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During the Art Nouveau (and Arts & Crafts) period, there was a premium placed on the craftsmanship—not simply on the sum value of the materials used. As such, good Arts & Crafts objets express a pleasing aesthetic and reflect a skilled artisan’s talent. Shown above, a pair of English “artglass” cufflinks with matching stickpin, made around […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part X
“Torpedoes” of swirling red agate are chained handsomely on this pair of Victorian Scottish cufflinks from the 1890’s. They are but one of several dozen newly-acquired pairs of vintage cufflinks at LEO Design. They are now in store and ready for your perusal. Please come into the shop to see them in-person—where you’ll find the […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part IX
Enameled waves of periwinkle and navy stream across the faces of this pair of English Art Deco cufflinks, one example from our recent shipment of newly-acquired vintage cufflinks, now in-store. To learn more about them, please click upon the photo above or come into the shop to see them in-person. You may also peruse the […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part VIII
British jeweler Charles Horner (1837 – 1896) was known for his exquisite (and expensive) Art Nouveau enameled jewelry from the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries. His sons carried-on with the business after Charles’s death and the company branched into other products like silverware, table ware and clocks. But jewelry and wearable accessories were always […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part VII
Bold blocks of red, black and royal blue enameling scream “English Deco” from the faces of these English Art Deco cufflinks, made in the 1930’s. They are part of a large collection of newly-acquired vintage cufflinks, now in-store and ready for your inspection. Please click upon the photo above to learn more about this pair […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part VI
Polished Baltic amber cabochons are set into 875 silver gilt mountings on this pair of Soviet-era cufflinks, hallmarked 1921 – 1958. Please come into the shop to see the entire collection or click on the photo above to learn more about this pair. Or, check-out our on-line shop (under Cufflinks) to see many of our vintage […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part V
A striking pair of French Art Deco cufflinks epitomize the Twenties Jazz Age. Graphic black and periwinkle enameling pops (with sophistication) from the chromed faces of these handsome reminders of swinging times in the City of Lights. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this pair of peruse our on-line shop (under Cufflinks) […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part IV
These classic, Georgian-style cufflinks are fashioned of polished purple quartz cabochons—though they were made a bit later, in 1920’s England. They are part of a new collection of English vintage cufflinks, newly-acquired and now in-store. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this pair of come into the shop to see the […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part III
Argyle moves upwards—up from the ankles, onto the wrists—with this pair of English Art Deco cufflinks from the 1930’s. Black and white enameling brims within a checkered metallic grid making a handsomely understated accent on any well-dressed wrist. Please click upon the photo above to learn more about this pair of cufflinks—or check-out our on-line […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part II
Here’s a handsome pair of cufflinks, part of our newly-acquired collection of vintage cufflinks now in-store. Creamy mother-of-pearl faces (centered with a little “seed pearl”) is encircled with navy enameling and mounted in gold-plated settings. Very classic, very handsome, very British. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this pair or check-out […]
New Vintage Cufflinks – part I
We’ve recently received a large collection of vintage English cufflinks from the 1910’s through the 1950’s. Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing a sampling of them with you. Please check out the LEO Design on-line shop (under Cufflinks) where all of our new acquisitions have been posted. Shown above, an alluring pair of English […]
The Best and the Worst
Fifteen years on. It was a day on which everything changed. And, yet, some things have not changed at all. Is it possible that our worst day brought-out our best? On that day—and perhaps for a few days that followed—Americans were united as one people. But oh, what a price to pay for that unity.
French Drip
Languid rivulets of crystalline, cornflower blue glazing trickle down the sides of this French Art Nouveau vase by Pierrefonds. Its classic, Chinese form—fascinating to Fin de Siècle Westerners—is enlivened with the high-contrast two-tone glazing. It would be just at-home (and impressive) in a cool Modernist or warm Arts & Crafts environment. Please click on the […]
Strength, Intelligence & Beauty
Aren’t scales smart? In animals, scales are the protective, bony plates that grow out of the creature’s skin. Scales are also used in human armor. In both cases, scales are meant to protect the animal within—while allowing him maximum ease of movement. Big, stable areas (like a snake’s belly) have fewer, larger scales—sometimes stretching from […]
The Strength of a Nation
It’s Labor Day, an occasion to recognize and thank the men and women who—by the strain of their backs and the sweat of their brows—have (already) made our country great. There was a time—even in America—when heroic male nudes were used in art, monument and architecture. With a tip of the hat to the Classical […]
Flipping the Switch on a New Age
On this day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped the switch at his Pearl Street electrical generation plant, thereby electrifying one square mile of lower Manhattan—59 customers in all. Having invented and patented the electric light bulb two years earlier, Edison had turned his attention to creating an electric delivery infrastructure to compete with similar utilities […]
Honest Abe
Though I’ve found and sold many different Abraham Lincoln bookends over the years, I have never seen this pair before. Made in the 1920’s or 1930’s, they still retain quite a bit of their original paint—making for a handsome and useful addition to any library, desk or bookshelf. Please come into the shop to see […]
Blue September
September begins, bringing with it the month’s birthstone: the sapphire. The sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Most people think of sapphires as blue although they also can come in shades of green, yellow, orange, or purple—but not red (for then it would be a ruby). Some sapphires display more than one color and […]
Still Hot After All These Years
In my home state of Hawaii, the volcano Kilauea has been active lately and its lava has by now flowed all the way to the sea. Photos of the molten rock—liquid, orange, angry—show glowing, fiery streaks of the over-heated earth-core, still hot from the Big Bang, 4.6 billion years ago. Shown above, a West German […]
“Pooled Glass” Permitted
When I first heard the term “Pooled Glass,” I was suspicious. I wondered whether it might be the type of smug and pretentious Collector Speak which I typically avoid (earlier known examples including “Alienware,” “Eastlake” and “Fat Lava”—each a term never used by the designers/craftsmen of the period to describe their creations). With a little […]
Sardonyx Redux
Attentive readers already know that August’s birthstone is the Sardonyx, an extremely fine volcanic crystalline quartz—which presents as irregular bands of (colored) “sard” and (white) “onyx.” The stone is usually found in shades of brown, red or yellow. The sardonyx of the Edwardian Scottish pillbox, shown above, was likely dyed blue before it was cut, […]
Swig in Style
It takes nearly as much effort and expense to cast an ugly bottle as it does a beautiful one. This was my thought while pouncing upon this Edwardian English flask during my last trip to London. The swirling glass brings a wonderful tactility to the flask and the cross-hatch effect gives endless movement to it […]
Fly Me to the Moon
About a year ago, I started a new color collection of antique and vintage art pottery—ceramics glazed in highly-textured neutrals: whites, browns and greys. As the collection grew and evolved, I began to appreciate the grouping more and more. And it has proven to be a popular collection sales-wise, too. Shown above, a piece by […]
Seeking Handsome Beauty
For at least the last 100 years, the adjective “Handsome” has been reserved only for describing men or masculine objects. Prior to that, it was a frequently-used description for a certain type of woman, a woman of sense and substance. A “handsome woman” meant a female who was good-looking, yes, but also healthy and strong—clearly not […]
Summer Afternoon
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James Let’s savor the final weeks of summer with this particularly summery collection of Roseville Tourmaline art pottery. The mottled blue glazing—which remind me of a Frank Benson summer sky—seems restful, gentle and, sadly, fleeting […]
When Cultures Meld
Pure cultures can be fascinating. Even more interesting, in my opinion, is when cultures blend—creating a wholly-new and sometimes beautiful creation. Architecture, food and even people are often very alluring when they express the features of multiple, melded backgrounds. What could be more English than a tea caddy? Sure, many other cultures valued, stored and […]
The World Goes ‘Round
This piece of 1960’s Italian pottery has the reassuring sensibility of the Art Deco which preceded it. First the spherical ceramic form was cast, fired, and then painted with its soft blue glaze. After that it was placed atop a revolving surface and lines of colored glazes were applied to the spinning orb. Made in […]
Leaning Forward
I buy plenty of Mid-Century art pottery—ceramics made in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. It was a period when ceramics production boomed in Germany, Italy and Japan. After World War II, the “victor” countries (the U.S., England and France) found that their rising wages made it hard for high-production ceramics workshops to compete with the […]
Danish Silver
Occasionally, while hunting for cufflinks, I come across a piece of women’s jewelry which catches my eye. As long as it’s affordable, more “handsome” than “fussy” and doesn’t involve sizes, I’ll sometimes buy it. The example above, Danish Modernist from the 1960’s, has cabochons of onyx, milky quartz and moonstone set into a 925 sterling […]
The Party of Lincoln
Remember when a president's nickname might be . . . flattering? What would “Honest Abe” think of his political party today? Would he vote? Would he abstain? Would he switch parties? I suppose trying to answer these questions requires a bit of conjecture. What is true: Abraham Lincoln is widely-considered America’s favorite president and possibly its greatest.
The cast iron bookends, shown above, were made in the 1920’s and still retain some of their original hand-painting. Please come into the shop to see them in-person and, perhaps, spare a thought for his election year predicament.
Old Bayeux
One might think that the hundred-year-old English Arts & Crafts box (shown above) is old. The inspiration for its carving, however, is many, many times older. The box is inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, a 230 foot long embroidery made in the 1070’s. It was commissioned to celebrate the Norman Conquest during which the English king, […]
Roseville White
Though I’ve bought and sold all types of matte white pottery over the years, I have always been especially fond of those pieces made by Roseville (Ohio, USA). Their sculpted shapes are beautiful, the ceramic forms are always nicely-finished, and the matte white glaze has a soft, beautifully-tactile quality to it. The collection above was […]
Well-Suited
Get ready for Poker Night with this sweet suite of Seventies suits—six rocks glasses from the age of Mad Men. Please come into the shop to see them for yourself or call us for additional information. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
Warm Neutrals
Over the past several months, I’ve been building a nice collection of ceramics glazed in what might be described as “warm neutrals”—soft browns, warm whites and gentle greys. Rich in texture, some are reminiscent of clouds, some of coral, and some the craters on the Moon. They are Modernist without being cold, sterile or self-important. […]
New English Receipts – part XV
We end our little parade of newly-acquired English items with this English Arts & Crafts brass pen tray. Made about 1900, it is stamped with an exuberant assortment of stylized botanicals. Intended to hold pens or other desk accoutrements, it would also be perfect at bedside to hold rings, bookmarks, collar stays or a small collection of […]
New English Receipts – part XIV
Before the age of instantaneous—and ceaseless—electronic communication, a token of loving remembrance was a welcomed and cherished gesture. The little pin, pictured above, was just such a gesture. Made in England in the first part of the Twentieth Century, it might have been given to a woman by her beau—perhaps to mark “the next step” […]
New English Receipts – part XIII
Amongst my recent finds in England: a set of eight (plus one) silver-plated cocktail stems, circa 1950. They are modesty-sized, perfect for today’s lighter mixed drinks—or also suitable for a pre- or post-prandial nip. And you’ll never have to worry about your guests shattering them! Please come into the shop to see them in-person or […]
New English Receipts – part XII
We sell a lot of men’s cufflinks at LEO Design. They are the perfect “Handsome Gift” for stylish men. They’re interesting, functional, and small enough to be easily transported. Furthermore, any man who collects cufflinks will appreciate a new, different and handsome pair to add to his collection. We’re asked—occasionally—if we sell jewelry for women. […]
New English Receipts – part XI
Never again fret, “However shall I serve my olives or cocktail onions?” Now, in Edwardian oaken style, you may dispense with that (particular) dilemma. An oak “barrel,” affixed with silver-plated brass mountings, is fitted with an interior ceramic crock to hold your cocktail (or other) condiments. A silver-plated bident (yes, this is a word) serving […]
New English Receipts – part X
Wrist watches were invented as early as the Elizabethan period; history tells us that Queen Elizabeth received a wrist watch from “Her Special Subject” Robert Dudley in 1571. It took a long time for them to catch-on, however, and it was mostly women who wore them—and few at that. Men continued to wear pocket watches […]
New English Receipts – part IX
Welcome, August! And a warm welcome, also, to one of its (two) birthstones: Sardonyx. Sardonyx is a banded variety of Chalcedony—a “crypto crystalline quartz”—which is a volcanic silica with extremely fine crystals, too fine to see. Sardonyx was first discovered by the ancient Greeks in what is now modern-day Sicily and it has been used decoratively […]
New English Receipts – part VIII
What it is about English Art Deco that I find so appealing? Is it the “smart, sensible style”—stately, yes, but not superfluous? Is the the image of a young, future queen serving tea to her dogs? Or is it the thought that the British Art Deco period marked a “happy bubble” in the all-too-short time […]
New English Receipts – part VII
Before the Twentieth Century, most homes did not have many books. It was the well-educated (and mostly rich) who could afford the luxury of a home library (think Downton Abbey). But with the post-War rise of a middle class—which had the money and propensity to collect books—a modest home library became more common. For this […]
New English Receipts – part VI
We’ve been sharing some of our newly-acquired items, just brought back from England. Everything is now checked-in, cleaned-up, priced and put-out on display. Please come into the shop to see these new and beautiful items. In the meantime, we’re sharing a few selected pieces here in our Journal. Shown above, a Scottish Arts & Crafts […]
New English Receipts – part V
The Victorians (and the Edwardians, who followed them) loved their accoutrements. From asparagus tongs to celery vases to velvet-boxed sets of fish knives—the aspiring middle classes of the late 19th Century had a utensil or receptacle for every possible type of food. And, though most of those fish knives sat permanently in their velvet boxes, […]
New English Receipts – part IV
Anyone who shops in LEO Design knows that I like collections. Collections of red pottery. Collections of brass frames. Collections of Thirties glassware. Now, it seems, I have a collection of blue Mid-Century glass. Purchased from a collector in London, some of the pieces shown above are Venetian and some are English. Come into the […]
New English Receipts – part III
I collect a lot of cufflinks—and continued to do so on my recent trip to England (stay tuned, photos coming!). In the course of hunting for these cufflinks, the occasional piece of women’s jewelry catches my eye. It’s usually more “handsome” than frivolous and it often has a strong sculptural dimension. I’m especially fond of […]
New English Receipts – part II
Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing some of the new finds from my recent English buying trip. Shown above, a strong and handsome Victorian English Gothic Revival oak box with brass strapwork and studding. Made in the 1880’s, it is lined with a (now) gently-worn fabric interior. It captures—in woodcraft—all the seriousness and […]
New English Receipts – part I
Last month I completed a successful buying trip to London. The result: fully-stocked shelves of Handsome Gifts as only the English know how to make them! By now (finally!) everything has been spiffed-up, photographed, priced, arranged and is ready for your closest inspection. Many of these new finds already have been posted to our Instagram account […]
Welcome, LEO!
Today, 23 July, marks the first day of LEO. It is also the shop’s (ceremonial) 21st birthday and the third anniversary of our website and daily journal. And, have I mentioned, it’s my birthday? LEO’s are proud, loyal and love a good show. While they do have (a few) flaws, let’s leave those aside for […]
One Fish, Two Fish
In 1874 Germany, just downstream from WMF on the River Fils, the brothers Fritz and Robert Fischer opened a metalworks in the village of Göppingen (Baden-Württemberg). It was a good time for German metalsmiths—especially those who produced in the popular Jugendstil aesthetic. Although the behemoth (WMF) was just twelve miles upstream, there was room for […]
Sixties Stag Party
And you thought Mad Men was over! Not quite yet. Shown above, a Danish Modern stoneware plaque by sculptor Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Made in 1968, it was intended as a decorative object to hang upon the wall or it could be permanently mounted within a larger ceramics installation. On the plaque, two playful bucks cavort amidst a […]
Teddy’s Return
Every year, in preparation for the Holiday season, I select and order a single stuffed bear to sell in the shop through the autumn and Holiday seasons. I’ve done this for twenty-one years—with a slight modification last year when I found a stuffed lion to commemorate our twentieth anniversary. Shown above, this year’s Holiday teammate—who […]
Why Use Several Words When Just One Will Do?
The Germans are a practical people. In industry, government or home-management, they seem to appreciate the most-direct route between two points. Their language reflects this sensibility as well: long words are created by simply sticking-together a series of smaller words. Case in point: the three English words which make-up “Metal Ware Fabricators” becomes (in German) […]
A Fair Breeze Blows
Like that silly internet phenomenon which asked, “What color is this dress?”, this newly-acquired West German floor vase has proved to be a bit of a Rorschach Test in the shop. While I see fluffy clouds against a wonderful (sky) blue sky, others on staff insist that the glaze portrays courses of waves traveling toward […]
A Final Swig of Summer
If all this talk of summery beach scenes has made you thirsty, perhaps you could use this set of six “Anchors Aweigh!” glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Each glass has two navy blue anchors, encircled in a navy ring and the rest of the glass is frosted. Perfect for a drink on the beach […]
(Even) Bigger and (Even) Better
Today we show you more of Dan Durkin’s latest greeting cards—now in-store. It’s a part of his Summer Beach series. Shown above, a starfish and a lobster. Besides these, we also have (in-stock) Dan’s NYC architectural landmarks and his songbirds series. And, come 1 November, we’ll have a large assortment of his Christmas and Holiday […]
Bigger and Better
Artist Dan Durkin is one of the nicest guys you could know—and he was once a LEO Design staffer, too! After graduating from art school, Dan worked at the shop before moving-on to bigger and better things. But we’ve kept a part of him back here in the shop, in a way. He designs and […]
The United Nations
In the aftermath of World War II and its devastation, the world’s leaders sought a means to prevent such conflicts in the future—and decided to create the United Nations. Multiple sites were considered, including Flushing Meadow, in Queens, site of the 1939 World’s Fair. When a development project in Manhattan (along the East River) fell-apart, […]
Italian-American
Rosenthal-Netter was an American import company who, after World War II, brought to America boatloads of tasteful Modernist decorative objects from Italy—principally ceramics. Rosenthal-Netter was in direct competition with Raymor, another successful American importer and both used some of the same Italian designers (for example, Aldo Londi) and factories (for example, Bitossi) to produce their […]
Sauvage Nouveau
When we think of Art Nouveau, we often think of whiplash curves, stylized floral motifs and a refinement of craftsmanship—lightness, elegance, delicacy. But the Art Nouveau also had a more rustic—more brutish—offshoot. Like the Belgian Art Nouveau pitcher, shown above, this heavier aesthetic is seen most often in architecture (and especially its tile or ceramic […]
A Cocktail Revival
Some things never go out of style: classic champagne coupes, tumblers or wine stems. Other things, like rocks glasses, pulse with popularity—selling a little more this year and a little less the next. And then there are those things which come back only now and then—like cocktail glasses. Classic cocktail glasses are selling well—the result […]
Willowy
In the late 1700’s, English ceramics-makers were mastering the new “transferware” technology—by which engraved (or painted) patterns could be quickly, easily and cheaply printed onto mass-produced ceramicware. Ceramics manufacturers like Minton and Spode began to create their own (Westernized) versions of the highly-collectible, very expensive, hand-painted blue and white Chinese porcelain which had previously been within […]
Happy Independence Day!
Toast the holiday in Capitol style with this set of four Red, White and Blue rocks glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Bold bands of the tricolor celebrate the American Flag—or 35 other national flags including Russia, France, Samoa, Taiwan, Malaysia, Nepal or the (dis-?) United Kingdom. Americans celebrate this day—the day on which the […]
The Alligator Eye
Staring-out from this piece of 1970’s Modernist ceramics is an alligator’s unblinking eye—the work of world-famous Ecuadorian artist Eduardo Vega. Born in Cuenca, Ecuador in 1938, Vega was steeped in his country’s long ceramics-making culture well before studying art in Spain and France. After returning to his home country in the 1960’s, he was commissioned […]
Squirrel Crazy!
I just took my seven year old niece to Washington, DC. We saw the White House, the Capitol, the National Zoo, the Lincoln Memorial and the Museum of Natural History. What did she like best? The squirrels! My niece, who was visiting from Hawaii, had never seen one of the restless rodents before. She put […]
Ruby Red
Welcome, July, with your sun, your surf, and your brilliant red rubies—the birthstone for the seventh month of the year. Rubies are one of the four most-precious gemstones: rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. In fact, sapphires and rubies are just different color variations of the same stone, Corundum. It’s the presence of the element chromium […]
All Elephants are Lucky!
Some people can be so unreasonable! There are the superstitious amongst us who believe an elephant MUST have his trunk extended upwards or they want nothing to do with him. Not only is this conviction unscientific, but even real elephants don’t keep their trunks permanently extended. To require the poor creature to hold-up his (heavy) appendage […]
Salt Glazing
The Medieval Germans invented salt glazing by accident—when a ceramics-maker ran out of fuel for his kiln (in mid-firing) and all he could find (quickly) were some broken pickle barrels to chop-up and throw into the kiln. Apparently, the salt from the barrel’s wood reacted with the clay being fired, resulting in the lightly textured […]
Dance, Putti Dance!
Remember when a baby’s naked little bottom was a symbol of innocence—when two year olds would pose for a snap on a bearskin rug and cherubs could fly around Baroque rooms without raising questions or suspicions? Today we keep our antennae attuned to any possible impropriety involving children (and that’s good). Nevertheless, we might have […]
An Octopus’s Garden
When I think of Ruscha West German Modernist art pottery, I usually think of vases—vases with wonderful dripping, complex and organic glazes. Until I found the plaque above, which shakes-up my concept of Ruscha. Here sea grasses sway, anchored in a bed of blooming anemones, while bubbles bobble to the surface. Brown lobes of coral […]
Hidden Treasures
Ravenna is a fascinating Italian city—discreet, yet wonderful. At first glance, it appears to be a rather unadorned, plain brown city. But oh, how Ravenna keeps her charms under wraps! Historically, Ravenna was very important—first as the seat of the Western Roman Empire, and later as an important part of the Byzantine (Eastern, that is, […]
Tray Perfection
I think this is the perfect tray! It was crafted in the 1910’s in Meriden, Connecticut and will reside comfortably within either an Arts & Crafts or Art Deco aesthetic. First the tray was fashioned in brass. Next it was hand-hammered, then electroplated with silver. It can hold six large-bowled coupes or eight smaller glasses—and […]
Secession Procession
When I first laid eyes upon these Secessionist brass candelabra, I felt a profound conviction that they had been used as altar sticks in a church—either in the early Twentieth Century or Bauhaus period. Their simplicity, their out-stretched arms, and their tripartite design all nudged me to imagine them in a sensational (though understated) 1909 […]
Otto Gerharz
Otto Gerharz was a chemist and glaze master who worked for Ruscha Keramik. In 1951, he developed Ruscha’s famous “Vulcano” glaze, most frequently found in a burnt orange color. Along with Kurt Tschorner (who designed many of the company’s shapes), Gerharz helped make Ruscha one of the better, cutting edge production potteries of the German […]
Matte White
Within my diverse matte white pottery collection, my perennial favorites are always those made by Roseville. The shapes are beautifully designed and the pieces are always nicely-cast. Most impressively, the satiny matte white glazing is always so satisfying—both to view and to hold. And while the shapes were also glazed in other color ways, I […]
Multi-Faceted
Although this set of eight Bavarian crystal cocktail stems are from the 1960’s, they still retain a classic, earlier-period sensibility. The stem and foot are crisply faceted and the bowl is rimmed with a platinum edge. Although the platinum rim provides a dash of style, it also adds a practical benefit: the metal edging helps […]
Tray Bien!
I can never buy too many nice trays. Whether brass, copper or quarter-sawn oak—if it can hold a round of drinks, a nice breakfast or a collection of perfume bottles, I want to acquire it. Shown above, an American Arts & Crafts hand-hammered copper tray, circa 1920. Please click on the photo to learn more […]
Happy Father’s Day!
Thanks to all the men who raised us, shaped us, and encouraged us to become our best selves. Shown above, a greeting card featuring a detail from Lucien Baylac’s 1891 advertising poster for the French bicycle maker Cycles Clement. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
Countdown to Father’s Day – part V
Manufacturers have always sought ways to keep their names in front of potential purchasers—especially large industrial purchasing agents. Shown above, a cast iron letter rack from the 1880’s. Made for “Diamond K”—which I think was a tool manufacturer (Kreauter?)—this letter holder would be left-behind by a traveling company salesman. Notes, letters or photos could be placed […]
Countdown to Father’s Day – part IV
Perhaps your dad’s an Anglophile. How about an early Twentieth Century English brass letterknife? A gallant knight stands at-the-read—exactly as he has since he was cast in brass in the 1910’s or 1920’s ($95). Please come into the shop to see him in person or call us for further information. More nice Father’s Day gift […]
Countdown to Father’s Day – part III
Well before Mad Men, stylish Fathers drank their cocktails in something like this—a hand-hammered and sliver-plated cocktail stem made in the 1910’s. Expressing a bit of the Arts & Crafts and a touch of the Art Deco, this set of six cocktail stems remained en vogue from the Teens ’til World War II (Prohibition excepted, of course). […]
Countdown to Father’s Day – part II
For Dapper Dads, what could be better than a handsome pair of cufflinks? Like with ties, natty dressers can never have too many nice pairs of cufflinks in their collections. Here we show a pair of sterling silver Art Deco cufflinks from the 1920’s—with regal amethyst enameling over machine-turned, radiant guilloché work. Come into the shop […]
Countdown to Father’s Day – part I
With Father’s Day at the end of the week, I thought we’d share some of our newly-acquired, Dad-appropriate gift items over the next few days. Whether or not your father was (or is) a mailman, he’s sure to appreciate this (very cool) cast iron coin bank from the 1910’s or 1920’s. The original red paint […]
New European Ceramics – part XII
Let’s conclude our parade of European art pottery with something extra-special. From Belgium, during the period which straddles both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, comes this superb salt glazed vase by Roger Guerin with a custom-wrought iron mounting, quite probably by François Carion. Salt glazing, which was developed in Germany during the Medieval […]
New European Ceramics – part XI
I buy a fair bit of early 20th Century Dutch ceramics, especially from the Gouda region of the Netherlands. And, every now and then, I come across a piece that is just a little different—such as the ceramic covered jar, pictured above. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s—in that nexus of the Art Nouveau and […]
New European Ceramics – part X
At first glance, I skipped over this piece—what I thought was “just another dowdy, brown jug.” But as I purchased other pieces from the collector, my eye kept wandering-back to the dowdy, brown jug. And slowly, the jug began to reveal its charms. I began to warm to its graceful (dare I say sensuous?) shape. […]
New European Ceramics – part IX
The ultramarine blue glazing fairly vibrates with richness on this Scheurich West German “floor vase” from the 1960’s or 1970’s. The name “ultramarine” comes from the Latin “ultra marinus” which means “beyond the sea”—since the original ultramarine pigment came from grinding lapis lazuli brought from Afghanistan (very far away). Because of the rarity of the precious […]
New European Ceramics – part VIII
Among my new favorites is this little grouping of Italian Modernist hand-made ceramics by Fratelli Fanciulacci in Florence. The pieces are clearly hand-built, given the size and weight variation from piece to piece—not to mention the wonderful randomness which comes from this type of labor-intensive, hand-incised decoration. Unfortunately, the company was wiped-out with the flooding […]
New European Ceramics – part VII
Mayan calendar? Pueblo target? Radioactivity warning? No, no and no. Shown above, a piece of Italian Modernist ceramics from the 1960’s with a hand-painted white graphic. The perfect shape of the vase is finished with an interestingly modest, roughly-textured glaze, then finished with white hand-painting—not unlike a super-hip paleolithic cave decoration. It would look equally […]
New European Ceramics – part VI
Like yesterday’s Czech ceramics, made under the influence of the Viennese Secessionist movement, the pair above are also from somewhere within the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, c. 1910. A deep cobalt blue glaze is subtly “punctuated” with metallic bronze glazing, creating an organic, almost botanical sculptural effect. Please click on the photo above to learn more […]
New European Ceramics – part V
Secessionism was the Austro-Hungarian variant on the Art Nouveau movement—a turn-of-the-century design aesthetic which developed in many (mostly Western) countries and cultures. The French had Art Nouveau, the English had Arts & Crafts, the Germans had Jugendstil and the Austro-Hungarians had Secessionism. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was vast—and (circa 1900) Vienna was its glittering seat-of-power. Although […]
New European Ceramics – part IV
While there are many things I like to buy, two things make me extra-happy: nice pieces of pottery with earthy, crusty, red glazing and lidded vessels, suitable for holding one’s precious possessions. The piece above ticks both of these boxes. Made by Ruscha (West Germany) in the 1960’s, there’s a satisfying voluptuousness to the piece—with […]
New European Ceramics – part III
Artists and designers are always looking for inspiration. Oftentimes, aesthetic trends might correlate to the day’s news or to discoveries far-removed from the world of interior design trends. Examples include the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922 which encouraged an Egyptian Revival in the Art Deco movement of the next two decades. Or the […]
New European Ceramics – part II
Recently, we’ve received several large (and diverse) shipments of European art pottery and, over the next several days, we’d like to share some of the most interesting acquisitions with you. Shown above, a collection of “sea tones”—aqua, seafoam, sapphire, even “whitecap.” And not only are the shapes and colors varied, so are the textures and […]
New European Ceramics – part I
We’ve just received several large shipments of European art pottery from various points on The Continent. Over the next several days, we’ll be featuring a few of the highlights—pieces which exhibit the range of our new acquisitions. Please peruse our on-line shop (where some of them have been already been listed) or come into the […]
June Pearls
The birthstone for the month of June is not a “stone” at all. It is the pearl—the mysterious and exotic treasure of mariners—which commemorates those born in the calendar’s sixth month. At one time pearls, which represent purity, innocence and humility, were the most precious of jewels. Egyptian aristocrats were buried with their pearls. The Greeks thought […]
New Frame Designs
We probably sell more photo frames than anything else at LEO Design—frames in leather, wood, pewter, gold-leaf, silver-plate and gold-plate. Thus, it’s always a cause for (at least) a little excitement when we find a handsome, new design. Shown above, part of our NYC-made pewter frames in four new designs: (front to back) grosgrain, lion’s claw, […]
In the Right Place at the Right Time
Made in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the American Modernist pottery shown above was made by Haeger in East Dundee, Illinois. German immigrant David Haeger founded the company in 1871—45 miles from Chicago—on the bank of the Fox River (a rich source of the needed clay). Initially, the company made bricks. In a twist of fate—in […]
Celadon Clouds
Like a celadon bowl on a cloudy afternoon, these Art Deco sterling silver cufflinks exhibit an understatedly-handsome demeanor—all class, no flash. Just a layer of dark celadon enameling over crisp, machine-turned guilloché work. Perfect with any blue shirt! Please come into the shop to see them—and the many, many other pairs of handsome cufflinks—or click on […]