I love brass and I buy a lot of brass decorative accessories. Trays, bells, desk accessories—and, quite often, candlesticks. Sometimes brass is “hot” (as it is now), and sometimes it’s not (as it has been many times in the past). I don’t care—I continue to buy handsome brass objects year in and year out, mostly […]
A wise owl has alighted at LEO Design—atop a pine bough on this Art Nouveau letter rack. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s, he’ll bring both knowledge and style to your desk or bookshelf. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will […]
As the saying reminds us, “A stud in the hand is worth two under the bed.” Keep your shirt studs (and collar stays) safe and sound (an in one place) with these English leather stud boxes from the 1930’s and 1940’s. They also make a great place to keep rings, cufflinks or (on a desk) […]
The more I look at this English Arts & Crafts tray, the more I like it. Its hand-hammered design features a star formed of five Gothic arches, a swirling center point and fields of flowers everywhere else. Crisply executed, the repoussé work appears to jump-forth from the metal. It’s perfect for carrying a round of […]
Over the years, I’ve had many variations on this theme—rings or “links” of metal forming a a round, square or rectangular photo frame. But, 99% of the time, the rings are brass—not copper like the frame above. To my eye, the frames have a vaguely equestrian sensibility. Perhaps the chain reminds me of a snaffle […]
A British fish swims through his undersea domain on this Edwardian English brass letter rack, c. 1905. Let it bring a little peace (and order) to your home desk or office. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. Today—and daily through 23 December—LEO Design will be open from Noon ’til […]
Art Nouveau designers, no matter where they practiced, often tapped exotic, “Orientalist” themes as well as local historical, literary or cultural references. Both of these influences come across (loud and clear) in this Gouda Danish Art Nouveau bud vase from the 1910’s. The shape of the vase—a genie bottle—has Middle Eastern origins. And the tulip, […]
Vesta was the Roman goddess of family, home and hearth—a virgin symbolized by the flame which would burn at her temples throughout the Empire. Her name is believed to be derived from the word “to burn” and her Greek equivalent was Hestia. “Vestal Virgins” were the women dedicated to serving Vesta in her temples. Vesta […]
What happens when a family of Belgian ceramicists open a workshop just across the border, in France? You get the striking vase above, made by Emile Joseph L’Herminé in Orchies, France. The family moved its operations from the Belgian village of Rebaix to Orchies—about 35 miles away. They attracted and hired ceramics workers who had […]
Sip in style—eternal style!—with this set of four Mid-Century double old fashioned rocks glasses. Rome’s landmark Colosseo is wrapped around each tumbler—perfect for whiskey, mixed drinks or even a little flickering votive candle. Please come into the shop to see them or click on the photo above to learn more about them. From […]
We sell a lot of men’s personal accessories including money clips. The example above, made in a small Philadelphia metal smithy, is crafted of annealed bronze—a process by which metal is heated and slowly cooled, thus strengthening the metal and enhancing its ability to hold its bend. But, before it is annealed, the flattened strip […]
A pair of handsome bird dogs stand ready-to-retrieve in this pair of American bronze-clad bookends, made in the 1920’s. Though once considered a “poor man’s bronze,” today, this type of work is quite collectible. First, the figure was cast in a “composite” material—a combination of plaster, resin, and other binders. Then the piece was electroplated with […]
Welcome to December and its birthstone, the turquoise. Turquoise has been mined for some 5,000 years and has had the reputation for being a holy or lucky gemstone. Mines are found in Persia, the Sinai Peninsula, Mexico and the American Southwest. Egyptians are known to have buried their dead with carved turquoise talismans and there […]
Keep your ice cubes tidy and cold in this 1970’s ice bucket depicting a stop-motion golf swing. It’s the perfect gift for golfers—and will have them dreaming of warmer weather to come and precious time on the links. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it or come into the shop to […]
Though you’d rather not break-apart this wishbone, it still is lucky, nevertheless. Cast of sterling silver in California, it is a handsome and sentimental token—a good luck wish and a thoughtful gift. Please come into the shop to see it or call us for further information. From the 5th to 23rd of […]
The season will soon be upon us. Perhaps a handsome (and sizable) stoneware bear might be just the right gift. Large enough to make an impact on any table, sideboard or mantelpiece, this bear was sculpted by Arne Ingdam in Denmark in the 1960’s. Please come into the shop to see him or click on […]
A guilty-looking fox paces tensely just outside the garden gate—in this English brass letter rack from about 1920. He’s part of a recent shipment from England—where I found a large number of Handsome Gifts now in-store. Please come into the shop to see the complete shipment or click on the photo above to learn more about the […]
I buy and sell a lot of jewelry, though it’s mostly of the male variety—and mostly cufflinks. So when I found this sweet sterling silver sand dollar pendant—made by a sculptor whose work I already carried—I thought, “Why not?” It comes with a silver chain and could be worn year ’round. Of course, it will […]
After a flurry of decorating—and a treasured day off—LEO Design is open for the Holiday Season! The set of six crystal cocktail stems, pictured above, have black-smoked bowls which are mounted atop tapered, faceted stems. They are perfect for mixed drinks, craft cocktails or—of course—champagne. They are part of a wide range of vintage glassware […]
Norman Rockwell: “Freedom from Want” (1941-1943) Based on President FDR’s speech. While this image does not look like most American families—it doesn’t look like mine—I believe all Americans can aspire to (and hope for) a Freedom from Want. Wishing our LEO Design customers and staff a Happy and Relaxing Thanksgiving. We look forward to […]
Just as this piece of art pottery blends two different blues, so does it combine the aesthetics of both the Arts & Crafts and the Art Deco movements. The voluptuous, organic shape and natural, matte glazing are right at home with the Arts & Crafts. And the gentle suggestion of lotus petals recalls the Egyptian […]
You’d be surprised how many people ask, “Do you have any keychains?” We always do and I’m always looking for nice, new offerings. This just in: a solid brass loop with a threaded knob on one end. It’s practical (as a keychain should be), simple and stylish. Please come into the shop to see it […]
“TR”—Teddy Roosevelt—seems to be amongst the select group of politicians whom both sides admire. Republicans remind us that he was, indeed, a Republican. Democrats point-out that, were he alive today, he’d be a Democrat. Roosevelt spent his Manhattan childhood as a sickly and cloistered youth who went on to lead an incomprehensibly active life and […]
How about a fun and festive gift for the friend whose boat is dry-docked for the season? Or for the friend who might some day have a boat to dry-dock for the season? Nautical flags wave gaily on this set of four double old fashioned rocks glasses from the 1970’s. Please click on the photo […]
We sell a lot of vintage cufflinks at LEO Design. I’m always on-the-hunt for handsome and stylish examples to add to the shop’s collection. And I could never have too many pairs like the ones shown above. Robin’s egg blue enameling covers machine-turned guilloche work on this pair of Art Deco sterling silver cufflinks from […]
Buying a gift for Father (or a father-in-law) can be fraught. What does one get “The Man Who Has Everything”? Another tie? A new sweater? Solve your problems with this set of four vintage double old fashioned rocks glasses which demonstrate “The Perfect Swing” in artistic stop action. Ideal during the Spring or Summer or—better […]
Although the steely grey glaze gives these vases a cool, industrial sensibility, the impressed cuneiform-like patterning lends a tribal folk art warmth the the pieces. Imagine the pair on a mantelpiece with white, bushy flowers like peonies or hydrangeas. Please come into the shop to see them—and all of our recently-acquired Handsome Gifts for the Holidays. […]
I cannot attribute the piece above which I recently bought in Europe. It is hand-thrown, signed by the studio (or the artist) and finished with a mirror-like gunmetal over warm brown glazing. The only thing I do know is that I like it! It’s a winning combination of classic, romantic form with cool (almost industrial) […]
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, […]
