Classical? Art Deco? Nouveau? Yes, yes and yes. An ivory-glazed classical urn, made in the Art Deco Thirties, is finished with Art Nouveau handles. It makes for a handsome, adaptable and useful decorative accent—either alone or within a larger collection of art pottery. Made by Roseville in Roseville, Ohio. Please come into the shop to […]
The 1920’s—the period in which these sculptures were made—was “The Golden Age” of bookends. The decade also anchored the golden age of American skyscraper building. The War was over, the country was modernizing, and fantastic possibility awaited around every corner (until 1929, of course). These bronze-clad bookends capture the romantic spirit of physical creation—communicated in […]
Recently though our door: a trumpeting cast spelter elephant. On his back, a little removable “pagoda” under which one can place a cone of incense. He was made in Japan in the 1920’s or 1930’s ($175). Please come into the shop to see him or call us for more information.
Yesterday I showed a globe from the mid-Thirties. Here’s another “global representation”—this time on a set of four Mid-Century highball glasses from the 1960’s or 1970’s. An old world map is printed upon the glassware and further embellished with gold decoration. Please come into the shop to see them or click on the photo above […]
On my first post-Christmas shopping trip, I found this 1934 school library globe by Replogle. While some borders—and many names—of countries have changed in the past 80 years, the placement of the continents has shifted only a little. Come into the shop to see this handsome and practical piece, well-spun and well-burnished by little hands […]
If Don Draper had owned a country retreat, certainly this pine motif cocktail shaker would be in-use there. Branches of pine—complete with needles and cones—decorate the sides of the frosted glass shaker. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
One of the (many) wonders of Venice is how differently the water can appear depending on the time of day, the angle of the light, or the depth of the canal or lagoon on view. A sapphire blue canale can transform to emerald green in the time it takes to have lunch. And the glinting […]
Here’s another set of newly-acquired glasses—beautifully proportioned, handsomely designed—now in-store at LEO Design. Perfect for wine or champagne, this set of six footed glasses will bring a touch of understated (yet confident) elegance to your dining table. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Well, it’s finally gotten cold (-ish) and I’ve even heard a few complaints about the seasonal temperatures—which makes it the perfect time to long for warmer days in the months ahead. And, to help us do this, I’ve just acquired a set of ten cobalt blue highball tumblers, decorated with sailboats at full mast. Whether […]
Today Benji turns three! For the past two-and-a-half years, little Benji has been making occasional appearances at LEO Design—greeting customers, inspecting new arrivals, and, basically, enhancing the Handsome ambience and color scheme of the shop. When he’s not in-store, he remains at home at his other job: supervising my partner’s work as a stage scenic […]
If you’ve had enough Champagne this weekend, perhaps a Mimosa will better suit your palette for Sunday brunch. Drink them in style with this set of six Art Deco crystal wine glasses made in the 1930’s or 1940’s. The footed design, without a stem, makes them a little less pretentious than their leggy relations—and yet, […]
Though New Year’s Eve is behind us, we are still in the middle of a long New Year’s weekend—and there’s still time to celebrate with a little bubbly. Shown above, part of our newly-acquired collection of handsome, vintage glassware now in-store at LEO Design. Made in the Art Deco Thirties or Forties, these coupes are made of […]
The birthstone for January is the garnet, shown above in a 1920’s – 30’s Bohemian gold pendant. Although garnets—which encompass a range of different chemical structures—may be found in various hues, red is the color most-associated with the gemstone. The name “garnet” may have been derived (over the centuries) from the word “pomegranate”—and, indeed, a […]
We sell a lot of handsome, vintage glassware—and never more than during the Holiday season, especially for New Year’s Eve. For this reason we continue to purchase as much nice glassware as we can find, right-up to the end of the year. The collection of stems pictured above—coupes, wine glasses, water glasses and sherry stems— […]
This week I’m sharing photos from my current buying trip—this time in Western Pennsylvania and the Midwest—like the schoolhouse globe, shown above, newly-acquired and very soon to be in-store. While its vintage cartography is not up-to-the-minute, the characteristics of age and exposure result in an artifact of style, honesty and authority. Please come by the shop […]
Although Christmas is over, isn’t there still a bit of time for celebration? To help, here’s another Handsome Gift, found on my trip this week to Western Pennsylvania and the Near-Midwest. It’s a set of six wine glasses—faceted, footed and banded with gold at rim and foot. Though festive in a slightly formal way, the short stems help “bring […]
I’m on-the-road this week, replenishing the shop after a busy Holiday season. One of my new finds is the trio of British tin elephants, shown above. Made in England in the 1930’s, they were likely part of some child’s circus menagerie—during those special years between the wars. They are nicely cast, hand-painted, and have the […]
With the Holidays (mostly) behind us, I am out on-the-road, hunting for new treasures to re-stock the shop after a busy Christmas season. Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing some photos of the Handsome Gifts I’ve found on my first post-Holiday buying trip. Shown above, a small Wilton rug made in the 1920’s […]
Boxing day—celebrated in England and English Commonwealth countries—is not too-widely observed but it does have a long and interesting history. It is celebrated on 26 December and began during the Middle Ages, on the day when churches would open their alms boxes and distribute the money to the poor. In later years, it became the […]
Best Christmas wishes to all—and good tidings for the New Year! After a long Holiday sales season, LEO Design is closed today. We will re-open tomorrow, 26 December, at 12 Noon. Thank you for your patronage throughout the year. Holiday Week Hours—26 December through 3 January—Noon ’til 6:00 pm.
‘Tis Christmas Eve, when Christians around the world prepare for the coming of the infant Jesus. Here at LEO Design, we prepare by placing a pair of (late Twentieth Century) Italian Renaissance angels into the shop window—in what’s become our Christmas Eve tradition. The same-sized originals—carved of marble by a teenaged Michelangelo—are found upon the […]
In 1482, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico il Moro, commissioned renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci to create a monument for the Duke’s late father—the largest bronze horse ever made, Il Gran Cavallo. Leonardo set-about the task, sketching designs and making clay models for different potential castings. Alas, Leonardo never saw the project through to completion. […]
Bears are popular: carved bears, stuffed bears, cast bears, printed bears. We sell a lot of bears. And we’ve just received a really nice addition to our collection, shown above. He’s a carved wooden Blackforest bear, made in the mountainous south of Germany, circa 1950. He’s rather large (as such carved bears go) and nicely-sculpted. […]
I’ve had one pair of these bookends before and I am very happy to have found another one. Inspired by an 1864 photo by pioneering portraitist Matthew Brady, these bookends were specially commissioned by the New York Decorative Arts League and sculpted in 1922 by artist Olga Popoff Muller. They capture a quiet, intimate moment of […]
Silent, perhaps. Nevertheless, these bronze-clad bookends will make a statement! Made in the Twenties or Thirties by the Marion Bronze workshop in Metuchen, New Jersey, they depict a mounted knight, tense with anticipation, astride his eager steed—both ready for the charge. Lance in-hand, he will add a touch of romantic, Medieval style to your office, […]
Paul Dresler is considered one of the most important ceramicists between the wars. He was born in Siegen, Germany in 1879 and, as a boy, planned to be a painter. On a visit to Munich in 1910, Dresler saw an exhibit of Islamic ceramics—an experience which proved to be a turning-point in the artist’s life. […]
Don Quijote de la Mancha follows the muddled pursuits of our hapless romantic hero, a man who calls himself Don Quixote. One part extreme romantic, another part “crazy old coot,” Quixote is an icon of Western literature—and the leading character in what many consider amongst of the greatest books ever written. Published in two volumes […]
Said ancient Greek poet Archilochus (680 – 645 BC), “A fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing.” Some 2,600 years later, Latvian-British philosopher and Oxford scholar Isaiah Berlin (1909 – 1997) published a treatise expanding upon this notion. In a nutshell, thinkers and writers fell into one of two camps: “foxes” who […]
With mid-December temperatures in the mid-sixties, it’s hard to imagine we’ll have any snow anytime soon. Fashion your own White Christmas with these handsomely-understated sterling silver cufflinks, enameled in a crisp white and a serene dove grey. Over the past few days, I’ve shown just a few pairs of newly-acquired vintage cufflinks, now in-store at […]
In a sea of sapphire blue enameling floats a single, stylized blossom—which makes for a handsome pair of Art Deco cufflinks. Crafted in the 1930’s by Norwegian master Aksel Holmsen, the sterling silver cufflinks are bordered with a beaded edge and enameled in a striking combination of crisp white and jewel tone blue. This week […]
Make it a Blue Christmas with this pair of Art Deco periwinkle cufflinks from the 1920’s or 1930’s. A radiant, star-shaped guilloché pattern is next enameled with the distinctive shade of blue. The gold-plated mounts make this pair of cufflinks a handsome, quality gift for any special man. We’re sharing some of our newly-acquired cufflinks […]
Recently we’ve been talking about cheerful Holiday ornaments—for the tree or for the home. How about a handsome ornament for the wrist? Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing a few of our newly-acquired vintage cufflinks, a handsome bauble for one’s wrist—and a terrific, tailored Holiday gift, as well. Shown above, a pair of […]
Another cheery “bauble”—nice at Christmas or any time. In 1909, German tinsmith Johann Übelacker opened a pewter-smithing workshop in Ransbach-Baumbach (half-way between Frankfurt and Cologne). Johann began experimenting with mounting pewter upon ceramic forms—as was done with traditional German beer steins—and he enjoyed some success. After World War II, Übelacker Keramic was well-positioned to exploit […]
While it’s not an ornament—and not strictly “Christmassy”—the Italian vase above, made by Fratelli Fanciullacci, is a bauble of good Holiday cheer. In 1862, Raphael Fanciullacci opened a ceramics workshop in Florence where he made kitchenware and other utilitarian tableware. Business grew, Raphael branched into more aesthetic, decorative pieces, and, before long, his son (and […]
An old favorite at LEO Design—back for another Christmas season. Peruvian fair trade craftsmen collect the gourds, dry them, then decorate them with paint, carving and a hot stylus. Cheery and bright and every one just a little different from his branch mates. Please come into the shop to see them in person or click on […]
Glass-making, as far as we can tell, started in Mesopotamia around 2,500 BC. About 1,500 BC, the Egyptians began making glass—mostly small amulets, beads, and tiles for decorative inlay. As the Egyptians expanded into (and conquered portions of) the Middle East, they captured and brought back to Egypt various skilled artisans, including glassmakers. At this […]
Like yesterday’s angel ornaments, this hummingbird is also made of carved tagua nuts—also known as “palm ivory” or “vegetable ivory.” He’ll happily hover amongst the branches of your Christmas tree or levitate year ’round in your kitchen window. Made in a fair trade workshop in Ecuador ($28). For the Holiday season, LEO […]
With Christmas three weeks away, perhaps it’s time to think about trimming the tree. Over the next few days I’ll share with you some of my in-store ornaments—new finds and old favorites. Shown above, little angels carved of tagua nuts. Also called “vegetable ivory,” tagua nuts grow on a variety of palm tree found in […]
Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to all—and a joyful Holiday Season! As we rush-about our ever-busy lives, let’s endeavor to enjoy a few quiet, focused moments with those we love. Hanukkah begins tonight—at sundown—and ends Monday evening, eight days from now. The Cypress Tree Menorah, pictured above, is cast of solid bronze in Canada. Please click […]
Although I don’t smoke (and I don’t like smoking), I love the accoutrement of the pernicious practice—ashtrays, smoking stands, humidors and tobacco jars like the one shown above. I’ve sold many tobacco jars over the years and I can safely say, this is one of the nicest I’ve ever acquired. Made around 1910, the faceted, […]
Arthur and Marion France of Metuchen, New Jersey, operated a “Galvano Bronzing” workshop in 1922 behind their Garden State home. They named it “Marion Bronze.” Until 1958, they produced bronze-clad bookends, doorstops, lamp bases and other sculpture, including the red-robed monk bookends, pictured above. First the underforms were cast in what the company called “Cerama-Stone” […]
Charles Dickens was born on 7 February 1812. As a young boy, he was forced to leave school—and sent to work in a London factory—after his father was locked-away in a debtors’ prison. The second oldest of eight children, young Charles had to help support his family while his father, mother and youngest siblings remained […]
Our Holiday greeting cards have arrived and we’re quite pleased with the nice selection. Shown above, a sampling of cards letterpress-printed on Swan’s Island, Maine ($4 each or $22 for a box of ten). They range—stylistically—from the Arts & Crafts to Mid-Century Modern to the contemporary. Other options now in-store from England, Vermont and Brooklyn […]
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a set of four cheerful Nutcracker highballs! Whether filled with cold milk for the kids or spicy eggnog for the grownups, these 1970’s vintage highball glasses will make you feel like a child, if only for a moment. As they stand sentry on your […]
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a suite of “space age” rocks and tumblers! Forget Sputnik! One look at these glasses and you’ll see for a fact: America won the Space Race. A simple—yet sharp—graphic of black and gold is printed on highballs, Tom Collins tumblers, and Old Fashioned rocks […]
On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a fleet of ships on rocks and highball glass! The fleet’s in—and just in time for the Holidays. A set of four rocks glasses and a set of four highballs ($145 per set) are wrapped with a nautical graphic of sailboats, knots and other […]
On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a Flight of Golden Dragons! Mid-Century rocks glasses fit for an Emperor—or, perhaps, Auntie Mame. Chinese golden dragons breath fire and dance around the tumbler, while etched Art Deco “clouds” provide a stylish backdrop. Very stylish. Very theatrical. $195 for the set of four. […]
On the Eighth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a table laid with sparking, crystal stems! And a Happy Thanksgiving to you! Picture, if you will, your festive Holiday table—laid with the “quilted” iridescent crystal wine glasses, pictured above. The faceted, “harlequin” pattern captures, diffuses and reflects the light—softly colored by the opalescent […]
On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a Tartan Double Old Fashioned Rocks Glass set! Have a fling for the Holidays—a Highland Fling. This set of six plaid rocks glasses, made in the 1960’s, is printed with a jaunty red, yellow and green ($245). Like the Scots, you can celebrate the […]
On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—Italian Crystal Amber-Foot Stems! Time for a little La Dolce Vita! Hand-crafted in Italy, these crystal Modernist cocktail glasses celebrate the season with a touch of serious style. Heavy crystal is shaped like sculpture—and finished with an amber foot, whose color radiates upwards through […]
On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a half-dozen Candle Highballs! Cheery, indeed, yet without too much “Kitsch of Christmas Past,” this set of six highball tumblers from the 1960’s enjoys the warm glow of hospitality—bringing a reassuring note with each annual reappearance. Let their brass lanterns bring a little festive light […]
On the Fourth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—something a little different for LEO Design! I’m not big on pink and I don’t buy a lot of it. Maybe it’s the softness? Maybe it’s the princess connotations? Maybe it’s just that I don’t have any more room for a new color-section in […]
On the Third Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a jolly set of festive highball glass! Have yourself a Merry Sixties Christmas with this set of eight highball tumblers, gaily printed with Christmas and New Year’s greetings ($95). Decorated in Red, Green and White, these glasses bring-back the simplicity (or naiveté?) of Holidays […]
On the Second Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a pail of seashells on a rocks glass suite! Pull open your collector’s cabinet every time you mix-up some drinks. “Specimens” of seashells embellish the sides of these six Mid-Century, modestly-sized rocks glasses. Neutral shades of black, white and brown—punctuated with a touch of […]
On the First Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a set of eight “cranberry crystal” champagne coupes! Softly-faceted crystal bowls are tinted an autumnal cranberry, while the balustrade stem remains crystal-clear. Made in the 1930’s or 1940’s, the set of eight is $245. Imagine your Holiday dinner table, laid with these sophisticated—yet cheery—crystal […]
Here’s another monumental piece (standing 15″ tall), also made by Gerda Heuckeroth for Carstens of Tönnieshof. It is one piece of an impressive New York collection, just acquired by LEO Design. Carstens was founded in 1945, and by the early 1960’s it was a very large, very high-volume manufacturer (the second biggest in West Germany […]
This week we share selections from a newly-arrived collection, purchased from an accomplished New York collector. Pictured above, a grouping of four “abstract tribal” pieces, made by Carstens for their upscale Atelier line in Freden an der Leine, West Germany ($245 – $375). In a rather tongue-in-cheek fashion, the ceramicist captures the goofy seriousness of 1970’s Modernist […]
The ceramics workshop Silberdistel—named after the silver thistle found in the Swiss and Austrian Alps—was founded by Johann and Grete Breu, in 1947. The workshop was located in Gevelsberg, in the West of Germany, north of Cologne. Although well-timed for growth just before the big West German ceramics boom of the 1950’s through 1970’s, Silberdistel […]
Today we share another new acquisition, part of an impressive private collection of art pottery recently purchased by LEO Design. Shown above, a piece of studio pottery crafted by German ceramicist Wendelin Stahl. Stahl was born in 1922 to a family of ceramic masters including his father and older brother, Rudi Stahl. From 1938 to […]
LEO Design has just purchased an impressive collection of art pottery from a New York collector (and customer of ours). Over the next five days, we’ll be showing selected pieces from this exciting acquisition. Please come into the shop to see the full group—and the rest of our large collection of art pottery from the […]
Just alighted: this pair of handsome, hand-hammered steel Austrian Secessionist bookends—in the form of a wise (but friendly) little owl. Cut, riveted and hammered by-hand, the flat tongue slides under your row of books, keeping your tomes upright. And while they would look great in a rustic, country home, they would look equally at-home perched […]
Call me loyal. For the past twenty years, I’ve carried but one line of silver-plated photo frames—hand-made outside of Florence, Italy. When the workshop closed, two years ago, I immediately began the hunt for a replacement source. But finding the perfect vendor was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be—and it took […]
On this day—four or five years ago—I found myself in a London Waitrose supermarket, late in the morning. At 11 o’clock, precisely, a very serious-sounding manager came over the loudspeaker, asking us shoppers to observe two minutes of silence. It was my first acquaintance with the rituals of Armistice Day—which commemorates the 1918 end of World […]
Let’s end our parade of Blue French Pottery with the Art Nouveau piece, shown above, made by Pierrefonds at the turn-of-the-century. This piece exhibits the entirely random and organic possibilities of glaze crystallization—a naturalism well-suited to the Art Nouveau. And, speaking of Naturalism, to my eye there’s something rather aqueous—oceanic—about this piece. Whether it’s the […]
Reminiscent of a scene from Jules Verne, this pair of French Art Nouveau “Rocketship” vases was made around 1905 by Antoine Gustave de Bruyn et Fils. “Gustave” (as he was known) was born on 9 December 1838 in Leuven, Belgium. Both his father and grandfather had been potters before him. In 1864, he opened a […]
We continue our presentation of Blue French pottery with this handsome piece from the Art Deco Twenties. The stepped neck and little handles are pure Deco. Meanwhile, the unbridled, seemingly-random dripping glaze is classic Art Nouveau. This vase is a successful melding of Art Deco’s precision and structure and Art Nouveau’s organic whimsy. However you see it, […]
After yesterday’s journal entry about American artist Charles Jasper McLaughlin—who studied and painted in Art Nouveau France—I’m inspired to share, over the next few days, a handful of French Art Nouveau ceramic works (all blue), now in-store at LEO Design. Some were (possibly) crafted during the time McLaughlin was studying in France. First up: a […]
Charles Jasper McLaughlin was born in Covington, Kentucky on 6 June 1888. He studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy in 1905 and later at the Sorbonne in Paris where he trained in painting frescoes and landscapes. For two summers, he studied architecture at Fontainebleau, outside of Paris. Back in America, McLaughlin worked at Rookwood from […]
Autumn—the time of the harvest, falling leaves and big, bold moons. Capture the moonlight in one of these eight softly-faceted cocktail glasses from the 1930’s, crafted of hand-etched amber glass (with just a touch of iridescence). Perfect for an old-fashioned mixed drink or for a splash of champagne. Please come into the shop to see […]
The Roseville Pottery Company was founded in Roseville, Ohio in 1890 and (initially) produced a limited range of stoneware “utility” goods: flower pots, umbrella stands, cuspidors and the like. Within a few years, enjoying strong sales, Roseville expanded and eventually bought the Clark Stoneware Company in Zanesville, Ohio where they re-located their headquarters. By 1900, […]
Let’s conclude our “cavalcade of cufflinks” with this jolly pair in emerald green. A bold silver and black “X” criss-crosses the soft square shape. The color reminds me of Ireland, the X reminds me of Scotland, and the overall shape reminds of of a nautical flag—nevertheless, they have a unity of design which I find […]
The enameling on these Thirties Art Deco cufflinks reminded me of citrus—a Clementine, in particular. And what timing! The Clementine, sometimes called the Christmas Orange, will be appearing in their little wooden crates in the next couple of weeks. Originating in the Mediterranean—Italy, Spain and North Africa—these sweet, usually seedless fruits are now grown in […]
Krementz was a jewelry maker in Newark, NJ which concentrated on designs for men: cufflinks, dress sets, military insignia and the like. Their heyday was the first half of the Twentieth Century. The cufflinks above, made in the 1920’s or 1930’s, are an example of their work. A radiant “guilloché” star is enameled-over with white […]
As we march toward the busy Holiday season, we pick-up-the-pace when it comes to acquiring Handsome Gifts for the gift-giving period. One big category for us is cufflinks—a perfect gift for men of every description. With the Holiday season in mind, I purchased a collection of nice cufflinks recently and will share some of them […]
The cold nights have begun to roll-in, perfect for a little post-prandial nip—how ’bout a sherry (cheri)? This set of eight hand-cut crystal stems—probably English, possibly French—would conclude your evening with style and satisfaction. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Stourbridge, in the English West Midlands, is the center of fine glassmaking in England and is home to “The Crystal Mile”—where the best glassworks are found. It was here, in 1827, that an eleven year old boy, Frederick Stuart, was sent off to work. At the time, glass factories built large brick “cones”—tapered, oven-like structures, in […]
Yesterday’s journal entry about Harvard sets-up today’s entry quite nicely: a different kind of ivy. Shown above, an English Arts & Crafts mirror which we’ve just acquired. Its bevelled, oval glass is surrounded by a thick quarter-sawn oak frame which has been deeply-carved with a trailing ivy motif. Perfect over a dresser, in a powder […]
Veritas—or “Truth”—is the straightforward wording etched upon the Harvard crest (shown on the pair of bookends, above). Alas, the history of this crest is not quite as simple. Harvard College was founded in 1636 by the “Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Company,” with the express intention of educating men for the ministry. […]
And, for those who’d like to celebrate the Holidays with something a little stronger, we have this Mid-Century Modern cocktail service made of smoked glass. With a corseted shape—both in the pitcher and in the six cocktail glasses—this drinks service captures “svelte chic” perfectly. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
Although it seems ages away, the Holidays will be here before you know it—with New Year’s Eve just over 10 weeks away! Beat the last-minute rush and secure your celebratory champagne coupes now! Ready to fit-the-bill is this set of six crystal coupes from the 1950’s or 1960’s. With a smoked bowl and clear stems, […]
Another elegant item I found on Kauai is the koa wood triple-divided trinket box, shown above ($175). Perfect for cufflinks, watches, collar stays or even on an office desk, it has a streamlined design, perfectly softened by the rich, lustrous woodgrain. In Hawaiian, a box is called “pahu.” We call it a “Handsome Gift” for a […]
As many of you know, I was born and raised in Hawaii. Earlier this month, I returned home to Kauai where my three brothers and I celebrated my father’s eightieth birthday—a happy milestone for our family. While on Kauai, I visited the local woodworkers, from whom I bought the photo frames pictured above. They are […]
“Salt Glazing” was developed in 13th century Germany—probably by accident. Historians speculate that these early potters collected salty driftwood or the scrap wood from brining barrels for use in their kilns. And a rather interesting result occurred: the pottery developed a thick, translucent and textured glaze which proved highly-durable—especially for jugs, crocks and other utilityware. […]
I do not know much about the ceramics piece pictured above or Sawa, the workshop that made it. Nevertheless, I do appreciate its design integrity and the handwork required to produce it. First, the body of the vessel was cast in terra-cotta and allowed to harden. Next, a cast terra-cotta handle was attached. Then a […]
In the year 1832, “Prince Adolph of Ysenburg & Bündingen of Isenburg-Wächtersbach” (whew!) founded a ceramics workshop within his family’s principality. Wächtersbach Keramik (sometimes spelled “Waechtersbach” by English speakers) continues to this day, making a wide range of objects, both decorative and utilitarian. In the late Nineteenth Century, Wächtersbach employed several notable designers including Joseph […]
We’ve just received a shipment of vintage ceramics from Europe, including the large “grasshopper green” vase shown above. Its inspiration is classic Chinese—based on a humble, utilitarian vessel which might have held water, vinegar or fermented duck eggs. Even the string netting, which once encircled the original, are represented in a stylized fashion. Please click […]
Over the past few months, I’ve found (and acquired) a couple of European Modernist ceramic pieces which reminded me—at least vaguely—of clouds. They weren’t very jolly; indeed, they were rather drab. Nevertheless, I liked them and quickly gave them pride-of-place in my shop—but not for long. Before I knew it, they were picked-up, purchased, and […]
Italian Modernism—with a rustic, hand-crafted flair. After the vase was formed (but before the clay hardened), a wooden stylus was used to make the pattern of irregular impressions in the clay. Both a dark brown and then a red glaze was applied—creating a look reminiscent of a strawberry. Please come into the shop to see […]
We’ve just received a new shipment of art pottery from Europe—and would like to share a few pieces with you over the next several days. First up: a substantial and tall-ish (12 inch), pumice-glazed vase by Fohr (West Central Germany). This piece is a bit of a contradiction—which might have been the ceramicist’s intention. Atop […]
Within Scandinavia, Norway is recognized as having produced the finest enamelwork—often applied to decorative objects, tableware and silver jewelry. Jeweler and designer Aksel Holmsen made a career of such fine enamelwork. Born in 1873, Holmsen began his training in 1889 under David Andersen, the famous and accomplished Oslo jeweler. After a three year training period, […]
In the aftermath of World War II, Germany laid in ruins. Many of her great cities had been leveled and masses of workers—no longer employed by the Military Industrial Complex—needed to get back to work, fast. The combination of high unemployment, low labor costs, and high technical proficiency made Germany ripe for development as the […]
Let’s conclude our short procession of beautiful, hand-wrought trays with this American Arts & Crafts beauty made by Meriden (Connecticut). Though understated in its design, the tray is elevated to the sublime with a pattern of soft, all-over hand-hammering. And, while this smallish tray can carry six to twelve glasses (whether coupes, highballs or cordials), […]
Another brass tray—from another part of the world—is every bit as handsome as yesterday’s example (in its very different way). Hand-hammered of brass by the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany, circa 1910, it typifies handsome German Jugendstil—the Art Nouveau Movement of Germany. It’s not large; perfect for 8-10 sherry glasses, or […]
Hours of hand-tooling culminate in this handsome and substantial tray—probably hand-made in Morocco. While I am not an expert in North African or Middle Eastern metalwork, I do recognize beautiful tooling when I see it. A beaming geometric pattern radiates outwards from the center of this 17.5 inch tray. Along the perimeter, a row of sculptural […]
Danish ceramicist Jens Michael Andersen opened his pottery workshop on the little island of Bornholm, off the coast of Denmark, in the 1890’s. He (and his four sons) won recognition and awards at ceramics expositions throughout Europe. Their shopmark, a chevron with three parallel herrings, was adapted from the town crest of Rønne, home town […]
The humble dandelion derives its name from the French phrase Dent de Lion (the “tooth of the lion”) due to the plant’s jagged green leaves. Considered a pesky weed by many, the dandelion has an interesting story to tell. The dandelion is part of the sunflower family, a native of Greece, and has been used […]
After World War II, much of the world’s high volume glass and ceramic production shifted slowly—away from the “victor” countries (such as England and The United States) and towards the “vanquished” countries (Japan and West Germany). While the Allied countries did continue to make glassware and ceramics (especially at the high end), it was the […]
We welcome October with one of the month’s two gemstones: the tourmaline*. Tourmalines, rich in aluminum, magnesium, sodium, lithium and potassium, come in a wide variety of colors including black or multi-colored specimens—like the “Watermelon Tourmaline” which is pink at one end and green at the other. They were mined in Sri Lanka and brought […]
When I first saw this beautiful piece of Gouda Dutch art pottery, I was hesitant. If you know my store, you know it is arranged by color: blue over here, orange over there, green a little further on. Should I buy this piece? Into which section would I place it? Although I couldn’t figure-out the […]
I don’t use the word “sublime” a lot—I guess I dislike hyperbole. Nevertheless, these newly-received Japanese business card holders are just that. Made of hand-crafted and hand-lacquered oak, they are beautifully sculpted and finished—and a delight to hold. A tiny, embedded magnet closes the hinged top with a satisfying “snap.” Available in a medium brown […]
