One of England’s best-respected glassmakers was James Powell and Sons. The company started in 1680 as Whitefriars Glass in a section of London which formerly housed a Carmelite monastery (The Whitefriars, from which the neighborhood got its name). In 1834, wine merchant James Powell bought the glassworks. Though he knew nothing of glassmaking, Powell wanted […]
Summer’s here! And nothing says summer more than Blue and White! Here’s a sensational English piece, hand-thrown in the 1930’s by Edward Thomas Radford for Pilkington Royal Lancastrian. One can still see the soft, horizontal ribs left behind by the potter’s fingertips. And the soft, white glaze has a wonderfully tactile quality—one just wants to […]
Welcome to July—and its birthstone, the Ruby. The ruby is considered “The King of Gemstones.” It is amongst the costliest of gems and is believed to attract wealth and good fortune to those who wear them. They also represent love, health and wisdom. Alas, we are out of rubies! But we do have this bold […]
I’ve been acquiring a lot of English Art Deco ceramics lately so I wanted to share something made here in the U.S. Shown above, a piece of Roseville with the mottled blue Tourmaline glaze. It was made in the Thirties and has a crisp, sculptural, architectural design. This particular Art Deco shape was glazed in […]
Ah, Downton Abbey! How I miss my weekly fix of British propriety (laced with scandal). Perhaps what I miss most is observing the hide-bound manners of the English aristocracy (and the just-as-rigid manners of those who served them). The Victorians and Edwardians loved their accoutrements—there was always a tool or object for everything, especially when […]
When I found these brass bookends in England recently, they did not make me think of Halloween. Instead, I was reminded of the the many great British illustrated children’s books from the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries—the Golden Age of children’s literature. Artists like Walter Crane, Randolph Caldecott, Kate Greenaway, Howard Pyle, Beatrix Potter […]
Most pewter-clad boxes I find fall clearly into an Arts & Crafts or an Art Deco column. This one is slightly different; the hand-tooled design seems folk-inspired, however sophisticatedly stylized. It’s a glove box, from the 1920’s, and it would be perfect for modern use on a desk or at bedside to hold small, precious […]
Sometimes a little bit of luck can’t hurt! Maybe this sterling silver wishbone will push things over the finish line. Made in California, this little sculpture makes for a thoughtful “good luck” wish—and a reminder to give thanks for lucky moments in the past. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. […]
The Scots love their stones. Durable, rustic, handsome; like the Scots themselves, these stones are at once attractive and, yet, humble. Naturally adorned. Not necessarily precious. I never get tired of Scotland and I never get tired of collecting these Late-Nineteenth or Early Twentieth Century pill boxes. Although they are best reserved for lighter duty—on […]
Ah, those were the days. Simple days when keeping order was so much more…achievable? And every possible need was satisfied in a stylish manner. Take the French ceramic comb dish, shown above. It would have sat upon a man’s (or woman’s) dresser (vanity) holding his comb between uses. It may have been part of a […]
Very handsome, very British. A hand-hammered pewter box with hinged lid and rope trim. Perhaps it was a cigarette box or part of a bigger desk accessories collection. Or maybe it was a tea caddy and part of an Arts & Crafts tea service. Whatever it’s past use, its modern uses are numerous: business cards, […]
All right. Sometimes bigger is better. And this pair of Victorian English brass candlesticks (c. 1860’s – 1880’s) would make a wonderful statement on your beautifully-laid table. These are just one sample of many newly-acquired items, now on-line at LEO Design. And more items—recently collected in England—will be posted to the on-line store in the […]
In the past, I’ve typically associated nice candlesticks with big candlesticks—or at least heavy, substantial candlesticks which make a strong statement on a beautifully-laid tabletop. This recently-acquired pair, however, is actually rather smallish, just under seven inches tall. And yet, despite this modest stature, they still have something to contribute in terms of presence, proportion and […]
Sunny France! Like a ray of holiday sunshine from the Côte d’Azur, this hand-thrown and hand-painted ceramic vase fairly vibrates with summer radiance. It even evokes the lemony citrus which grows along the Mediterranean coast. Only, this piece was not made along France’s southern coast. It came from just outside the city walls of Paris, […]
Fresh from England: a nice quality small, round, bevelled mirror with a hand-hammered brass repoussé frame. In the manner of the Keswick School of Industrial Arts or the Glaswegian (Scottish) aesthetic, this British Arts & Crafts mirror is surrounded with a scrolling, stylized grape vine motif—complete with clusters of fruit and leaves. Useful as a mirror, it […]
Happy Father’s Day—to my wise owl and to all the wise owls out there! To celebrate the occasion, a pair of bronze-clad owl bookends from the 1920’s. They were made in New York City of sculpted plaster, then electroplated with a solid bronze “skin,” patinated and painted. They will add an air of wisdom and […]
Why should mothers have all the fun? For the teetotaling dad, perhaps an English Arts & Crafts hand-hammered pewter tea service: teapot, water pot, creamer and sugar bowl? Made in the late 1910’s or early 1920’s, they are fitted with heat-resistant polished Bakelite handles. They are but a portion of many Handsome Gifts just brought-over from England […]
Today’s journal entry melds our trip to England last week and next week’s Father’s Day celebration. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks in England, scouring the country for Handsome Gifts. The final carton has been delivered and we’re scurrying-about to clean, price and photograph the items for listing on our on-line store. Many of these items […]
For those of you following us on Instagram, it’s known that we’ve been on a two week buying trip to England—and have now returned, laden with Handsome Gifts for our discriminating customers. The last carton has now arrived and the items are being cleaned, priced and photographed as quickly as our little hands will allow. Part […]
Feeding a young child can be a challenging experience. Why, it’s so much more fun to just play with the food! And, perhaps, this has always been the case. To help encourage a little eater, an Edwardian English parent (probably a mother, possibly a nurse) used this handsome “Baby’s Plate” to quicken the task. Buried […]
Schools of design come and go—sometimes they evolve, sometimes they just expire. And major world events (or changes) can precipitate the start (or end) of an aesthetic movement. The Arts & Crafts movement had a glorious couple of decades which began in the late Nineteenth Century and (pretty much) ended with World War One. Such […]
Another Father’s Day idea: a set of six “Olde World Map” highball glasses, perfect for dad’s retro cocktail. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, they depict the tattered parchment of a time-worn world map—perhaps from the Renaissance or the Age of Exploration. Finished in 22 karat gold trim, they will bring a touch of handsome […]
Father’s Day is nigh. Perhaps your book-loving dad would appreciate a little poetic inspiration in his library? Here’s Dante Alighieri—perhaps the world’s greatest poet—alongside his muse, Beatrice. The pair of bookends, made in the 1910’s or 1920’s (in New York City), are bronze-clad and then polychromed (hand-painted in multiple colors). To learn more about them, […]
For the dad with taste and an appreciation for craftsmanship, here’s an idea: a damascened plate, possibly from Toledo, Spain. Damascening—named after the luxurious damask fabrics from the ancient Syrian city—is the inlaying of a (usually) precious metal into another, more common metal base. Intricacy and precision are the watchwords—and the plate above ticks all […]
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James The American novelist, Henry James, spent time in England. Perhaps it was here that he enjoyed the best of possible “Summer Afternoons”—out in the English countryside. There is something incomparable to the gentle warmth […]
Florentine poet, Dante Alighieri, found himself on the wrong side of a local political dispute. After backing the wrong party, he was banished from his beloved home city-state on point of death. He moved to Ravenna, some 65 miles away, where he lived and continued writing. It was during his banishment that he crafted […]
Everyone remembers the Spanish Armada—which is funny, considering that Spain lost the altercation. Spain launched its Armada of 130 vessels in 1588 with the goal of overthrowing England’s Queen Elizabeth I. Spain had several reasons for the attack. First, Spain had never accepted Elizabeth as the legitimate heir to the British throne as she was […]
What says spring better than bright, happy colors? These sterling silver cufflinks are enameled in sky blue—which lies over machine-turned guilloché work. And when summer arrives, don’t fret: these handsome links will sail with you right into the regatta season. Please click on the photo above to learn more about these cufflinks. LEO […]
Careful observers know that LEO Design has pulled-up its New York stakes and moved 375 miles west—to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is a rich and interesting city. Though its industrial heritage is (mostly) a memory, the gritty, practical and physical nature of the city lives-on. Pittsburgh attempts no pretense beyond its nature; what you see is […]
I’ve received a shipment of European art pottery recently—and as I clean, price and photograph everything, I will share them with you here and on Instagram (leodesignhandsomegifts). Shown above, a handsome French Art Deco piece from the 1930’s. Architectural “steps” are softened with an organic, dripping, crystalline glaze. Made by Pierrefonds, this vase looks sensational […]
When I visited Norway, it was in June—the perfect time to be there. It was the time of “The Midnight Sun.” Although the sun would dip below the horizon, the ambient light remained. Upon going to bed, I’d notice the corona of light around my hotel room’s curtains. If I got up in the night, […]
I really like these bookends and for so many reasons. First off, I love books—and, therefore, I love bookends by association. Secondly, I love lions; I am a Leo and even named my business after the sunsign. And, interestingly, they remind me of my little pup, Benji. Every morning, once he’s crawled out of bed […]
Yesterday, we shared a pair of antique bookends which featured an American Indian chief. While not strictly Arts & Crafts, the bookends would compliment nicely any Craftsman interior. Likewise, the American Art Deco vase, shown above, is inspired by the shape of American Navajo ceramics. It was made in the 1930’s—somewhat after the Arts & […]
Although these handsome Indian Chief bookends are not strictly Arts & Crafts, Native American elements always look great within American Arts & Crafts interiors. It was common—throughout the Western world—for designers and craftsmen to incorporate into their work the ancient history, culture or folklore of their native lands. The English used Medieval literary characters; the […]
The Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik—or WMF—is a German metal workshop founded in Geislingen an der Steige in 1853. Geislingen is a village “on the rise” (an der Steige) of a mountainous trade route through the Swabian Alps. Although the village is many centuries old, it really grew in the mid Nineteenth Century when a railway was built […]
This ice bowl—made in the 1960’s—has a decidedly earlier, Aesthetic Movement sensibility to it. The Aesthetic Movement, popular in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century, often used Japanese graphic elements in a “cut and paste” manner. Of course, Japanese style much-influenced late Nineteenth Century Western artists—in fine art (Impressionism), in music (The Mikado, Madama […]
One of the first acquisitions I made—after moving to Pittsburgh—was this handsome pair of slightly-ruffled owls. These bronze-clad bookends were finished with a brassy wash and hand-painted. They alighted and, just as quickly, they were gone! I like them so much, though, that I thought I’d share the photo nevertheless. Please check-out our on-line store […]
Most bookends are a pair of identical metal sculptures: two identical dogs, two identical temples, two identical busts. One bookend sits at one end of the collection, the second sits at the other end. Much less common is a “mirrored” pair of bookends—a duo which face each other (as mirrored opposites). These are less common […]
Scottish icon, Robert Burns (1759 – 1796), is captured in this dashing pair of bronze-clad bookends from the 1920’s. Voted “Greatest Scot” (ever) by his fellow countrymen (in 2009), the Eighteenth Century farmer-poet wrote in both English and the Scots language—often adapting age-old folk songs as he did with “Auld Lang Syne.” He died […]
I didn’t see it at first. In fact, it was long after I bought these glasses, cleaned them, photographed them and posted them to the LEO Design on-line store that I recognized the coincidence. They bore the color scheme—black and gold—of my newly-adopted city, Pittsburgh! The city’s flag, not to mention the Steelers, Penguins and […]
I thought that the hot and dusty drive from Alexandria to Giza was long and tiresome. What of the poor Sphinx who has been enduring the Egyptian heat and sandstorms for some 4,500+ years? The Great Sphinx of Giza was carved right into the bedrock of the quarry which supplied the limestone for the nearby […]
Is it too early for Father’s Day? The one time I picked-up a golf club, things didn’t end well—for me or the grass underfoot. So it’s with great surprise that I find myself so smitten by this grouping of golf-related barware. Maybe it’s the wonderful “stop action” illustration of “The Basic Swing.” Perhaps it’s the […]
Chow Chows are one of the “Ancient Breeds” of dogs which still survive. They originated in the frigid steppes of Siberia and Mongolia and were eventually trained to serve as guard dogs in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and Chinese royal palaces. Referred to as “Fluffy Lions,” they are thought to have been the original models for […]
The rustic aesthetic and Gothic Revival inspiration on this hand-hammered Arts & Crafts copper tray brought to mind a simple country bungalow or a Cotswolds cottage. No, the shopmark informs me, this piece was made in New York City! A real showpiece, it would be perfect as a functional tray, as a centerpiece on your […]
As a boy, I was always intrigued with Saint George. I was mesmerized with the action-filled depictions of the brave (and handsome!) Knight—mounted atop his rearing steed—thrusting his lance (“Ascalon”) into the writhing Dragon. As I got older, and began to understand the story as a metaphor for good conquering evil, I loved the story […]
I love everything I buy. After all, what’s the point of being a shopkeeper if you aren’t “keeping” things that you like? Sad to say, I spend more waking hours with my merchandise than I do my spouse! So choosing just one “department” (or category of merchandise) to call “my favorite” is a difficult task—and […]
Although I am no expert in Middle Eastern decorative arts, I know what I like when I see it. And I view early Twentieth Century Middle Eastern metalwork much the same way I view European Art Nouveau copper and brass works: an achievement of handcraft—using simple, honest and timeless materials—which is both practical and beautiful. […]
History’s two greatest poets—Medieval Florentine Dante Alighieri and Ancient Greek Homer—stand proudly in-profile on this pair of heavy cast iron bookends by Bradley & Hubbard. Dante was the author of The Divine Comedy, in which he is given a tour of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise (lead by the Roman poet Virgil). Homer is known for The […]
A little handmade treasure, just-in from England: a tiny Arts & Crafts copper pitcher with brass banding. While it wouldn’t accommodate a satisfying drink, it would be perfect for a few pens on your desk. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design’s Greenwich Village store is now […]
The English Arts & Crafts Movement (like other Nouveau Movements around the world) utilized botanical elements, sometimes in highly-stylized new ways. This round brass tray, made by Joseph Sankey & Sons, is embellished with grape clusters and leaves, entwined with their “whiplash-form” vines. It sits on three ball feet. It is perfect for serving tea […]
Loyal customers of LEO Design already know that we have pulled-up stakes and moved West. We are headquartered now in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, operating out our our new (old) Tudor Revival home. Built in 1906, it’s the perfect setting for our Handsome Gifts and home furnishings. And we continue to sell on-line. In the next few […]
Today it becomes official: LEO Design has a new and permanent “World Headquarters!” On a tree-lined street near the University of Pittsburgh, we have secured the house of our dreams—with space for an office and plenty of room for merchandise. In the basement, the wood-paneled Servant’s Hall will become my workshop and showroom for cleaning, […]
Standing on the sidewalk before my (soon-to-be) new home in Pittsburgh, I marvel at this wonderful 1930’s Gothic Revival (and Art Deco-ish) architectural masterpiece, the University of Pittsburgh’s “Cathedral of Learning.” Like the Empire State Building, it was opened in 1931—when it hosted its first class in one of its 2,000 rooms. It stands 535 […]
For the past 23 years—which is just a touch longer than LEO Design has resided in Greenwich Village—this has been the magnificent view which greeted me out my living room window. It never got old. Today I gazed wistfully at the scene one last time. Just an hour before, we had closed the sale of […]
Twenty-two years ago, I opened a little shop on Bleecker Street. I had no idea what I was doing. I had little idea of what I liked. And I had no idea how long this gambol would continue. What I did know was what I wanted to do: I wanted to sell “Handsome Gifts.” I […]
Time and Tide wait for no man. And the economic laws which lay-heavy on small shops (like mine) never lighten for a minute. Like with gravity, one can fight the inevitable (for a while) but, sooner or later, Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” will knock you off the table. Tomorrow is our day. It’s been a […]
The moving truck comes tomorrow morning. The boxes are (mostly) packed and the shop fixtures are arranged by the front door. In two days, I’ll set-sail for new (and exciting?) shores. If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by and say goodbye. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please […]
Over the past three weeks, I’ve been blessed with visits from my most loyal and supportive customers. At some point, they ask, “How are you handling the closing?” My response is always the same: “If I weren’t so busy closing-up, I might have time to feel a bit wistful.” In three days, when I turn […]
Four days to go. Why not beef-up your art pottery collection? With LEO Design closing in four days, all merchandise is now 50% off. Please come into the shop and treat yourself to something special (and on-sale!). LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please visit the store (or website) where […]
With five days left before LEO Design closes its door, we’re frantically trying to pack and help customers—and, boy, are there a lot of customers! Sales have been brisk; it’s like Christmas in January! All merchandise is marked-down 50%, including what remains of our antique frame collection. Please come into the shop to find yourself […]
It’s our last week at LEO Design; our brick-and-mortar shop will be closing on 31 January. A few treasures remain—and everything left is now marked-down (in-store and on-line). Please come-in or check-out our on-line shop. You’ll find something cool, like this pair of bronze-clad Pirate bookends shown above. LEO Design will be closing its […]
As I approached (and overtook) my 50th birthday, I started noticing that print was getting smaller and smaller! Why were printers continually decreasing the font sizes they were using? Well, I discovered a handsome and practical solution: magnifying glasses! Shown above, two such examples. Come-in and see them. They’re now 25% off. All merchandise (in-store […]
On this day next week, the trucker comes to pick-up the store fixtures (and any remaining merchandise) and drive them to my rented storage unit in Pennsylvania. Save his (and my) back by shopping at LEO Design—where everything is marked-down. All merchandise, on-line and in-store, is now at least 25% off—and many things have been […]
Before we close our doors, we want to go-out with a bang! All merchandise (in-store and on-line) is marked-down—from 25% to 75%. Please come in and, perhaps, get yourself that late Christmas gift—now on-sale. But hurry; merchandise is moving fast. Shown above: bronze sculptures of a mare and her foal. LEO Design will be […]
Not too much time left—this weekend will probably be the last chance to find a full assortment of merchandise in-store. We’re selling a lot and starting to pack. And all merchandise—in-store and on-line—is now marked down (at least) 25% (and some even more). Here’s a cast iron owl paperweight from Japan—now on sale! LEO […]
LEO Design has never had a sale before—until now—and, boy, are we busy! Because we are closing on 31 January, we have marked-down all merchandise (in-store and on-line). Please come-in or check-out our on-line shop. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please visit the store (or website) where all remaining […]
Like the handsome feline sculpture above, our customers have been pouncing on great buys at LEO Design—where everything (remaining) has been marked-down (both in-store and on-line). Please come visit us or check-out our on-line shop. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please visit the store (or website) where all […]
When I use the term “secession,” I am usually referring to the turn-of-the-century Austrian design school “Secessionism.” This month, secession takes on a new meaning: LEO Design will be succeeding from its Greenwich Village home of the last 22 years. Please come-in and see us before our 31 January closing date. All merchandise is on-sale. […]
Our world is spinning—as we serve an onslaught of customers while trying to pack. Our 31 January closing date looms large! Meanwhile, everything is marked-down (in-store and on-line)—including these three handsome globes. Please come-in or check-out our on-line store. LEO Design will be closing its doors on 31 January. Please visit the store (or […]
A sea of blue vintage art pottery awaits—and it’s all on sale. Alas, we are closing our Greenwich Village store. Thus, all merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—making it the perfect time to buy a little something for yourself (by which to remember us). Some store merchandise is marked 50 – […]
It’s been a while since I fit into my Cub Scout uniform—but I do remember the motto: “Be Prepared!” And, indeed, this little Boy Scout sculpture is prepared to take up residence on your desk, bookshelf or mantlepiece. Please come in and see him. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now25% off—and some merchandise is […]
A great (and handsome) gift for the (one day) boat owner in your circle—a set of 26 nautical blocks which display the letter, the NATO alpha-phonetic code, the semaphore signal, the maritime flag which symbolizes each letter and the morse code. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—making it the perfect […]
Things have been very brisk since we announced the pending closure of our brick-and-mortar store in Greenwich Village. Despite the excitement, this Canadian bronze snail continues his slow and careful pace. Come in to the shop to see him. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—making it the perfect time to […]
Who says America doesn’t make anything anymore? In fact, these handsome pewter frames (electro-plated with 18 carat gold) are hand-crafted right here in New York City! A good range of styles and sizes still remains—although (at 25% off) they are going quickly. Please come into the shop to see them and their un-plated brethren (which […]
Tomorrow I make my first truck-run to storage—in Pennsylvania where I’ll begin stashing unsold merchandise until I’ve reinvented. While I hope to sell as much as possible (during our closing sale), I also realize that I will need good stock to begin the new LEO Design venture—and I’m extra-partial to certain items like this English […]
Although I love this bull—sculpted in stoneware by Danish artist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen—the other kind of bull has left me depleted (and we haven’t even reached Inauguration Day!). Buy him now, before we close our store, and get him for 25% off. Please come into the shop to see him or click on […]
From afar-off Japan, a little bronze penguin, finely cast (see his feathers?) and cold-painted by hand. He’s enjoying the cold snap now visiting us here in New York City. And he’s one of the many Handsome Gifts still in-stock and now on-sale at LEO Design. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—and […]
Art pottery has always been a LEO Design strong suit—and we still have many beautiful pieces. Please come in to see our collection—all on sale. All merchandise (in-store or on-line) is now (at least) 25% off—making it the perfect time to buy a little something for yourself (to remember us by). LEO Design will be […]
The Epiphany is a Christian holiday commemorating the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles, traditionally told through the story of The Three Magi. The holiday is also called “Three Kings Day” and some Christian denominations exchange gifts on this day. In England, the evening before Epiphany (5 January) is called “Twelfth Night” and Epiphany is […]
To everything there is a season. And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to build-up, a time to knock-down. A time to dance, a time to mourn. A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together. The season has passed—twenty-two of them, in fact. And so, […]
“Boy, am I glad that’s over!” Today LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til 6:00 pm. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
Maybe it’s much too early in the game, Ahh, but I thought I’d ask you just the same: What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve? A classic never gets old, especially when it’s sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Nor will this set of six crystal coupes ever betray their years; they’re timeless classics, year […]
Pure crystal perfection—to help close-out one year and introduce another. Fine quality crystal is blown into the classic (and timeless) champagne coupe design. Made in the Sixties, these glasses are not just great for champagne; coupes are very popular for mixed drinks and special craft cocktails. Please click on the photo above to learn more […]
Vintage American crystal—blown with gently-curving bowls—is finished with a fine, hand-painted rim of gold. The gold band is not simply decorative; the metal provides a protective edging which helps prevent chipping. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, these coupes are perfect for either champagne or mixed drinks. Please click on the photo above to learn […]
Though we may raise a glass to punctuate a festive holiday moment, let’s not forget that a handsome serving tray can really underscore the sentiment. Shown above, an Arts & Crafts hand-hammered, silver-plated tray by the New York City metalsmith Apollo. The soft, reflected light will make really put your glasses on-stage—and make the most […]
Although these coupes exhibit great restraint and no fuss—a simple smokey crystal bowl tops a handsomely-facetted stem—they are not dour, cold or authoritarian. Instead, they offer a blend of stately modernity and classic elegance. Think of them as the crystal version of a tailored Tom Ford suit. Please click on the photo above to learn […]
In England (and the Commonwealth Countries), the day after Christmas —”Boxing Day”—was the traditional day 0ff for servants. In the aristocratic world of Downton Abbey, servants were expected to serve their families on Christmas Day. They received their “boxes” and celebrated the holiday on the 26th. In the (less-aristocratic but, nevertheless, tasteful) world of LEO […]
Another Christmas is here—and there’s a new year waiting right around the corner! This has been our 22nd Holiday Season in the neighborhood. Where has the time gone? We are grateful for the support of our many wonderful customers. Wishing all a joyful and restful Christmas. May 2017 be a year of unexpected happiness. Today […]
And a Festive Christmas Eve! Wishing our Jewish customers a happy and healthy Season of Lights. May 2017 be a year of patience, growth and wisdom. Today LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til 8:00 pm. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
“Damascening” is the art and craft of inlaying one metal into another, creating a delicate, decorative effect. Most often, a precious metal (like silver or gold) is laid into a darker metal (like copper or bronze) to create a contrasting pattern—as with the plate above. Damascened items are usually decorative and include jewelry, plates and […]
Imagine a Nativity Play—staged during the Art Nouveau period—where the three magi bear their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in beautiful hand-painted Dutch boxes such as this. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s, the bowl is covered with a lid which bears a stylish, hand-painted floral graphic. Perfect for a desktop, dresser or coffee […]
Celebrate the winter season with this pair of crisp white enameled cufflinks. Made in the Art Deco 1930’s, these sterling cufflinks have a machine-turned guilloché pattern beneath the glassy enamel overcoat. And if you think they will look great on a blue shirt peaking-out from under a grey sweater, wait ’til you see them next […]
For centuries, The West has been intrigued by “the inscrutable East”—and never more so than during the late-Nineteenth Century Aesthetic Movement period. British merchants shipped boatload after boatload of Japanese and Chinese treasures across wide and dangerous seas in an attempt to sate the Western appetite for beautiful and mysterious Asian goods. The French Impressionists […]
Head for the Highlands with this set of four tartan rocks glasses from the 1960’s. Generous double old fashioned tumblers are perfect for your favorite swig—be it egg nog or a single malt. Go on! Make Robert Burns proud! Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til 10:00 […]
Prepare for The Season of Lights with this cast bronze Modernist Menorah. Sculpted in the American Midwest, it will see you through the eight days of Hanukkah in style. Please come into the shop to see it in-person or click on the photo above to learn more about it. Happy Holidays! Today—and daily […]
Our cast bronze Rocketman has just touched-down—and climbed-down from his cast aluminum rocketship (which is also a bank!). The space ship has the early Twentieth Century riveted look of a Jules Verne travel craft. It will make a nice aesthetic statement in any modern or vintage setting. And it provides a great place to start […]
This little guy—a baby elephant—is a doorstop and was made of cast iron from the 1920’s. He trumpets to his mother—while never leaving his post (right beside your open door). Please click on the photo above to learn more about him. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon […]
Modernist by way of folk craft—this Bitossi Italian ceramic vase is hand-incised and finished with a blend of green and blue glazes. Let it whisk you away on an imaginary Mediterranean escape—while it sits on your desk, table or mantelpiece. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til […]
I’ve bought and sold many pieces of Dutch pottery over the years, most of them painted with stylized floral motifs. On rare occasion I’ll find a piece with a graphic pattern—like the pair shown above. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s, they have a handsome (and oddly whimsical) Secessionist design—hand-painted in blues, browns, mustard and […]
