I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I have become quiet partial to ceramics finished with deep ultramarine blue glazes. I’ve been growing my in-store collection which includes the three pieces above, made in the 1960’s and 1970’s by “Hoy” in West Germany. Beginning in the 1850’s, Töpferie Hartwig Heyne (also known as “Hoy”) operated in […]
At first glance, this vase is easily overlooked—with its rather plain, perhaps utilitarian mien. But look closely at the shape with its classical (timeless) curves and perfectly-graduated form. And the glaze, has a sophisticated, visually-textured surface. While the glaze appears sandy, to the hand it feels perfectly smooth. Millions of tiny little bubbles seem to […]
For several months I’ve been growing my collection of “otherworldly” art pottery. I have been on the hunt for pieces which remind me of foreign moons and planets; pieces with interesting glazes—usually in earthy, neutral shades like grey, whites and taupes. They have formed an interesting grouping which expands and contracts as I acquire and […]
Occasionally cool modernism melds with tribal folk art—creating an unexpectedly intriguing (and beautiful) new creation. Shown above, a Scheurich West German Modernist drum-form vase, incised with hand-cut graphics and glazed with a steely-blue high-fired glaze. It has the clean lines of Mid-Century Modernism while retaining the warmth and tactility of handmade folk craft. Please come […]
The glazing of ceramics is both an art and a science—with a heavy emphasis on the latter. So many factors can affect the outcome of the process: the materials used (and their quantities), how the glaze is blended, how the glaze is applied (and how thickly), any impurities (intentional or unintentional) in the kiln, the […]
Like molten lava flowing down the sides of a knuckled bamboo volcano, the swirling red and orange glazing on this Jasba West German Modernist vase conveys motion, danger and change. Please come into the shop to see it in person or call us for further information. See new merchandise first! Follow […]
I was born during the final months of the Kennedy administration—and I proudly call him My First President. Today we have the tremendous opportunity (and responsibility) of picking the next “Most Powerful Person in the World.” Our options are very different and very clear. Vote as though your life (or your child’s life) depended on […]
This little bronze donkey is made in California and he has a little secret. Under each of his four hooves is a letter spelling K – I – C – K. Let’s Kick Ass! Another subliminal suggestion, brought to you by your good friends at LEO Design. See new merchandise first! Follow […]
I found this little fella in Pennsylvania, maybe a year ago. Since then, I haven’t had the heart to put a price ticket on him. No, instead he’s been sitting on the oak filing cabinet behind the sales counter—quietly radiating a subliminal suggestion to every customer and passerby. He was made in the 1960’s by […]
I’ve been loving my matte, saturated, ultramarine blue pottery lately—and have been really building my in-store collection. Add a splash of gunmetal and we’ve got a winning combination! Shown here, a West German piece by Gerhard Bauer made in the 1960’s. Please click on the photo above or come into the shop to see it—and […]
Ruscha has become one of my favorite Mid-Century German potteries. They were a mid-sized workshop—big enough to enjoy some economies of scale but small enough to maintain artistry and craftsmanship. Perhaps the best part, to me, is the wonderfully inventive and beautiful glazes—the work of glaze master Otto Gerharz. He led the company as Artistic […]
When I ride the U-Bahn (subway) in Germany, two things always impress me. First, their are no turnstiles. Passengers are expected to have a valid ticket—and undercover inspectors patrol the trains asking to see them. And second, many of the stations are dressed in handsome—Ultra Sixties—glazed ceramic tiling. The tiling has a Mid-Century-Handsome and strongly-utilitarian, […]
Six days to go. Feeling puzzled? I am. It’s not so much a matter of not knowing who to support; I fell-in behind my 2016 candidate eight years ago—during the tearful “Roll Call of States” at my party’s summer Convention in Denver. I haven’t wavered or even thought twice about who I would support the […]
“Saint” Christopher is not—and has never been—”an official saint.” His history, if he existed at all, is ambiguous at best. Some scholars believe his story may have been confused with that of another third century saint. Some believe he was martyred under the Roman Emperor Decius (in 251). We are certain that he was never […]
Scare the neighbors—and their Trick-or-Treating kids—with this European ceramic wall plaque from the 1960’s. This sculpted, bas-relief “Aries” is a bold and expressive rendering of the zodiac character—who is also a notorious player from mythology and fable. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. LEO Design will be open from Noon […]
To complement yesterday’s Mid-Century highball glasses, here’s a set of six old-fashioned rocks glasses. Embellished with 22 karat gold, these handsome tumblers will add a warm glow to your bar cart—and stir warm memories of exotic ports of call. Please come into the shop to see them or call us for further information. […]
With ten days left before the presidential election, do you feel like getting away? I do! But don’t leave (yet)! You’re needed at the polls! Until then, take a trip around the world from the comfort of your armchair—with this set of six Mid-Century “Old World Map” highball glasses. 22 karat gold highlights give the […]
These Japanese crystal sherry stems have just a blush of pink—enough color to make them interesting with out being overpowering. This set of eight glasses is perfect for serving any apéritif or digestif. They are part of a cache of “rediscovered stock”—cases of mid-century glassware packed away (and forgotten) in a warehouse. When I had […]
I can never find enough lions. Especially on bookends. Especially these bookends! Made in the 1920’s, they capture a regal lion, paws extended in relaxation, but, nevertheless aware that he is always being observed. Let him bring a touch of his royal mien to your office, den or bookshelf. Please click on the photo above […]
My favorite Modernism is that which leans back—to a time of organic forms, natural colors and quality, hand-worked craftsmanship. The Judi Kunst vase, shown above, is just that. First the piece was hand-thrown, signed by the artist, and glazed with the earthy, dripping colors of browns, blues and greens. Besides the fact that it was […]
I spent a good part of the month shopping in Europe—England and Scandinavia, to be precise. One of the “little treasures” I found is this simple, folded brass letterknife, fastened tight with a copper rivet. It makes no pretension at grandeur. It is just a simple, handsome and useful thing. Please come into the shop […]
During the summer, we found a cache of (unused) vintage Japanese crystal stems which had been long forgotten in an abandoned warehouse. We bought the lot, which included the set of cocktail stems pictured above. Though the outer cartons showed 50 years of age, the pristine crystal within was still factory-wrapped and protected by its […]
Although the Autumnal Equinox was over a month ago—and, thus, the days are getting shorter and shorter—I thought we could use a refreshing breeze of summer just gone by. The vase above was made by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian in the 1930’s. It was wheel-thrown by E. T. Radford and is signed with his initials. The […]
It’s brass. It’s Baronial. And it’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen—amongst letter knives, that is. Cast in England around 1920, it’ll make a grand statement on your desk or a fabulous prop in Tosca (she could stab Scarpia with it!). Please come into the shop to see it in person or call us for […]
I bought these bookends simply because I thought they were beautiful—and I had never seen a similar pair before. A little research has yielded quite a lot about the Indo-Saracenic Revival, after which these were modeled. “Indo” usually denotes “of Indian provenance or influence.” “Saracenic” is from a Latin term, coined by the Romans, which […]
The Galgo Español is an ancient breed of hound from Spain, documented as far back as the second half of the Middle Ages. This time period coincides with the Reconquista—that is, the period when Spanish Christians re-claimed the lands held by Iberian Muslims. As Spanish Catholics began to move-down from the more mountainous areas and […]
Ahh, La Belle Époch. “The Beautiful Age.” It was a time of relative peace, economic expansion (for the middle and upper classes), empire (for Europeans and Americans) and wonderful design and craftsmanship. Roughly speaking, the period comprised the final quarter of the Nineteenth Century and the start of the Twentieth Century (until World War […]
I’ve recently received a shipment of vintage European art pottery including the two pieces shown above. They are hefty, wheel-thrown “studio” pieces, from the 1960’s or 1970’s, and are glazed with a handsome blend of blues and tans. Although they are marked by the potter, I don’t recognize the mark—which is incomplete and indecipherable. What […]
Let’s end this little trio of nautical glassware with the set of glasses, shown above, made in the 1940’s or 1950’s. Cobalt glasses are printed with a crisp white sailboat silhouette. Six glasses are accompanied by a small ice bucket, perfect for one tray of ice. Please come into the shop to see them or […]
The perfect accompaniment to yesterdays’s Anchor Rocks glasses: a set of six frosted highball tumblers with navy blue anchors. Together, both sets would make a wonderful statement on your bar-at-sea. Even landlubbers can imagine a summer breeze blowing through their hair as they sip something long and cool from these tumblers. Please come into the […]
Perhaps your boat is already dry-docked for the season. Or, perhaps, if you had a boat, it would already be dry-docked for the season. That’s okay; relive your memories on the water with this set of six frosted rocks glasses, decorated with a navy blue anchor motif. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, these glasses […]
Occasionally I hear stories like this though rarely am I one of the characters. We recently found a stockpile of Japanese crystal glassware, squirreled-away and forgotten in a Southern warehouse. It’s what’s called “New Old Stock,” and it refers to old merchandise which has never been unpacked, let alone used. I imagine it was abandoned […]
Italy’s most famous writer gazes hawkishly from atop his plinth which is styled as a Medieval book. Dante Alighieri (1265 – 1321) finished his epic poem, The Divine Comedy, a year before his death. In it he describes a creative Medieval view of the afterlife as he is taken on a tour of Hell, Purgatory […]
America’s first president has been a wonderful role model in many, many ways—including his example of fine taste and natty dress. Shortly before the conclusion of his presidency (which ended 4 March 1797), George Washington acquired a handsome pair of English enameled gold cuff-buttons from Dickinson & Company. They were purchased by Mount Vernon […]
Let’s end this little parade of newly-acquired Handsome Gifts from England with a hand-hammered and tooled English Arts & Crafts cigarette box, made circa 1900. While the soft wood lining shows signs of its hundred year age, the brass exterior looks as good as new. And, though it came into this world as a cigarette […]
I loved this oak-framed, bevelled mirror the minute I found it! After dragging it through Rush Hour London (on the Tube), I got it back to my hotel where (dang!) it wouldn’t fit into by suitcase. As a result, I had to drag two (huge) suitcases plus a 1920’s English mirror through Victoria Station and […]
I have always loved dogs, though none as much as my little shop dog, Benji. While he sleeps in his crate behind the cash wrap, little vintage canines rest contentedly in the antique display case. In England this week, I’ve added a few more to the collection, examples shown above. A silver-plated brass Dachshund folds […]
I am not a purist when it comes to collecting. I like Handsome Gifts from many periods: the Gothic Revival, Aesthetic Movement, Bauhaus, Art Deco, even (some) Modernism. But Arts & Crafts will always be my starting point—and has been the jumping off point of my collecting for LEO Design. When I find a […]
In Edwardian England, white collar tradesmen—architects, interior designers, shop fitters—would travel to the job site to supervise the execution of their creations. Such men, properly and professionally dressed, would carry a folding measuring stick in their breast pockets or bags—always ready to measure, check, amend, correct. They would have used tools like these, shown above. […]
Here are some more English Art Deco cufflinks, just-purchased during my current buying trip in the United Kingdom. Bold red and black enameling makes for handsome and arresting patterns—sure to bring a touch of confident style to any man’s wrists. And I needn’t mention that a nice pair of vintage cufflinks are always a […]
The elegant piece of pottery, shown above, was made in Gouda, Netherlands, not in England. It’s a real hand-painted beauty, made in the 1910’s or 1920’s, and it has a graceful “Orientalist” shape with applied Art Nouveau decoration—complete with stylized tulips. This piece is one of many Handsome Gifts which I’ve collected this week in England. […]
Besides finding wonderful and handsome gifts for my shop, being in England this week provides me another benefit: I am avoiding the constant scrum of the current political fracas. Though I am, admittedly, a committed partisan, I nevertheless cannot wait for 8 November to come and go. And I’m sure I’m not alone! Finding this […]
My regular clientele knows that LEO Design has an extensive collection of handsome and practical vintage cufflinks—some 800+ pairs. Many of these are from England, mostly from the Art Deco Thirties. I’m currently in England, on the hunt for Handsome Gifts for the Holidays. And cufflink collectors, never fear: I have not forgotten about you! […]
I’m in England this week, on the hunt for Handsome Gifts for the Holidays. I’m always happy to find complete sets of vintage pub dominoes—like the set above. Made of plied bone and ebonywood, they would have helped pub mates while away the hours in friendly competition. They’d be perfect for your post-Holiday family gatherings—and […]
Welcome, October—and your flower the Marigold! The marigold family consists of some twenty “herbaceous perennials” also called Calendula. It originates in Asia, Western Europe and around the Mediterranean. Ancient Greeks and Romans wove crowns of marigolds and discovered the anti-inflammatory medicinal properties of the plant. Indian Hindus consider the flower sacred and use it to decorate altars […]
Although the Bauhaus Movement was rooted in Germany between the World Wars, it wasn’t until after WWII that the aesthetic was free to blossom on an international scale. As wars sometimes do, WWII cleared-away the previous popular aesthetic—Art Deco—leaving the public hungry for “the next big thing.” The clean lines of German Bauhaus had a […]
Speaking of contemporary barware, I’ve been selling a line of Bohemian crystal for the past few years—and very successfully, I might add. Made in Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the collection is stylish, very nicely made and is reasonably priced. I’ve recently added a couple of new decanters to the collection, including the wine […]
I’ve never quite understood the James Bond quote, “Shaken, never stirred.” Of course, in the literal context, it refers to the secret agent’s preference in the mixing of his cocktails. (By the way, Auntie Mame instructs the opposite: “Don’t shake; it bruises the gin.”). Even more confusing to me, however, is Bond’s comment taken in […]
The Greco-Roman World was vast and influential. It spanned over 12 centuries and covered a vast part of the world—from Spain (in the West) to the Russian Caucasus (in the East), from the top of Britain (in the North) to the top of Africa (in the South). Its beginning (and ending) is difficult to clearly […]
Like a prehistoric, amorphous creature undulating in the murky canals of Venice, this hand-crafted glass bowl began its life just outside of Venice—on the complex of glass-making islands called Murano. This series of tightly-packed islands is connected by bridges and lies less than a mile north of Venice-proper. It was originally settled by the Romans—perhaps […]
We end our “parade” of newly-acquired cufflinks sharing something a little different: a set of six Edwardian English shirt buttons, circa 1905. A sea of sapphire blue enameling washes over the faces of these handsome buttons, edged with a crisp and silvery trim. Please click-upon the photo above to learn more about this pair or […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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; 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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, […]
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 […]
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”
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. […]
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 […]
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” […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
