actually, it could serve as an architectural feature! Four whorls of scrolling botanicals luxuriate in each corner of the tray which is surrounded by a crimped-edge gallery. And the soft, warm reflection of light off the brass surface will gently brighten any spot in your home. (Why am I selling this?)
This sweet (though small) little plate would bring a lovely touch of Arts & Crafts sophistication to that tiny spot in your home which has been wanting for a small point of punctuation. It was made in England around 1905. The hammering is beautifully executed, the design is crisp, and the deep, brown patination is rich and lovely. Especially unique is the trio of piercings which encircle the plate. A stylized, six-petal flower radiates from the center.
February is here—and it brings along its regal birthstone, the amethyst. Until the Nineteenth Century, amethysts were very precious; they were considered one of the rare (and expensive) "Cardinal Gemstones"—alongside rubies, diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. At the time, they were only to be found in Austria and Russia (where the most beautiful, deep-purple amethysts were found). Medieval monarchs—especially in England—adorned themselves with the royal amethyst (given that the color purple has long been associated with royalty). Even today, Anglican bishops wear an amethyst in their episcopal rings. This is due to the ancient belief that amethysts prevented intoxication—and that alcohol, drunk from an amethyst bowl, would not cause inebriation. In fact, the name "amethyst" comes from the Ancient Greek root...
In the old days, China was considered "at the far end of the Earth." Venetian explorer-merchant, Marco Polo, was the first European to make a well-documented trip to China in the late 1200's (though scholars believe that the Chinese had periodic contact with Europe for centuries before this). It was not an easy trip; it took him three years to travel from Venice to China and he stayed there for 17 years. In later centuries, the West enjoyed increasingly easier travel to China, though politics did affect the ease of trade from time to time (as it continues to do today). Intrepid European traders made vast fortunes bringing-back luxurious and exotic products from China—textiles, ceramics, tea and other foodstuffs that...
Victorian England was absolutely encrusted in ceramic tiling. Pubs, kitchens, churches, shops and train stations: nearly every new British building in the second half of the Nineteenth Century could find multiple uses for lots and lots of glazed ceramic tile. And although British tilework was hardly novel in the 1850's, the Industrial Age was new—and modern, high-volume production methods allowed British factories to turn-out enormous quantities of beautiful, heavy, high-quality tile (and other glazed ceramic or terra-cotta architectural components).
Bearing a more traditional Middle Eastern aesthetic, this Egyptian brass platter displays intricate layers of hand-tooling. It can be used as a tray or hung as an art piece on the wall—where it will provide a gleam of warm reflected light
Hand-painted trees, heavy with ripe oranges, surround the octagonal perimeter of this English Art Deco platter by Norman Keates for Crown Ducal. At the time this platter was made, circa 1925, oranges were still a small luxury in middle class England—thus the decorative embellishment might have promoted a touch of wistful aspiration. Oranges were first cultivated in China; Medieval traders and explorers brought them back to the West where they were grown in temperate (Mediterranean) locales. At the time, however, only the richest of aristocrats could afford to purchase the expensive, imported fruit. In the late Nineteenth Century, when Christmas gift-giving became customary, an orange might be left in the toe of a child's Christmas stocking (and, at this point, oranges...
Here's another Middle Eastern beauty, this time in hand-tooled copper. A crenelated gallery surrounds the interior graphic elements: triangular "teeth," scrolling botanicals, and a corollate center. The bold simplicity of the design—almost "folk art" in aesthetic—brings this tray closer to the sensibility of traditional Arts & Crafts than most Middle Eastern works. Still, the competence of the metalsmith is apparent. This tray, hanging in an Arts & Crafts interior, would provide wonderfully warm punctuation.
Here's another handsome piece of metalwork: a Middle Eastern hand-tooled brass tray. It serves wonderfully as a tray. I like it even more when hanging on the wall—where it provides a warm glow of reflected light and beautiful punctuation in an Arts & Crafts interior. It's interesting to point-out that period Aesthetic Movement and Arts & Crafts designers or craftsmen would sometimes imitate "exotic" aesthetics and decorative elements into their work. This was their way of bringing the beauty of another culture to those who might not have the opportunity or wherewithal to travel so far away. And the wealthiest collectors competed with one another to have more and better Asian ceramics, Persian tilework or Middle Eastern metalcrafts. Some of these...
I love hammered metalwork—an appreciation which transcends place and period. Though, in fact, most of my collecting has been in the West: Europe, Britain and the United States. Thus, my ability to identify these places and periods is (a little bit) better developed. So, over the years, I have focused principally on acquiring Western metal crafts for my shop. (As a merchant, I must balance the issues of physical space and cash-on-hand.)
This simple tray was made by the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, more commonly known as WMF. It was founded in Geislingen, Germany in 1853. The company was well up-and-running (40 years old) by the time the German Jugendstil Movement was born—and WMF was well-positioned to take advantage of the trend. In fact, WMF enjoyed its heyday during the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries. It is possible that this tray once held a glass dish or "liner" of some sort. It holds a 12 inch plate nicely. Without a plate, it is just right as a drinks tray and would make a smart dresser or kitchen tray, too.
Cornish office clerk, Charles Thomas Eustace, returned to work after a long illness to discover that his position had been given to another person. The 59 year old father of 13 children needed to do something—and quick! He and his brother, John, opened a small copper crafts workshop in Hayle, Cornwall, their hometown. Although he knew nothing of metalsmithing, he learned the craft quickly, becaming quite proficient. Eustace admired the Keswick School of Industrial Arts and drew inspiration from their Arts & Crafts designs, despite the fact that it was now the 1930’s and the Arts & Crafts movement had pretty much ended with World War One. Fortunately, Cornwall had a community of small copper crafters which probably helped Eustace get his...
During these chilly Winter days, we are featuring a selection of trays now in-stock at LEO Design. We look-forward to the time (the sooner, the better) when we can use these trays to serve family, friends and other loved ones. The company which would evolve into Joseph Sankey and Sons was established in 1854, making simple tin trays. In the late Nineteenth Century, Sankey was joined by his brothers, by which time the company had developed a broader line of products, many of them intended for an elegant upper middle class market. With the advent of the English Arts & Crafts (Art Nouveau) movement, Sankey produced a large number of sophisticated household service pieces: trays, tankards, kettles and planters. These were made in brass, copper...
With the sweet smell of Transition still perfuming the air, we share this English hand-hammered pewter tray, made in the 1920's or 1930's. The Gothic elongate-quatrefoil silhouette and the textured peening of the metal places this tray within the English Arts & Crafts sensibility. The handles, however, provide a whisper of Art Deco style—which moves this handsome tray into the "transitional" period between the two Early Twentieth Century movements.
Felines are the "royalty" of the pet world. They sleep up to 16 hours a day and hunt at night (if they can), sometimes bringing their catch home as an offering to their human consort. There are 38 species of cat worldwide, with all but the "house cat" being wild. But do not let your little puss fool you! Within it's small and silky frame beats the heart of a LEO huntress—and she retains all the instincts of her larger, wilder relatives.
While the squirrels in the frigid Northern Hemisphere are snuggling in their nests, in the Southern Hemisphere, tree frogs are busily scampering in the trees, eating bugs and making the next generation of little climbers. There are approximately 30 varieties of tree frog in the United States—and 600 species in Central and South America. Worldwide, there are approximately 800 species, all related by the climbing structure of their feet. The largest tree frog is about 5 inches long while the smallest comes-in at under one inch long.
Squirrels do not hibernate. But, when it's bitterly cold, as it is now, they will stay home with their nest companions—entangled in a comfy-warm "communal sleeping ball." This helps them to keep warm during the coldest days of winter. When the temperature rises a bit, they will venture out of the nest, retrieving the food they buried in the earlier seasons. It has been estimated that a squirrel will hide three years worth of food during the summer and fall seasons—ensuring that even those squirrels with terrible memory skills will be able to survive the winter well-fed.
Like our other "metal alloy tipped" pen, this one writes semi-permanently and even underwater. It screws into a handy key fob, making it ready for use when you didn't bring a conventional pen.
Suppose you need to write a quick note—while sitting at the bottom of a pool or diving in the deep-blue sea. This "metal alloy" pen could save the day! Its special tip writes (semi-permanently) without lead or ink. And it will even write underwater! (Waterproof paper is another matter.) When finished, cap it with its magnetic snap-on cover.
Advance your lead—with an assured click, click, click—and keep-on sketching the scene. This hexagonal mechanical pencil, made in England of brushed stainless steel, will keep writing in durable style. The faceted sides keep it from rolling-off your desk. And the supply of 2mm leads will get you through many a landscape.
Let's finish our procession of gold-leafed photo frames with this charming Gothic Revival version. Water gilding is embellished with a hand-drawn overlay, then burnished for a rich appearance. This frame sits horizontally or vertically and will hold a 3.5" x 5" photo.
As though plucked from a 1930's MGM movie, this European Art Deco beauty is handsome, modern and stylish. The wooden frame is leafed in gold and punctuated with four silver leaf corners. It sits horizontally or vertically and holds a 3.5" x 5" photo.
This European gold-leafed frame is as classic as can be. The only decoration is the little rabbeted edge and the little "overlaps" where the edge of one thin leaf of gold covers the edge of its neighboring leaf of gold. It holds a 3.5" x 5" photo and can sit horizontally or vertically. Pure stye and sophistication.
One of my 2021 New Year's resolutions was to finish going through the last few remaining boxes—as-yet-untouched since closing my shop in Greenwich Village. The boxes were mostly office supplies and display fixtures. But they had been packed in a frenzy and, it turns out, there were a few merchandise items buried within them. So I've had a little chance to "mine" a few little treasures, including a small trove of European gold-leafed frames. I will share a few of my favorites with you this week. This frame wears a confident Art Nouveau "whiplash" border upon its hand-applied gold leafing. Thin sheets of gold are applied (with water) to the wooden frame below, after which the pattern is drawn by...
As I've become a more experienced collector, I feel more confident venturing-beyond my previously trod territory. When I find something that I like, yet cannot identify—or I suspect it might even be recently-made—I will give the piece an extra turn or two in-the-hand, asking myself, "Why not?". If the quality is high (and handmade), the design is tasteful, and the piece is priced well, I may add it to the collection despite my uncertainty as to its age or maker. The piece shown here was discovered at an estate sale last week. I was hunting for furniture and came across this in the meantime. It wasn't a lot of money—and something told me that it was good (if not "important"). To learn more...
Here's a little more sun—in this case, sun flowers. I must admit, this vase is a bit of a mystery to me. In my thirty years in the antiques trade, I have only seen two of them (both of which I acquired). I do not know who made it, in what country, or when. The piece exhibits a European sensibility—which may help explain why I have seen it so rarely in America. On the other hand, I bought both of my pieces in the States, an inconclusive suggestion that it might have been made here. My educated guess is that it was made in Europe in the 1910's or 1920's—or in the United States in the 1920's or 1930's. I bought my first...
I long for the sunrise, a new dawn of civility, propriety and a presidential behavior which sets the right example for our citizens and the rest of the world. I despise disruption, criminality and the financial exploitation of one's elected position. I fear that fanatical discontents have found their emperor—who's been described as "their Robert E. Lee"—who is all too willing to play the tyrant (and keep the cashflow a-flowin'). How has America gotten to this point? Or, more pointedly, how has this ideology simmered beneath society's surface without wider acknowledgment, analysis and counter-action? Alas, we are far, as a country, from "pulling together" in a snuggly, affectionate round of Kumbaya. Some of the outgoing president's supporters have threatened a...
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. -William Shakespeare, Macbeth (1606) Today we shall witness a staged performance—dramatized for all the world to see—which Shakespeare described and might have predicted over 400 years ago. Elected officials (some might call them "disciples") will demonstrate their blind allegiance to their shepherd—a figurehead they venerate above party or country. They call him "The Chosen One" and they long for their master to recognize their piety and adoration. The Bard's words have proved durable; so will the judgement of history. But, perhaps, history hasn't yet...
It's here, gentle reader. The climax we've been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for: today Georgia voters will decide which candidates will represent them in the US Senate. They will also be deciding the course of American politics for the next two years (or longer).
Our little cast bronze sculptures face-off in the photo above. The "Lucky Elephant" has the letters L-U-C-K stamped into the bottom of each of his feet. The "Kick-Ass Donkey" bears the letters K-I-C-K under his hooves.
Didn't this all end? Nine weeks ago? Nevertheless, the drama enters its Seventh Act. Can the curtain call be very far away?
Tomorrow, Georgia voters will decide which party will dominate the Senate, furthermore determining the fate of the nation for the next two years. We're counting on you, Georgia!
On Wednesday, certain legislators in Washington will mount their well-rehearsed Kabuki performance—big on noise and drama, but ultimately meaningless.
Give this cuddly bear a tight squeeze and soldier-on through the next two days. Click on his photo, above, if you'd like to learn more about him.
In a sometimes fractured world, the New Year is something we all share. Every year I marvel at how the new year sweeps around the globe—completing its circuit in one smooth 24 hour pass. We see fireworks in New Zealand, followed by celebrations in Australia, Eastern Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, England & Ireland, Brazil, the United States, and, finally, American Samoa (followed by a handful of islands an hour later). The desire to mark the New Year seems universal (or, at least, global). And, for one 24 hour day, we all share the same focus. In France, one says Bonne Année! This French Art Nouveau vase once welcomed a new period in the decorative arts. Perhaps it can signify...
2021 is here . . . can you feel things getting better? The days are getting longer. A Covid vaccine is ready for injection (if only it would be distributed). And new leadership is making plans to move our country in a new and better direction. It's as though the sun has emerged—after four years of darkness and bitter cold. This vase, made in England in the 1920's or 1930's, boasts a "molten" glaze of oranges and yellows—seemingly boiling on the vertically-ribbed walls of this gourd-form vase. It reminds me of the surface of the Sun, where swirls of molten magma radiate their energy to the Earth below. While the Sun holds the power to sustain life or kill it,...
Who's ready for a fresh start? Wishing you a clean sweep—a year which exceeds your every expectation—and a year of health, contentment and rest.
Happy New Year!
Let's end 2020 on the right note: clean, handsome, well-designed. And (why not?) appropriately festive. This set of six cocktail glasses, made in the 1940's or 1950's, tick all the right boxes. Their platinum banding gives a handsome punctuation to an otherwise down-to-earth silhouette. And, most of all, they're clean. Let's start the new year fresh, clear and unblemished. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
There's a certain time of the day—best described as "just before sunset"—when the sun is low on the horizon and the light couldn't be better. The sun throws off a warm, rosy, almost-liquid glow; everything looks at its best. That's my favorite time of day.
These glasses, made in the Twenties, are beautiful just as they are: softly-faceted, tulip-form bowls sit atop long and elegant stems. The crowning touch is an iridescent, golden wash. The set of six is perfect for cocktails or champagne. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Though the Manhattan cocktail was invented in the 1870's (in NYC's Manhattan Club, for Winston Churchill's mother), they are much-associated with the post-war Fifties—a time when small, mixed drinks of many kinds were served in glasses like these. These four crystal glasses have sparking, ridged stems. And the glass rims (and feet) are ringed with platinum—which gives them a crisp finish and actually protects the glass edges from chipping. Perhaps you'll want to make this New Year's Eve an old-fashioned celebration. If so, please click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere—and you've already finished all your work—you shouldn't be golfing right now! But you certainly may dream of springtime and a happy return to the links! And these Double Old Fashioned rocks glasses from the Sixties will help keep you in the mood. A stop-action golfer illustrates "The Basic Swing" to keep your form in tip top shape. And the refreshing green and white graphics will tantalize you with thoughts of warmer weather. But make sure you finish your work first!
While it's not-quite-New-Year's, is it too early to start planning for "The Big Flip"? I, for one, will be thrilled to see 2020 (and all its tragedy) through the rear view mirror! And what better way to welcome January First than to have a (very small) celebration on New Year's Eve? These handsome crystal coupes, made in the earliest years of the Twentieth Century, were mouth-blown by the talented artisans at Bryce Glass in Western Pennsylvania. The bowls are softly-faceted, giving them a classy touch of sparkle. The stems have been cut into tapering obelisks—ending in a bright, ruby glass foot. One can appreciate the handmade quality of these coupes by comparing the different glasses to one another: each has...
At the time this box was made, in the 1890's, most middle class British households (where a box like this might have lived) would have employed at least one or two live-in servants. Naturally, the maids, cooks and footmen (if a house was really fancy) would be expected to work on Christmas Day, serving their employers. Thus came "Boxing Day," the day after Christmas and the traditional date on which servants would receive their "boxes" (containing gifts or money or both) and have their day off. To this day, England (and the other Commonwealth countries) celebrate Boxing Day—not so much as a day off for servants but as a national holiday for all. The English Arts & Crafts brass candle box, shown above, was...
In 1995, shortly after I opened my first shop on Bleecker Street, I found an Italian importer from whom I purchased this pair of angel sculptures. They are cast and carved terra-cotta, finished with a colorful polychrome finish. I knew that they were not old—and that's all I knew. They spent the fall sitting atop the shop's fireplace mantel and, on Christmas Eve, I put them into the window. They were price-ticketed and available for purchase; alas, no one seemed to want them. For the next two years they made their annual Christmas Eve pilgrimage into the shop window, still for sale—but, to my surprise, they remained unsold. I had several price inquiries, but no one seemed willing to take...
This stately elephant sways patiently while waiting for payment. He's a turn-of-the-century cast iron coin bank, still showing traces of his original gold paint. Click on the photo above to learn more about him.
American sculptor Cyrus Edwin Dallin (1861 – 1944) was born in Utah and grew-up around many Native Americans, children and adults. He developed a sympathy to their history and their difficult plight. Dallin created a cycle of four sculptures portraying mounted Indian horsemen. His masterpiece, “Appeal to the Great Spirit,” was cast in Paris and unveiled at the Paris Salon of 1909—where it won the gold medal. It became popular immediately—especially in America—and the image has been used everywhere from advertising to album covers. Smaller copies of the work have been made and installed across the country. One version is part of the White House’s permanent collection and was used to decorate President Clinton’s Oval Office. The original was installed in the forecourt of Boston's...
Some 85 miles north of London stands Peterborough Cathedral, one of the great churches of Britain. Principally built between 1118 and 1237, this English Gothic masterpiece stands on the site of an earlier church, founded in 655. Saints Peter, Paul and Andrew look down from the three central gables, appropriate as the cathedral's official name is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew. The church was originally a Catholic house of worship. When Henry VIII "dissolved the monasteries"—thus stripping the churches of their precious objects and banning Catholic worship—it was converted to an Anglican cathedral. But Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had already been buried in the church—and remains there to this day. Later, the Scottish...
A most handsome holding-place for your umbrella or walking stick! Bold graphic bas relief will bring period architectural detail to your entry hall. It's made of ceramic "yellow ware" finished with a high-fired pea green "majolica" glazing. Made in the 1920's, possibly by Roseville. It will greet your guests with confident style. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
No lion. Christmas is less than one week away! This jolly lion, posing proudly atop his barrel, has run away from the circus and is looking for a good home. He still wears his original gold paint and will happily guard your coins (he's a bank). Click on th photo above to learn more about him.
Call me an Aesthete. Like those dandies of the Late Nineteenth Century, I do believe in "Beauty for Beauty's Sake." Why shouldn't something look good?
Like a painting: do I really have to wake up to a picture which "challenges" me? Isn't it enough to be moved by a favorite color palette? Or remembrances of a place with happy memories?
"'Tis a gift to be simple" are the first few words of the Shaker hymn, attributed to Joseph Brackett (written in 1848). And it is true: sometimes the simplest things can give the most pleasure—like this simple cast bronze "correlated" (that is, "with petals") paperweight. Years of oxidation have given it a rich, brown patina. But the spherical knob shows the slightly polished result of years of handling. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Jealousy supposedly leaves its victim "green with envy." A clever image and turn-of-phrase, yes, but this green vase has no reason to be envious. Two glazes—a spring green and an aqueous blue—are dappled over the sculpted form of this English Art Deco vase, made in the 1930's. Incised "fiddleheads" sway and curl along the shoulders of the piece, lending just a touch of Art Nouveau embellishment. To my eye, the wonderful and complex glazing captures that ephemeral moment when the seasons straddle both spring and summer. The tender yellow is gone, but the hearty green has not yet taken its place. Click on the photo above to learn more about this interesting and handsome English vase. Though our Greenwich Village...
Sticklers inform us that there is no such creature as an "American Buffalo." Buffaloes, the pedants contend, live in South Africa (as Cape Buffalo) and in Southeast Asia (as Water Buffalo). "Bison," they inform us, are the creatures found "Home on the Range" (with the deer and the antelope). Technically, these spoilsports are correct. Nevertheless, there is a long written record of the word "buffalo" being used to refer to the American Bison—not to mention all the popular songs, images and folktales. For millenia, bison roamed much of North America: Alaska, Canada, the United States, and part of Mexico. But hunting of the shaggy bovids decimated their numbers; the bison population fell from a high of 60 million (in the...
Abingdon Sanitary Manufacturing Company, in Knoxville, Illinois, was founded in 1908 and remains in business to this day. Their initial business was making plumbing fixtures—sinks, toilets, urinals, water fountains—and their exceptional quality made them the gold standard for the industry. They used a dense, heavy white clay (some of it imported from England) which created very durable and watertight fixtures with beautifully smooth surfaces. In 1928, they became the first manufacturer to produce colored fixtures. In 1933, they were chosen to produce all the plumbing fixtures for the World's Fair in Chicago.
The word "Stein" derives from the German word Steinkrug meaning "stoneware jug" (stein = stone and krug = jug). Despite the name, German steins have been made of many different materials over the years: wood, ceramic (stoneware), glass (crystal), or metal. And, while they originated as simple, uncovered drinking vessels, today we think of the classic stein as being highly-decorated and covered (usually with a metal lid). That lid became popular in the 1300's—during the Plague—in order to keep fleas and flies (believed to transmit the bubonic bacteria) out of one's beer.
In old glass factories, where craftsmen were making objects out of colored glass, any broken pieces, scraps or bits of leftover glass would be tossed into a pile called the "slag heap." Every now and then, the artisans would scoop-up a shovelful of this random, mixed-color glass for use in making a one-of-a-kind art glass piece—perhaps a bowl, a lamp shade, or a sheet of flat glass to be used for a stained glass window. Such one-off pieces of glass were called "slag glass."
Although our Holiday gatherings will be smaller this year, need they be less jolly? This set of eight rocks glasses, made in the Seventies, will bring a seasonal flair to your gathering—no matter how small. Whether used for milk (and cookies), eggnog, or something a bit stronger, the bold red and green "stained glass" lettering will remind you exactly which season you're celebrating.
One more day! Hanukkah begins tomorrow night!
Blue, silver and white, the classic colors of Hanukkah. I have always loved this color combination. It's clean. It's wintery. And it's a sophisticated alternative to the classic red and green which is associated with Christmas. For me, it's become a "holiday palette cleanser," so to speak. So from where (and when) do the Hanukkah colors derive?
As wonderful as these cast iron bookends from the Twenties are, the camels they depict are even more remarkable creatures! Their ability to survive in harsh, arid climes have earned them the nickname "The Ships of the Desert."
There are two basic varieties of domesticated camels: the single-humped Dromedary Camel found in Arabia (94% of camels) and the larger two-humped Bactrian Camel of Central Asia (Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan). Camels were first domesticated around 3000 years BC—and have been a reliable source of milk, meat and transport ever since.
On a sleepy Sunday morning, 7 December 1941, 353 Imperial Japanese airplanes approached the US naval base of Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. Without warning (or any declaration of war), Japan attacked the US at 7:48 am. By the next day, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt would declare war on the Japanese Empire, thus entering America into World War Two. Three days after that, Germany and Japan would both declare war on the United States (though they had no treaty obligation with Japan to do so). While Japan was attacking the Hawaiian installation, it was also attacking other American and British military sites in the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong. The Japanese goal was to disable the US...
"If you're going though Hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill Remember national leadership? Admittedly, 2020 was a tough year. But it was hardly the worst year in human history. In fact, it was not even the worst year in American history. And yet, we still pine for the days when our national leader would actually . . . well . . . lead. One could do worse than to study Winston Churchill for lessons in leadership. His famous saying, quoted above, didn't paint a rosy picture. Churchill didn't try to distract, dissemble or deceive. Churchill didn't tell the British people that they were "rounding-the bend." He acknowledged the challenges they faced and told his people to push-on. People find comfort...
Evocative of the flaming ball of fire in the summer's sky, the swirling "molten" orange and yellow glazes on this English Art Deco vase seemingly throb with heat. Sculpted "fiddleheads" (or are they solar flares?) encircle the shoulders of the vase, adding additional movement to the piece. It was made by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian in the Thirties—though it does seem to reflect both the Arts & Crafts and the Art Deco aesthetics. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
With Christmas but three weeks away, perhaps a little "hostess gift" would help make your season bright. This set of six highball tumblers are decorated with a handsomely illustrated Victorian Christmas tree. A gold band rims the top of each glass—which is not purely decorative, it also helps to protect the glass from chipping. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
At the heart of The Eternal City lies the "Forum Romanum"—an expansive, sunken field of remarkable (though ruined) temples, arches and remnants of other ancient buildings, most over 2,000 years old. The Roman Forum was the center of life in the bustling ancient city, the place where government activity, judicial trials, mercantile trading, even gladiatorial events competed for space cheek-by-jowl. And for five centuries (from the Renaissance to the present), the Forum has provided rich inspiration for artists, architects and designers, each seeking insight into the timeless, classic beauty of a romanticized past.
When I buy a set of vintage glasses, I always aim for a group of at least six (and preferably eight). But, every now and then, I find a set of four glasses which is so nice—of such good quality—that I cannot bear to pass-them-by. So here we are: behold a set of four crystal wineglasses with hand-cut radiant notching and faceted balustrade stems. The "ring" is beautiful—and the crisp quality of the leaded glass is beyond dispute. So, for those people of good taste who live in small homes, here's something you may like. Click on the photo to learn more about them. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well!...
Although winter is still three weeks away, one wouldn't know that by looking outside my door! I was greeted this morning with four inches of snow and a 28º chill. Neither the cold nor the snow stopped all day long. Already I'm asking myself, "How am I going to make it through the winter (once it comes)?" Today is the First of December—a month whose birthstone is the turquoise. Turquoise has been prized for thousands of years—first by the Egyptians, then the Chinese and the Persians, later the Aztecs, and eventually the Native Americans of the Southwest United States. The name derives from the French word for "Turks"—for it was through Turkey that the first turquoise came to Europe from...
The Art Nouveau Movement sprung-up in many different countries around the world—mostly within a three decade period (about 1890 through the Teens). In general, the different "schools of design" (which had different names in different places) marked a decisive break from the prevailing popular style—and relied on greater handcraft, "honest materials," and simplified, organic design. Some of these movements originated with a social, political, or national philosophy. But the Art Nouveau aesthetic was also utilized in some commercial-scale production (a seeming contradiction, given the earliest roots of the movement). In Germany, the Art Nouveau aesthetic was called Jugendstil—the "Young Style" (or the "New Style). Like its other Art Nouveau cousins, the German version utilized materials in their natural form (like...
I have always liked matte white pottery and keep a personal collection myself—on the wide windowsill over my kitchen sink. The simplicity of color contributes a fresh and clean look without appearing industrial or sterile. And the form of each piece can be appreciated clearly, without the optical effects (or distraction) which darker colors sometimes contribute. When assembling a white ceramics grouping, some people are sticklers for maintaining the purity of one particular shade of white—be it cool, warm, bluish, pinkish, or yellowish. I appreciate this discipline, but am a little more relaxed about my personal grouping. I find that, once you have enough pieces, a "palette" of whites can look wonderful together (within a controlled range). For example, if you...
Occasionally, I'll uncover something which I have never seen before. I will know nothing about its age, maker, or place of origin. I'll have no intellectual reference by which to value it. But I will recognize something of quality—and a little voice which says, "Don't put this back." This bowl is just such an item. I found it at a house auction in nearby Ohio. It is clearly Modernist in design. The weight of the crystal and the quality of the hand-cutting are superb. And the peach colored crystal is sublime. Is it something from the Modernist Period? Or is it something made—indeed, well made—recently (or even today)? I'm not a glass expert, nevertheless, I acquired the piece. Whether it's recent or vintage,...
Today is Black Friday, the so-called "Biggest Shopping Day of the Holiday Season" (more about this later). My first "professional" Black Friday was in 1985 as a 22 year old, brand new department manager at G. Fox Department Store in Hartford, Connecticut. The tables on my "pad" (retail speak for the carpeted area that defines the boundaries of a department) were piled-high with sweaters and poly-knit turtlenecks—all marked down from $28 to "the magic price point" of $19.99. It was a whirlwind season for this recent college graduate. I spent my time just getting through the day: helping old ladies find their sizes, filling-in new merchandise, keeping the cash registers humming, and marking-down new items as panicked buyers (in the...
Wishing you a bountiful harvest and hoping you have much to be thankful for.
Despite the challenges of "these times," I am grateful for numerous blessings—large and small—which grace my life: my home, my family, friends and customers.
Thank you for being a part of my many blessings!
Christmas is but one month from today! Enter three "wise men"—following a star, seeking the truth, bearing their gifts. Though we usually envision the "kings" carrying grandly theatrical and precious canisters (holding the gold, frankincense and myrrh), in truth, the travelers probably carried caskets or covered vessels that were far more modest—like the copper canister shown above. Though humble, this canister exhibits the skill of a talented artisan—who hammered the piece freehand, from a single ingot of copper, using only a hammer, tongs and an anvil. No mould or form was used—just a variety of hammers with differing peens—and the craftsman needed to 1) raise the piece from the ingot, 2) create a balanced form in the correct shape, 3)...
We're now two-thirds of the way through Autumn—and the temperature is really starting to decline. It's time to finish putting-away my plants for the winter, to cut back anything that will hibernate through the cold and (hopefully) come back next spring, and to turn-off the water sources to outside spigots and hoses.
Embrace the chill in style with this English Arts & Crafts "thermometer plaque." While the mercury thermometer is Dutch-made, the hammered-brass plaque is pure English Arts & Crafts (c. 1900). Summery cherry branches bear fruit and leaves—reminding us that Summer does come back every year.
Siena, in the heart of Tuscany, is known for many things: Saint Catherine (Doctor of the Church), the annual Palio horserace (in the city's expansive square), the grand Cathedral (completed in 1263), and, of course, the coveted honey-caramel Siena marble, used to make the bowl shown here.
Siena marble is hand-carved into this handsome (and heavy) Italian bowl—fashioned in the shape of a scalloped seashell (often an attribute which identifies Saint James). Use it as a handsome solution for holding business cards, clips, candies, cigarette ashes, or even the contents of an emptied pocket.
A stand of trees punctuates the misty, hand-painted landscape on this Arts & Crafts style stoneware plate—framed with a crystalline, dark green glazed border. It is signed indistinctly and appears to be the work of a talented artist in the somewhat recent past (the last 40 years?). While it's probably not an antique, it has wonderful style and great glazing. Until I ship it, I'll be keeping it on my Stickley coffee table—surrounded by green Arts & Crafts "siblings," all about 100 years older.
The base of this Edwardian English desk bell is solid cast brass. But the dome—the "musical part"—is cast of polished "bell metal" which is a variety of bronze which produces a beautifully resonant "ding!" It was made around 1910 and would have sat on a hotel reception desk or a smart shop counter.
This little ceramic pup is begging, "Pretty Please!" He knows that there will be a presidential inauguration just two months from today! Frozen in anticipation, he's waiting to bark with glee when his candidate sails-through. But expect a howl if his vote is overturned.
This little terrier was modeled by Danish sculptor Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. This pup, bearing a date mark of 1980, was designed years earlier. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Most pairs of bookends comprise two interchangeable members—two bookends from the same mould, modeled identically. This was a concession to ease and expense (and usually worked just fine for most purposes). But, when a bookend maker wanted to take things to the next level, they created a "mirrored" pair of bookends, like the Bisons shown above. To make a mirrored pair of bookends required a lot more work—at every stage of design, production and handling. First, two different models needed to be crafted (one facing in each direction). Likewise, two different moulds needed to be made and maintained. Then, as the bookends were finished, packed and shipped, it was not enough to just grab two bookends; rather, a pair had to...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. Let's end with LEO—or, rather, two LEOs! Our 44th President (indeed, a LEO) beams, surrounded by a frame decorated with stylized "Lion's Claws." It's one of the heavier frames in the collection, designed with substance and gravitas. Click on the photo...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. This frame style, surrounded with a twisting "rope" border, is the first style I ordered for the shop. It is such a classic—and always perfect for your photo of an "outdoorsy" scene, anything nautical or a handsome son or grandson. Click on...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. If you're looking for a subtle, understated frame, this option may be your best choice. While the frame design does nothing to compete with the photo (in fact, it rather recedes), it is certainly not boring (see the detail shot, below). And,...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. This handsome "Checkerboard" frame is both classic and quite modern. It has a crisp and orderly border design which is fashion-forward and, yet, timeless. This example shows a 3" x 4" size (though other sizes are also available). Please click on...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. The Art Deco period may be the high-water mark of commercially-produced photo frame design and manufacturing. Such classic Deco style takes center stage in this frame—crisply-ribbed & beaded and punctuated with corner scallops which draw the eye centerward. Click on the photo...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. The heavily-ribbed "Spring-form" border on this frame gives it a substance and seriousness—anchoring your photo with handsome elegance. Amongst our frames, this is one of the "heavier" offerings (in weight and in visual presence). Please click on the photo above to...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. The string of pearls which surrounds this frame, gives an air of understated glamour to any photo within it. Like the gentle lights surrounding a backstage dressing mirror (or the chaser lights on a theatre marquee), the design hints at Twenties celebrity—but...
This week I am sharing some of my favorite pewter photo frames with you. Sadly, the New York City workshop which designs and produces these frames is closing after 40 years of quality manufacturing. As of today, I still have a nice assortment of styles and sizes, though, alas, I will no longer be able to replace the pieces as they sell. Click here to jump to the LEO Design "Frames" offering and scroll downward to the pewter frames. I'll buy anything with a simple, crisp "Greek Key" motif on it! I consider it the handsomest of graphic elements—whether on a building, interior moulding, etched on glass, or cast on a handsome frame. To me, it is the perfect combination...
Though the news isn't uncommon, it is always unexpected and heartbreaking: another one of my beloved vendors is going-out-of-business. This time, it's my favorite frame-maker. As a merchant, it's thrilling enough to find a high-quality product—made to exacting, old-time standards—but when that item happens to be manufactured in New York City, well, that's wonderful, indeed! After 40 years, Ruth and Constantine Elias are closing-up their manufacturing workshop in Queens, New York. For the last 25 of those years, they were nearly always my highest-volume vendor source (and always in the top three). Their frames were in my store on Day One, on my first day of trading in August of 1995 (on Bleecker Street). As LEO Design got bigger and more...
After months of campaigning (65 months, by my count), what could be more refreshing—more palette cleansing—than a nice fresh, green piece of Arts & Crafts pottery? And here it is. Made by Weller in the early Twentieth Century, it boasts that classic American Arts & Crafts matte green glaze—natural, calming, restorative. What could be more delightful right now? Think of it as a nice crisp salad after two weeks of buffets and dessert tables. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Yesterday, just before Noon (US Eastern Time), the election was called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The POD (Party of Democracy) will take the White House in January!
There's a chance that the losing side, the GOP, will attempt to confuse the legitimacy of the results or sue-their-way to delaying the awarding of office. This could have terrible results for the nation; in the midst of a pandemic, it's important that a new administration is brought-in by the outgoing administration in order to come-up to speed before Inauguration Day. May "The Good of the Nation" become everyone's greatest goal.
