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 […]
Today, 23 July, marks the first day of LEO. It is also the shop’s (ceremonial) 21st birthday and the third anniversary of our website and daily journal. And, have I mentioned, it’s my birthday? LEO’s are proud, loyal and love a good show. While they do have (a few) flaws, let’s leave those aside for […]
In 1874 Germany, just downstream from WMF on the River Fils, the brothers Fritz and Robert Fischer opened a metalworks in the village of Göppingen (Baden-Württemberg). It was a good time for German metalsmiths—especially those who produced in the popular Jugendstil aesthetic. Although the behemoth (WMF) was just twelve miles upstream, there was room for […]
And you thought Mad Men was over! Not quite yet. Shown above, a Danish Modern stoneware plaque by sculptor Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Made in 1968, it was intended as a decorative object to hang upon the wall or it could be permanently mounted within a larger ceramics installation. On the plaque, two playful bucks cavort amidst a […]
Every year, in preparation for the Holiday season, I select and order a single stuffed bear to sell in the shop through the autumn and Holiday seasons. I’ve done this for twenty-one years—with a slight modification last year when I found a stuffed lion to commemorate our twentieth anniversary. Shown above, this year’s Holiday teammate—who […]
The Germans are a practical people. In industry, government or home-management, they seem to appreciate the most-direct route between two points. Their language reflects this sensibility as well: long words are created by simply sticking-together a series of smaller words. Case in point: the three English words which make-up “Metal Ware Fabricators” becomes (in German) […]
Like that silly internet phenomenon which asked, “What color is this dress?”, this newly-acquired West German floor vase has proved to be a bit of a Rorschach Test in the shop. While I see fluffy clouds against a wonderful (sky) blue sky, others on staff insist that the glaze portrays courses of waves traveling toward […]
If all this talk of summery beach scenes has made you thirsty, perhaps you could use this set of six “Anchors Aweigh!” glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Each glass has two navy blue anchors, encircled in a navy ring and the rest of the glass is frosted. Perfect for a drink on the beach […]
Today we show you more of Dan Durkin’s latest greeting cards—now in-store. It’s a part of his Summer Beach series. Shown above, a starfish and a lobster. Besides these, we also have (in-stock) Dan’s NYC architectural landmarks and his songbirds series. And, come 1 November, we’ll have a large assortment of his Christmas and Holiday […]
Artist Dan Durkin is one of the nicest guys you could know—and he was once a LEO Design staffer, too! After graduating from art school, Dan worked at the shop before moving-on to bigger and better things. But we’ve kept a part of him back here in the shop, in a way. He designs and […]
In the aftermath of World War II and its devastation, the world’s leaders sought a means to prevent such conflicts in the future—and decided to create the United Nations. Multiple sites were considered, including Flushing Meadow, in Queens, site of the 1939 World’s Fair. When a development project in Manhattan (along the East River) fell-apart, […]
Rosenthal-Netter was an American import company who, after World War II, brought to America boatloads of tasteful Modernist decorative objects from Italy—principally ceramics. Rosenthal-Netter was in direct competition with Raymor, another successful American importer and both used some of the same Italian designers (for example, Aldo Londi) and factories (for example, Bitossi) to produce their […]
When we think of Art Nouveau, we often think of whiplash curves, stylized floral motifs and a refinement of craftsmanship—lightness, elegance, delicacy. But the Art Nouveau also had a more rustic—more brutish—offshoot. Like the Belgian Art Nouveau pitcher, shown above, this heavier aesthetic is seen most often in architecture (and especially its tile or ceramic […]
Some things never go out of style: classic champagne coupes, tumblers or wine stems. Other things, like rocks glasses, pulse with popularity—selling a little more this year and a little less the next. And then there are those things which come back only now and then—like cocktail glasses. Classic cocktail glasses are selling well—the result […]
In the late 1700’s, English ceramics-makers were mastering the new “transferware” technology—by which engraved (or painted) patterns could be quickly, easily and cheaply printed onto mass-produced ceramicware. Ceramics manufacturers like Minton and Spode began to create their own (Westernized) versions of the highly-collectible, very expensive, hand-painted blue and white Chinese porcelain which had previously been within […]
Toast the holiday in Capitol style with this set of four Red, White and Blue rocks glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. Bold bands of the tricolor celebrate the American Flag—or 35 other national flags including Russia, France, Samoa, Taiwan, Malaysia, Nepal or the (dis-?) United Kingdom. Americans celebrate this day—the day on which the […]
Staring-out from this piece of 1970’s Modernist ceramics is an alligator’s unblinking eye—the work of world-famous Ecuadorian artist Eduardo Vega. Born in Cuenca, Ecuador in 1938, Vega was steeped in his country’s long ceramics-making culture well before studying art in Spain and France. After returning to his home country in the 1960’s, he was commissioned […]
I just took my seven year old niece to Washington, DC. We saw the White House, the Capitol, the National Zoo, the Lincoln Memorial and the Museum of Natural History. What did she like best? The squirrels! My niece, who was visiting from Hawaii, had never seen one of the restless rodents before. She put […]
Welcome, July, with your sun, your surf, and your brilliant red rubies—the birthstone for the seventh month of the year. Rubies are one of the four most-precious gemstones: rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. In fact, sapphires and rubies are just different color variations of the same stone, Corundum. It’s the presence of the element chromium […]
Some people can be so unreasonable! There are the superstitious amongst us who believe an elephant MUST have his trunk extended upwards or they want nothing to do with him. Not only is this conviction unscientific, but even real elephants don’t keep their trunks permanently extended. To require the poor creature to hold-up his (heavy) appendage […]
The Medieval Germans invented salt glazing by accident—when a ceramics-maker ran out of fuel for his kiln (in mid-firing) and all he could find (quickly) were some broken pickle barrels to chop-up and throw into the kiln. Apparently, the salt from the barrel’s wood reacted with the clay being fired, resulting in the lightly textured […]
Remember when a baby’s naked little bottom was a symbol of innocence—when two year olds would pose for a snap on a bearskin rug and cherubs could fly around Baroque rooms without raising questions or suspicions? Today we keep our antennae attuned to any possible impropriety involving children (and that’s good). Nevertheless, we might have […]
When I think of Ruscha West German Modernist art pottery, I usually think of vases—vases with wonderful dripping, complex and organic glazes. Until I found the plaque above, which shakes-up my concept of Ruscha. Here sea grasses sway, anchored in a bed of blooming anemones, while bubbles bobble to the surface. Brown lobes of coral […]
Ravenna is a fascinating Italian city—discreet, yet wonderful. At first glance, it appears to be a rather unadorned, plain brown city. But oh, how Ravenna keeps her charms under wraps! Historically, Ravenna was very important—first as the seat of the Western Roman Empire, and later as an important part of the Byzantine (Eastern, that is, […]
I think this is the perfect tray! It was crafted in the 1910’s in Meriden, Connecticut and will reside comfortably within either an Arts & Crafts or Art Deco aesthetic. First the tray was fashioned in brass. Next it was hand-hammered, then electroplated with silver. It can hold six large-bowled coupes or eight smaller glasses—and […]
When I first laid eyes upon these Secessionist brass candelabra, I felt a profound conviction that they had been used as altar sticks in a church—either in the early Twentieth Century or Bauhaus period. Their simplicity, their out-stretched arms, and their tripartite design all nudged me to imagine them in a sensational (though understated) 1909 […]
Otto Gerharz was a chemist and glaze master who worked for Ruscha Keramik. In 1951, he developed Ruscha’s famous “Vulcano” glaze, most frequently found in a burnt orange color. Along with Kurt Tschorner (who designed many of the company’s shapes), Gerharz helped make Ruscha one of the better, cutting edge production potteries of the German […]
Within my diverse matte white pottery collection, my perennial favorites are always those made by Roseville. The shapes are beautifully designed and the pieces are always nicely-cast. Most impressively, the satiny matte white glazing is always so satisfying—both to view and to hold. And while the shapes were also glazed in other color ways, I […]
Although this set of eight Bavarian crystal cocktail stems are from the 1960’s, they still retain a classic, earlier-period sensibility. The stem and foot are crisply faceted and the bowl is rimmed with a platinum edge. Although the platinum rim provides a dash of style, it also adds a practical benefit: the metal edging helps […]
I can never buy too many nice trays. Whether brass, copper or quarter-sawn oak—if it can hold a round of drinks, a nice breakfast or a collection of perfume bottles, I want to acquire it. Shown above, an American Arts & Crafts hand-hammered copper tray, circa 1920. Please click on the photo to learn more […]
Thanks to all the men who raised us, shaped us, and encouraged us to become our best selves. Shown above, a greeting card featuring a detail from Lucien Baylac’s 1891 advertising poster for the French bicycle maker Cycles Clement. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
Manufacturers have always sought ways to keep their names in front of potential purchasers—especially large industrial purchasing agents. Shown above, a cast iron letter rack from the 1880’s. Made for “Diamond K”—which I think was a tool manufacturer (Kreauter?)—this letter holder would be left-behind by a traveling company salesman. Notes, letters or photos could be placed […]
Perhaps your dad’s an Anglophile. How about an early Twentieth Century English brass letterknife? A gallant knight stands at-the-read—exactly as he has since he was cast in brass in the 1910’s or 1920’s ($95). Please come into the shop to see him in person or call us for further information. More nice Father’s Day gift […]
Well before Mad Men, stylish Fathers drank their cocktails in something like this—a hand-hammered and sliver-plated cocktail stem made in the 1910’s. Expressing a bit of the Arts & Crafts and a touch of the Art Deco, this set of six cocktail stems remained en vogue from the Teens ’til World War II (Prohibition excepted, of course). […]
For Dapper Dads, what could be better than a handsome pair of cufflinks? Like with ties, natty dressers can never have too many nice pairs of cufflinks in their collections. Here we show a pair of sterling silver Art Deco cufflinks from the 1920’s—with regal amethyst enameling over machine-turned, radiant guilloché work. Come into the shop […]
With Father’s Day at the end of the week, I thought we’d share some of our newly-acquired, Dad-appropriate gift items over the next few days. Whether or not your father was (or is) a mailman, he’s sure to appreciate this (very cool) cast iron coin bank from the 1910’s or 1920’s. The original red paint […]
Let’s conclude our parade of European art pottery with something extra-special. From Belgium, during the period which straddles both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, comes this superb salt glazed vase by Roger Guerin with a custom-wrought iron mounting, quite probably by François Carion. Salt glazing, which was developed in Germany during the Medieval […]
I buy a fair bit of early 20th Century Dutch ceramics, especially from the Gouda region of the Netherlands. And, every now and then, I come across a piece that is just a little different—such as the ceramic covered jar, pictured above. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s—in that nexus of the Art Nouveau and […]
At first glance, I skipped over this piece—what I thought was “just another dowdy, brown jug.” But as I purchased other pieces from the collector, my eye kept wandering-back to the dowdy, brown jug. And slowly, the jug began to reveal its charms. I began to warm to its graceful (dare I say sensuous?) shape. […]
The ultramarine blue glazing fairly vibrates with richness on this Scheurich West German “floor vase” from the 1960’s or 1970’s. The name “ultramarine” comes from the Latin “ultra marinus” which means “beyond the sea”—since the original ultramarine pigment came from grinding lapis lazuli brought from Afghanistan (very far away). Because of the rarity of the precious […]
Among my new favorites is this little grouping of Italian Modernist hand-made ceramics by Fratelli Fanciulacci in Florence. The pieces are clearly hand-built, given the size and weight variation from piece to piece—not to mention the wonderful randomness which comes from this type of labor-intensive, hand-incised decoration. Unfortunately, the company was wiped-out with the flooding […]
Mayan calendar? Pueblo target? Radioactivity warning? No, no and no. Shown above, a piece of Italian Modernist ceramics from the 1960’s with a hand-painted white graphic. The perfect shape of the vase is finished with an interestingly modest, roughly-textured glaze, then finished with white hand-painting—not unlike a super-hip paleolithic cave decoration. It would look equally […]
Like yesterday’s Czech ceramics, made under the influence of the Viennese Secessionist movement, the pair above are also from somewhere within the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, c. 1910. A deep cobalt blue glaze is subtly “punctuated” with metallic bronze glazing, creating an organic, almost botanical sculptural effect. Please click on the photo above to learn more […]
Secessionism was the Austro-Hungarian variant on the Art Nouveau movement—a turn-of-the-century design aesthetic which developed in many (mostly Western) countries and cultures. The French had Art Nouveau, the English had Arts & Crafts, the Germans had Jugendstil and the Austro-Hungarians had Secessionism. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was vast—and (circa 1900) Vienna was its glittering seat-of-power. Although […]
While there are many things I like to buy, two things make me extra-happy: nice pieces of pottery with earthy, crusty, red glazing and lidded vessels, suitable for holding one’s precious possessions. The piece above ticks both of these boxes. Made by Ruscha (West Germany) in the 1960’s, there’s a satisfying voluptuousness to the piece—with […]
Artists and designers are always looking for inspiration. Oftentimes, aesthetic trends might correlate to the day’s news or to discoveries far-removed from the world of interior design trends. Examples include the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922 which encouraged an Egyptian Revival in the Art Deco movement of the next two decades. Or the […]
Recently, we’ve received several large (and diverse) shipments of European art pottery and, over the next several days, we’d like to share some of the most interesting acquisitions with you. Shown above, a collection of “sea tones”—aqua, seafoam, sapphire, even “whitecap.” And not only are the shapes and colors varied, so are the textures and […]
We’ve just received several large shipments of European art pottery from various points on The Continent. Over the next several days, we’ll be featuring a few of the highlights—pieces which exhibit the range of our new acquisitions. Please peruse our on-line shop (where some of them have been already been listed) or come into the […]
The birthstone for the month of June is not a “stone” at all. It is the pearl—the mysterious and exotic treasure of mariners—which commemorates those born in the calendar’s sixth month. At one time pearls, which represent purity, innocence and humility, were the most precious of jewels. Egyptian aristocrats were buried with their pearls. The Greeks thought […]
We probably sell more photo frames than anything else at LEO Design—frames in leather, wood, pewter, gold-leaf, silver-plate and gold-plate. Thus, it’s always a cause for (at least) a little excitement when we find a handsome, new design. Shown above, part of our NYC-made pewter frames in four new designs: (front to back) grosgrain, lion’s claw, […]
Made in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the American Modernist pottery shown above was made by Haeger in East Dundee, Illinois. German immigrant David Haeger founded the company in 1871—45 miles from Chicago—on the bank of the Fox River (a rich source of the needed clay). Initially, the company made bricks. In a twist of fate—in […]
Like a celadon bowl on a cloudy afternoon, these Art Deco sterling silver cufflinks exhibit an understatedly-handsome demeanor—all class, no flash. Just a layer of dark celadon enameling over crisp, machine-turned guilloché work. Perfect with any blue shirt! Please come into the shop to see them—and the many, many other pairs of handsome cufflinks—or click on […]
Like nothing I’ve ever bought before, and yet, very LEO Design. It’s a wooden dresser or trinket or desk box made of turned lemonwood which has been ebonized and hand-etched. Stylized flowers and graphic elements give it a vaguely Aesthetic Movement sensibility though it remains solidly-grounded in Mexican folk art. Please come into the shop […]
Here’s another color grouping of vintage art pottery—”earth tones”—from Italy, America and West Germany. Shown at center, a hand-painted two-handled Italian pot by Raymor. Raymor was the trade name of a larger American company which imported Mid-Century decorative pieces from Europe—much of it Italian ceramics. Raymor cleverly (and accurately) assessed the tastes of the […]
Last summer I visited Crete, which is now part of Greece, and spent a day exploring the ruined Palace of Knossos and the archeological museum which holds many of its artifacts. Thus it was with great excitement that I first encountered the vase above. Though the vase is Belgian Neo-Classical Art Deco (c. 1930), its […]
Come into the shop to see this sweet little pair of hand-painted ceramic chickens—a rooster and a hen. They’re made in Southern California (where they are cast in vintage molds), and, while they aren’t antiques, they have a wonderful old-time coloration to them. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: […]
A Boy Scout is always prepared—but does he have a vintage trophy? Celebrate the scout (or former scout) with this 1920’s cast spelter statuette modeled by Canadian Renaissance Man Robert Tait McKenzie in 1915. Around its base are inscribed the characteristics which form the ideal Scout: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, […]
From afar off Japan comes this winsome little bear—made of cast iron and dressed in an antique brown finish. He’d serve happily as a paperweight or loyally just standing-guard on your desk. Please come into the shop to see him or call us for additional information. See new merchandise first! Follow […]
Sensuous curves of amber glass comprise a Modernist cocktail glass from Post-War West Germany. This set of six footed glasses would make for a perfect mixed drink, creamy nip or even ice cream. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. See new merchandise first! Follow us on […]
Can the summer be so far away? It starts one month from today. But the time will fly past when you’re playing with with these clever nautical wooden blocks! Each block depicts a letter from the English alphabet plus that letter’s Morse Code signal, flag semaphore signal, International maritime signal flag and the NATO phonetic designation […]
At LEO Design we love the King of the Forest—and all things Leonine. But, long before lions ruled, there was another King: the Tyrannosaurus Rex. His name, literally translated, is “Tyrant Lizard King.” He was the apex predator, top of the food chain. At 40 feet long, his long, heavy tail was required to balance […]
Pigs are popular—all things pigs! Shown above, a cast brass piglet, finished with a verdigris bronze patina. He’ll sit happily on your shelf, desk or windowsill—or even in your garden (though he will weather in the out-of-doors elements). Come in and see him—and his “sty mates”—or call us for additional information. See […]
The same man who makes our vintage alligator frames (which we shared yesterday) also made-up a couple of frames in snakeskin. When he showed them to me, I couldn’t say no! On the left, a 4 x 6 photo frame of water snake (trimmed in water snake). On the right, a 5 x 7 photo […]
We’ve just received a shipment of beautiful vintage alligator frames. While the frames themselves are newly-crafted, the alligator skins have been “up-cycled” from vintage handbags, mostly from the Fifties and Sixties. The man who makes the frames for us deals in vintage handbags—finding, restoring and re-selling them. Occasionally, a bag has beautiful material but is beyond […]
D. R. Harris (not Doctor Harris) was founded on fashionable St. James’s Street, London, in 1790 and has been a fixture there ever since. In the Eighteenth Century, when there was not much distinction between barbering and medicine, it was common for a customer to patronize the same professional for his shaves, his cologne and his […]
Hand-beaten metals are amongst the hallmarks of the Arts & Crafts aesthetic. The dappled texture—evidence of human artistic involvement—reflects light in a warm and wonderful way. Shown above, part of our collection of hand-hammered copper, each piece raised from a single ingot of the metal. No forms are used. A “lump” of copper is beaten […]
I’m always buying boxes—old boxes, new boxes, small boxes, large. Some are antiques, others are contemporary. Wood, pewter, copper, ceramic—there’s always a useful purpose to which a handsome box can be applied. Shown above, a selection of our antique wooden boxes (c. 1850’s – 1950’s). Please come into the shop to see them all. […]
This is my idea of a pretty glass—a tulip—modestly short-stemmed, softly faceted to deflect the light and punctuated with elegant bands of gold at rim and foot. Just perfect for wine. And, because it doesn’t have a long stem, this glass reminds us that wine really should be a daily enjoyment—not a venerated extravagance to be […]
I like Dante. And so do my customers, apparently. I buy just about every pair of Dante bookends I can get my hands on and they continue to sell. Here’s a pair that’s a little different. Instead of the typical dour Medieval Florentine poet, we get an energized—almost sprightly—Dante, leaning forward in his throne. The […]
Under the spreading canopy of a copper and mica table lamp, a collection of orange mid-century pottery. Orange is but one of many “color sections” in the shop—each section filled with handsome art pottery from the Late-Nineteenth through the Mid-Twentieth Centuries. Please come into the shop to see our vast collection of art pottery or […]
Champagne coupes do not get more classic than this. Excellent quality crystal is blown into the time-honored (classic!) form—resulting in a glass which is at once substantial and refined. Click on the photo above to learn more about this set of eight from the 1960’s or 1970’s—or come into the shop to see them for yourself. […]
Boundless gratitude to all the women who have lifted us up, made us smile and showed us that we were the most important thing in their lives. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: “leodesignhandsomegifts”
Are you one of twins? Or just a boy who gave your mother twice the trouble? Perhaps this pair of “Whistling Boy” bookends from the 1920’s will make your mother smile? This winning little street urchin may seem small but he’s pretty tough—certainly tough enough to hold-up your mom’s books. Come into the shop to […]
