One popular category of “Handsome Gifts” at LEO Design is our range of vintage bottle openers. Made between the 1880’s and 1930’s, most come from England and France. Wood and Horn handles top the curled steel corkscrews and some still possess their original horsehair cork brushes. Those shown above range from $125 to $145. Please come […]
While I generally lament the “electronification” of modern life, in this case, it’s provided a handsome and useful opportunity. Shown above, a small range of luxurious leather sleeves for one’s indispensable modern gadgetry. Italian calfskin—in rich, caramel tan or deep navy blue—is stitched into brass-zipped pouches. Inside, the pieces are lined in pebbled goatskin. And, […]
Amongst the most handsome pair of cufflinks I’ve had in while, this 1930’s pair hits the Art Deco nail right on the head. Sterling silver is machine-turned with a radiant guilloché pattern, enameled in aqua, then finished with black enamel banding. Very striking, indeed. Perfect for a handsome father! Please come in to the shop […]
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 […]
How often has Dad encouraged us with words of wisdom? Let’s leave the month of May with some inspiring words for Dad: “Seize the Day!” Made of sand-cast pewter in Italy, this hand-crafted little box boldly proclaims the Latin “Carpe Diem” from the top of its hinged lid. About the size of a deck of […]
Schoolboy repp stripes smartly dress these Japanese leather-lined credit card wallets. Choose from three color combinations: {navy/red} or {royal/yellow/white} or {navy/brown}. Simultaneously handsome and fun. $85.00 Please come into the shop to see them for yourself or call us for additional information. More great Father’s Day gifts tomorrow.
Perhaps your father’s interests include the botanical. Shown above, a pair of Czech Art Deco white vases, made in the 1930’s. Bohemia—while it took design cues from larger cultural centers (like Vienna)—was no stranger to good design. From Mucha’s Art Nouveau to Moser’s Art Deco, there’s a rich history of good art, design and craftsmanship […]
On the heels of yesterday’s “Campagna” Italian pewter box, here’s a handsome, letterpress greeting card that might be right for your father’s day. Bears, rabbits, raccoons, owls and deer romp around the handsome graphic of this card, printed on Swan’s Island, Maine. Please come into the shop to see a wide range of Father’s Day […]
Sand-cast in Tuscany, this Italian pewter box bears a twelve point rack of antlers on its hinged lid. Great for holding cufflinks, cigarettes, or any manner of desk, dresser or bedside accoutrement. Its soft-rectangular shape is simultaneously gently modern and old-school. I can envision Burt Lancaster picking-up this box from the fireplace mantelpiece in Visconti’s masterpiece “The Leopard.” […]
Master artist Albrecht Dürer was born, lived and died in Nürnberg, Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries—though his great influence was felt throughout Europe, even during his lifetime. While he was an incredible painter, he is best known for his sensational printmaking which he sold while traveling throughout the continent and which made him […]
Mirrored rim banding is accented with a meandering Greek Key pattern on this set of eight Modernist rocks glasses from the 1960’s. Crisp, handsome and clean-lined, these glasses are sufficiently decorative in a masculine, understated way. $195. Please come into the shop to see them or call us for further information. More nice Father’s Day […]
Perhaps your father is more golf-enthusiast than numismatist. This set of fore four glasses, from the 1960’s or 1970’s, depict “The Basic Swing” in a series of stop-action images. The white and spring green graphic will make for an extra-refreshing refreshment. Please click on the photo above to learn more about them. More Father’s Day […]
With Mother’s Day behind us, we turn our attention to Father’s Day, a month away. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some of our newly-acquired “Handsome Gifts” for Dear Old Dad—beginning with some stylish barware from the time of “Mad Men.” Shown above, a set of six Mid-Century rocks glasses, decorated with depictions of […]
Father’s Day is one month from today. Over the course of four weeks, I’d like to present some “Handsome Gifts” suitable for Father’s Day gift-giving. Let’s start with this handsome pair of “T.R.” bookends from the early 20th Century. As a boy, not much was expected of Theodore Roosevelt. He was a sickly child, more […]
On my buying trip last week, I assembled this small collection of desk bells—always a good-seller at LEO Design. Made in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, they would have lived atop shop counters and hotel desks. Mostly brass, some of them have cast iron bases ($125 – $165). Please come into the shop […]
Amongst my newest finds is the matte white art pottery, pictured above. Collected during my recent weeklong buying expedition—piece by piece—it pulls-together nicely as a grouping ($75 – $110). Please come into the shop to see them in person—now combined with their previously-acquired relatives.
I’m just home from a week-long buying trip through New England—with lots of great, “Handsome Gifts” in tow. Shown above, more from our recently-acquired collection of Mid-Century mirrored barware. Here we have a set of six “Super Atomic” high ball glasses, complete with a black wire caddy. These glasses—seemingly out of The Jetsons—capture America’s Space Age […]
I’m finding lots of “Handsome Gifts” for the shop in New England this week, some of which might be your “just perfect” Father’s Day present. Shown above, a small sampling of Mid-Century “mirrored” barware which I’ve acquired this week. In front, a “mirror fade” high ball glass, part of a set of eight. Further back, […]
As I wend my way through New England, finding great, new items for the shop, I’ve put-together a collection of heavy, industrial tape dispensers, pictured above. Designed and made in the Art Deco 1930’s, they are made of heavy cast iron and were usually found in factories, workshops or sales counters. Because of their substantial weight, […]
I continue to travel through New England this week, in-search of “Handsome Gifts”—especially gifts for Father’s Day. I’ve assembled a collection of impressive mirrors, two of which are shown above. The front mirror, made during the 1840’s to 1860’s, is crafted of mahogany veneer over a curved “ogee” profile. The larger mirror, in back, is […]
I’ve taken to the road this week, traveling throughout New England, in-search of “Handsome Gifts” for the shop. Though I’m never quite sure what I’ll find, I do have a wishlist. At the top of the list? Great Father’s Day gift ideas. Shown above is one such idea: a pair of Goebel German Modernist terra […]
For the next several days, I’ll be on the road—hunting for “Handsome Gifts” throughout New England. Kismet plays a role, of course, but I will keep an eye open for great Father’s Day gift ideas—like the “find” pictured above: a pair of hand-hammered copper Roycroft bookends, finished in their “Old Brass” patina. Simple, elegant, and stylish, […]
Just-in: a new collection of marine-themed summer greeting cards, perfect for the up-coming Father’s Day—or any summer season occasion. We collaborated with New York artist Noha Mishriky to create this collection of six nautically-inspired works: anchors, lighthouses, rowboats, seahorses, starfish and seashells. She painted the originals in watercolor, then printed them on a nicely-textured watercolor […]
On my last trip to England, I spent a rainy Sunday traipsing around Sussex in the southeast of that country. In the mostly-Victorian (and slightly shabby) town of Bexhill-on-Sea, I came across an unexpected Art Deco jewel: the De la Warr Pavilion, built in 1935. The building was commissioned as a contest by the Ninth […]
Another sweet pair of vases—sweet without being saccharine—is this twosome from Austria. Made in the 1910’s during the Secessionist period, they exhibit the flavor of turn-of-the-century Vienna. The pretty, sky blue glazing and stylized buttressing are likely to make someone’s mother happy. Please come into the shop to see them or click on the photo […]
One year I gave my mother an orchid on Mother’s Day. It was a life sentence—for both the plant and for my mother who was (involuntarily) tasked with keeping it alive. I like this idea better (pictured above): a Dutch Gouda vase with a hand-painted, stylized orchid motif. Made in the Teens or Twenties, it […]
Made in (what was once) Czechoslovakia in the 1930’s, this pair of Art Deco Vases have a touch of femininity without fuss—which makes them a tasteful Mother’s Day gift. Perfect with or without flowers as they are beautiful individually or as a pair. $85 each. Please come into the shop to see them or call […]
Perfume has long been a favorite Mother’s Day gift. How about a perfume bottle? These crystal vessels, hand-blown in Sweden in the 1950’s and 1960’s, take the form of gourds, pears, and more-classic geometric or teardrop shapes. Each has a little stopper which doubles as a perfume dauber—some daubers are long, some daubers are short. […]
With Mother’s Day a week away, we’d like to share an assortment of “Handsome Gifts” which would be perfect for Mom. Over the next seven days, we’ll show you some ideas that might tickle your mother’s fancy. Photographed above, a trio of Royal Doulton English Arts & Crafts vases made in the early Twentieth Century. Each […]
Welcome May and welcome the Month of the Emerald. As much as we like emeralds, we’re clean-out of the precious stone; we thought we’d celebrate the month with something “Emerald-ish.” Shown above, a pair of sterling silver Art Deco cufflinks with radiant guilloché work and emerald enameling. Please click on the photo to learn more […]
We’ve just purchased a small collection of Danish Modern art pottery by ceramicist Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen. Made in the 1960’s and 1970’s, their naive, hand-crafted, and seemingly random “batik” decoration belies the spare forms of the ceramic vessels. Shown in front, a streamlined, square-shaped vase. Behind it, a compressed, lidded flask. […]
We have a nice collection of handcrafted Japanese cast-zinc vases. Though they are contemporary, they are made in a centuries-old foundry in Japan. Each piece is cast in zinc, hand-chased (that is, cleaned-up), hand-finished, baked, hand-finished (again), baked (again), then hand-finished for the final time. Zinc, a component element of bronze, is known for its […]
The German Shepherd—or The German Shepherd Dog, when called by its full, official title—is a working dog, bred for its intelligence, strength and stamina. Originally they were used for herding and protecting sheep in Germany. Due to their intelligence, curiosity, obedience and good temper, they have become popular for many other kinds of work—including police […]
It was 1970. War in Viet Nam was aflame, students were protesting on campuses across the country, and popular entertainers were writing songs like “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” And the environment was in shambles. Air, water, and land were being poisoned with toxins—both intentionally and accidentally. After a particularly upsetting oil spill off Santa Barbara, […]
After enduring nine months of scaffolding outside our shop, finally it has been removed, revealing a beautifully-restored nineteenth century brick building! What’s more, new shop lights over our awning provide a rosy, nighttime glow. We’re thrilled to be able to breathe again! Please stop by to see “the improved location.”
Naive as I am, I thought “Bicycle Day” was created to honor the two-wheeled, Earth-friendly, leg-powered vehicle! It wasn’t. But since I have little interest in chemicals more potent than strong tea, I’d prefer to talk about bicycles. And so I will. The first modern bicycle is the German “draisine” from 1817. Baron Karl von […]
Galahad was amongst the greatest of the Great Knights—a gallant so holy of spirit and pure of heart that God had granted him much favor. As a young man, Sir Galahad was brought to King Arthur’s court at Camelot by his father, the great knight Lancelot. Once there, the young Galahad is lead to the […]
On this day in 1837, “J.P.” (John Pierpont) Morgan was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Among America’s most notorious “Titans of Industry,” he was a noted banker, financier and deal-maker—and a man who collected art with the same passion with which he collected corporations. Morgan created both General Electric and U.S. Steel by merging smaller, regional […]
On this day in 1912, American aviatrix Harriet Quimby flew from Dover, England to Calais, France—making her the first woman to fly across the English Channel. Alas, she achieved little recognition; her accomplishment was overshadowed by reports of the RMS Titanic which had sunk the previous day. Quimby was born in a Michigan farmhouse in […]
On this day in 1755, Englishman Samuel Johnson published Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language—amongst the great achievements of British scholarship. “Doctor Johnson,” as he was called, had been commissioned by a group of London booksellers to produce a definitive English dictionary—so unsatisfying were the existing options. He claimed the task would take him […]
A “Parrot Tulip” is one with curled, twisting, or seemingly “feathered” petals—the result of selective breeding by horticulturalists. Quite flamboyant, the Parrot Tulip also is more delicate than their simpler, original ancestors. As for the bold color striations seen in tulips—the Parrot variety or otherwise—these are the result of a diseased plant. A “Mosaic Virus” […]
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row.” So begins the 1919 poem by Canadian poet-physician-soldier, John McCrae, memorializing the poppy fields of France and Belgium where so many hundreds of thousands died during World War I. Nearly 100 years later, the poppy remains a potent symbol of soldiers killed at […]
In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the juice of a pansy “on sleeping eyelids laid, will make a man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees.” And in his Hamlet, doomed Ophelia, in one scene, distributes pansies, exclaiming, “There’s pansies, that’s for thoughts.” Other writers and poets—including William Wordsworth, […]
Greek lore tells us that Zeus’s son, Heracles (called Hercules by the Romans), was born of an extra-marital affair with the human woman, Alcmene. Zeus wanted his son to become a god, so he put his wife, Hera, into a deep sleep which allowed the infant to nurse at the breast of the goddess. Hercules […]
The humble cornflower—thus called because it often grew as a weed in English grain fields (which they called corn fields)—has a rich history in folklore, folk medicine, and even politics. It was sometimes called a “Batchelor’s Button” because young men in love might wear them on their lapels. Alas, if the blossom faded too quickly, […]
Though most tulips have no distinctive fragrance, they are—visually speaking—one of my favorite flowers. Either in the ground or in a vase, I love the way they stand—seemingly individually, yet always better en masse. As far as botanical historians can tell, tulips were first cultivated in Persia where they were a popular subject in art and […]
In Greek mythology, Hyacinth was a beautiful and athletic youth who had admirers amongst the Gods. Two gods in particular, Apollo and Zephyrus (the god of wind) were particularly smitten with him. Hyacinth showed a preference for Apollo, leaving Zephyrus none-too-happy. One day, while Hyacinth and Apollo were tossing the discus, Zephyrus blew his wind […]
Though not recognized much in the United States, Easter Monday has long been observed by Christians in other countries—and celebrated with various local customs from the charming to the bizarre. Before the Nineteenth Century, the full “Octave” of Easter (that is, the eight days beginning with Easter) were celebrated, usually as an upbeat time of […]
A Joyous Easter to those who celebrate it—and a Spring season of gentle warmth and growing happiness to all. Shown above, a polished brass rabbit, handcrafted in Japan. You may see him in-shop, alongside a small menagerie of other whimsical, Modernist creatures. LEO Design will be open today from Noon ’till 6:00 pm. Please hop […]
The Book of Exodus tells us the story of the Jews in Egypt—enslaved by Pharaoh—and how God freed them, to be lead-out of the desert by Moses. In the story, God inflicts ten plagues upon the Egyptians, culminating with “The Death of the First-born.” On the appointed night, the spirit of the Lord came over […]
Today is International Children’s Book Day—celebrated each year since 1967 on (or around) 2 April, the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. Each year, a different “host” country is selected and a children’s book author from that country is tapped to write a message to child readers. An accomplished illustrator is engaged to design that year’s […]
Long considered the “gold standard” of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, Gustav Stickley is generating quite a buzz some seven decades after his death—and Stickley furniture collectors are none too happy about it! At last month’s “National Arts & Crafts Conference” in Asheville, North Carolina, the great grand nephew of Gustav Stickley was invited […]
Spring is now peeking-out at us, teasing us with temperatures creeping (periodically) into the 60’s. Flowers, birds, light—these are the wonderful harbingers of Spring. The vases above, crafted in Art Deco England, positively sing of Spring! And what could be more cheerful and homey (and upbeat) than Art Deco as the British did it? […]
We’ve just received a collection of Japanese “Blue Smoked” Crystal, made in the 1960’s. Classic, pleasing shapes are tinted with a smokey hue—which reads bluish, especially in bright light. They will add a crisp (slightly serious) look to any well-dressed table, formal or informal. Please come into the shop to see them. They currently reside […]
In 1734, King Louis XV of France granted permission to establish a glassworks in the commune of Baccarat, in the Lorraine region of Eastern France. Its production began modestly with basic items like windowpanes, mirrors, and drinking glasses. In 1816, production quality took a great step forward with the installation of the company’s first crystal […]
Imagine the drama—not to mention the fright—young Mary must have felt as the angel Gabriel approached with these words: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” What a bewildering, intimidating and humbling experience. The Feast of the Annunciation—the most important of Marian celebrations—is celebrated each 25 March (unless that day falls on a […]
In 1857, New York City merchant E.V. Haughwout (pronounced “How-it”) built a five story building at 488 Broadway (and Broome) to house his emporium of expensive luxury goods including antiques, silver, crystal, china, chandeliers, bronzes and other irresistible treasures. His carriage trade clientele included Mrs. Lincoln who purchased the White House’s hand-painted china at his […]
Have you ever been “dying for a drink of water” and not been able to have one? For one billion people in the world, clean, safe, reliable drinking water is not readily available. On this day in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly declared 22 March “World Water Day.” It’s a day to focus attention […]
Perfect for spring: a pair of 1920’s Art Deco cufflinks, enameled in violet, pistachio and white. The decoration is formed as a stylized, oblong quatrefoil around a radiant guilloché design. The pair—new-received and in-store at LEO Design—evokes the sunny days of a gentle spring. Or, perhaps, the optimism of an Italian ice cream shoppe. Please […]
Here’s another offering in our new collection of Spring greeting cards. It, too, is from Swan’s Island, Maine, printed on a vintage letterpress machine. The artwork is by New Hampshire artist Katharine Woodman-Maynard. It’s now in-store at LEO Design, just in time for Spring!
As the weather warms and outdoor activities become more appealing, perhaps you’ll endeavor a countryside cycle trek? If not, there’s always this card, now in-stock at LEO Design. Adapted from a 1946 English graphic, this card was letterpress printed in a small workshop on Swan’s Island, Maine. With great economy—and just three colors—it captures beautifully […]
As we approach Saint Patrick’s Day, we’re featuring some of our favorite green items currently in-shop. Pictured above, a pair of American Art Deco sterling silver cufflinks, enameled in emerald green over radiant guilloché work. A very handsome, understated pair of cufflinks, these could be worn on St. Paddy’s Day—or any time of the year. […]
As we count-down to Saint Paddy’s Day—three days to go—we’ll take a look at some of our favorite green items, from emerald to mint. Shown above, a set of six Mid-Century Modern emerald green crystal champagne coupes. Though West German, not Irish, they would still be perfect for your March 17th toast. They are featured center […]
Here in New York City the Winter White has finally melted—revealing mysterious brown layers of indeterminate origin (buried since the first snowfall weeks ago). Though that image is distasteful, I thought the Bode Willumsen vessel, pictured above, also captured the notion of a Mud Season—albeit in a natural, graceful, and more romantic manner. Made for […]
With two months of snow and freeze behind us—hopefully!—it’s worth looking-back on the poor NYC denizens of 1888. On this day of that year, after a period of unseasonably warm weather, “The Great Blizzard of 1888” struck the East Coast, dumping 50+ inches of snow on parts of the Eastern Seaboard over a three day […]
Just in: a handsome pair of Art Deco cufflinks from the 1920’s or 1930’s. Cobalt blue enameling surrounds an underlying pattern of metalwork—evocative of a musical staff or the fretwork on the neck of a guitar. This is but one pair of the more than 800 pairs of cufflinks in-store at LEO Design—many just received […]
We end our little tour of antique mirrors with this handsome English Arts & Crafts offering. Copper is hammered with a meandering poppy decoration resulting in a mirror that is functional as well as artful. Poppies—wild flowers from which one can extract a narcotic sedative—are associated with rest or sleep. In some places, the poppy […]
From 1920’s France, an iron-framed Art Deco mirror. The mirror has a crisp, machine-inspired angularity, with just a little spray of flowers at the top—a small nod to the previous Art Nouveau or Secessionist schools. Imagine this over an Art Deco sideboard, laden with crystal decanters, awaiting Nick and Nora Charles! Please come by the […]
Like yesterday’s mirror, this one also was made in Victorian England. It “reflects” a more-formal, more-refined English Arts & Crafts aesthetic. The brass surround is hand-hammered with a lush floral repoussé treatment—the result of hours of a craftsman’s labor. Perfect for a powder room, in a dining room, or beside the front door (for a […]
What a dreary winter we’ve had! It makes sense that cooped-up New Yorkers would seek to bring more light into their apartments. For this reason, we sell a lot of lighting fixtures and mirrors—which produce and reflect light—during the Winter and early Spring. Shown above, a hand-carved oak-framed bevelled mirror, crafted in Victorian England. Made […]
After a week of visiting my family on Kauai, I head back to New York today. I’ve had a brief reprieve from single-digit temperatures and a chance to “stretch the legs” of my camera—which is so used to tight, up-close merchandise shots. Above, a photo of Makaleha, visible from my father’s front deck. Roughly translated […]
Another of our new Japanese brass creatures is this Happy Hippo. She stands on four pointed feet, contemplating her good fortune. She joins her other Japanese brass mates—Rabbit, Pig, and Kitty. $165 each.
We’ve just received a small collection—a menagerie—of handsome and stylish Japanese brass animals. First they are cast in heavy brass, then laboriously hand-finished, resulting in sleek lines and a mirror finish. Perfect as a paperweight, a shelf decoration, or just a nice thing to pick-up and handle, any one of the four animals would make […]
And, lest you think only the Germans made beautiful coupes, please behold the champagne stem above, made in France in the 1930’s. Hand-etched with a simple, stylized floral motif, the bowl sits above a most unusual stem: an undulating—almost “tufted”—shaft. The set consists of eight stems. Please come into the shop to see them in-person […]
We end our parade of smoked crystal glassware with this high-style Modernist champagne coupe, made in West Germany in the 1960’s. Blown in a “soft square” form, the coupe evokes the early days of The Jet Age—when the globe could (at last) be traversed quickly and travel to distant planets began to color our imaginations. […]
Here’s a wine glass—sized perfectly for white wine or a hearty post-prandial tipple—with a more assertive Modernist aesthetic. Its “soft square” form was blown in Mid-Century West Germany of lightly-smoked crystal, creating a glass which is crisp and efficient, yet friendly. It comes as a set of eight, part of a collection of crystal glasses […]
Sometimes the classic form is perfect just the way it is—no further improvement is required. Such is the case with this set of eight West German Modernist crystal wine stems. Blown in a lightly-tinted “smoked” crystal, they enjoy just a whisper of a Modernist aesthetic—without abandoning the timeless, traditional and perfect design of their forebears. […]
Begin the Beguine—or anything else Cole Porter wishes to start! Shown above, from our trove of recently-acquired West German Modernist crystalware, a particularly voluptuous champagne coupe of lightly smoked crystal. You may see the piece in-store—along with its crystal brethren—or click on the photo above to learn more about this set of eight. Even Mr. […]
Another offering amongst our recently-acquired collection of West German crystal, now in-store: a large goblet-form red wine or water glass. Blown in the 1960’s of smoked crystal, it has the clean lines of its Modernist period and the classic aesthetic of an earlier time. Part of a set of eight, it is now available for […]
We’ve just acquired a group of Mid-Century German stemware, beautifully designed and crafted in a lightly smoked crystal: wine stems, water glasses, champagne coupes. Shown above, a wine glass blown in a crisp, Modernist, soft-square form. Generously sized, it’s perfect for red wine or water and is part of a set of eight. Please click […]
Gung Hay Fat Choy! A happy and prosperous new year to all—especially to all those born in the year of the goat! The Chinese zodiac is comprised of twelve “signs”—each lasting approximately one year—each represented by a different animal. People born under a particular sign are thought to share certain characteristics and personality traits with […]
Is there any number more-eagerly looked-forward to? In some ways, a perfect number: twice 9, half 36. And what young person doesn’t dream of someday reaching this milestone? A few “highlights” of the eighteenth number: • Civil War victor general, Ulysses S. Grant, was the 18th U.S. president. • In ancient Rome, 18 represented a blood […]
A satisfying voluptuousness is blown into this Art Deco amber glass decanter by Kosta. Made in Sweden, it also exhibits a trace of Northern European Bauhaus simplicity and captures perfectly a very specific aesthetic time period. You may see it in-person in the shop or click on the photo above to learn more about it.
An understated—yet handsome—decanter for wine or alcohol, made in Sweden by Stromberg. Softly-faceted panels compose this bottle-form vessel, blown of amber-tinted glass and topped with a substantial glass stopper. Please venture into the shop to see the decanter in-person or click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Treat your guests to a post-prandial nip with this handsome Swedish Modernist drinks service by Bergdala Glasbruk. Designer Bengt Orup (1916 – 1996) has crafted a clean and timeless design for this set of six glasses with complementing decanter and stopper. A light, radiant etched pattern is applied to the bottoms of the glasses, the […]
We’ve just received a collection of Scandinavian Modernist glass decanters, now in-store. Over the next few days, I’ll share a few select pieces with you here in the Journal. Some pieces will also be featured in our on-line shop. Please come to the shop to see the full new collection. Shown above, two Danish Modern […]
Soft squares of white mother-of-pearl are fashioned into a five-piece dress set, finished with 12 karat gold-plated settings. Worn complete as a set or worn as cufflinks alone, either way, these are a classic and classy way to finish your dressing. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this set or come […]
“Handsome Gifts” is our mission and Saint Valentine’s Day is a brisk season for us. Since Christmas, I have been aggressively re-building my cufflinks collection just for this purpose. Shown above, a pair of sterling silver Krementz cufflinks, enameled in white, edged in a fresh, light green. Please come into the shop to see them […]
A pair of pampered Pekingese pooches (perched on pillows) pose playfully in this pair of cast iron bookends from the 1920’s or 1930’s. Just received, these hard-to-find bookends have joined our collection of handsome dog bookends. Please come visit them in the shop; they’re eagerly awaiting adoption. Or click on the photo above to learn […]
Another interesting Mid-Century find: a seven piece cocktail service—complete with glass stirring-stick—banded with platinum rims. Enchant your guests with a round of mixed drinks, expertly prepared, in this handsome and stylish drinks set. Please come into the shop to see it—and the rest of our large vintage glassware collection.
Today we install our festive Valentine’s Day window: pewter frames, red art pottery, and platinum-banded crystalware. Shown above, a Mid-Century crystal champagne coupe—part of a set of eight—which you’ll find featured in the window, front-and-center. Made in Germany in the 1960’s, this set is but one of several sets of platinum-banded glasses for champagne, mixed […]
Need a patient (and quiet) fellow to hold your books? Perhaps these cast iron Japanese owl bookends will fit the task. Designed in an elegant Modernist manner, the metal is finished with a rustic brown patina. Click on the photo above to learn more about them or visit the shop in-person and see them “in-the-flesh.” […]
I, for one, have already had enough of The Winter Blues. The cold, the wind, the slush—I’m looking forward to some precious moments on the beach! Until such time, I’ll have to try a little harder to re-associate the season in a more positive direction. These Art Deco cufflinks, made in Newark, NJ in the […]
Domes of amethyst enameling cover an oval of radiant guilloché work on this pair of stately Art Deco era cufflinks—which is appropriate today, the first day of February, a month represented by the birthstone amethyst. After selling dozens of pairs of cufflinks during the Holiday season, I’ve been busy re-stocing before the next big “Cufflinks […]
Yesterday we looked-at a set of silver-plated cocktail stems, delicately hammered. Today it’s a copper tray, hammered a bit more rustically. A hammered surface on metal adds the warming touch of human craftsmanship and allows the artisan’s handwork to provide all the necessary decoration. Please click on the photo above to learn more about this […]
“In the old days” a silversmith never left hammering marks on a piece of wrought silver—it would be considered a crude indicator of poor craftsmanship. Instead, a metal smith would laboriously hammer-away at the piece, using increasingly smaller hammer “peens,” until a smooth, mirror-like surface remained. Think of Copley’s portrait of Paul Revere, inspecting his […]
Notre-Dame de Reims, or “Our Lady of Reims” (90 miles East of Paris), is amongst the most important cathedrals in Europe. Built on the site of an ancient Roman baths, it replaces an earlier basilica (built around 400 AD) which was destroyed by fire in 1211. Rebuilding of the “new” cathedral—that which we see today—began […]
Batik is a folk craft method of decorating textiles using a wax resist process. Fabrics are dyed, dried, then painted or printed with wax—which forms a resistant barrier for future dyings. When the fabric is dyed a second time, the new dye saturates all of the fabric except for where the painted wax has formed […]
Truly an American Renaissance Man, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1809. A precocious boy, he was educated at Phillips Academy, Harvard College and (after studying law for a time) received his medical training in Paris. Back in the States, he taught in the medical schools of Dartmouth and Harvard, eventually […]
Just in: a nice collection of Swedish Mid-Century crystal perfume bottles. Made by Orrefors or Kosta Boda in the 1950’s or 1960’s, each piece is a rather remarkable work of craftsmanship. Shown front-and-center, a pear-shaped bottle, whose stem has become the perfectly-fit bottle stopper. Other shapes exhibit various degrees of glass cutting and geometry. A […]
