Like the Tube map or tea bag advertising or the badge on the hood of an English car, these cufflinks are very 1930’s British. The brown/cream/white enameling—combined with the soft, circular graphic design—screams (with restraint, of course) of that time between the wars when things were looking good and changing for the modern. Straight-forward, sensible, […]
Perfectly autumnal—indeed, suitable any season of the year—these enameled sterling silver cufflinks are embellished with violet over stylized floral guilloché work and surrounded by a crisp black and white border. Very handsome. Imagine them on a pink or light blue shirt. To appreciate them in-person, please stop-by the shop. Or, you may click on the photo […]
After traveling all the way to England, I found this lovely little creamer—from 19th Century America! Silver-plated and decorated with a stylized botanical Aesthetic Movement pattern, this little pitcher would be lovely serving wine, hot custard, or milk—as it was originally intended. How appropriate that I should end my overseas trip—returning from my stay in […]
From Late Victorian England, a cast iron Aesthetic Movement money box, circa 1890. Behind it stands a much more modern West German vase, circa 1960. What ties them together? Both pieces are inspired by earlier Asian design. When interpreted (and modified) by Western artists, Asian design is called “Orientalism”—a movement very popular in the late […]
From Arts & Crafts England, a little musical jewel box and a hand-hammered brass tray. The music box, made in the 1920’s or 30’s, is crafted in the form of a planked trunk. It plays Irving Berlin’s popular tune, “Always”, which he wrote and gave as a wedding gift to his bride, Ellin McKay—along with […]
Boy, I love the Gothic. I think that Gothic building represents the high point of the architectural craft. And Nineteenth Century Gothic Revival is right up there as well. And so, naturally, I am drawn to the Gothic Revival in the decorative arts. Shown above, a quick snap of a piece I just bought: a […]
The English Arts & Crafts Movement—like its counterparts in other parts of the world—drew inspiration from the culture, mythology and aesthetics of the past. Gothic strap work, medieval characters, ancient heraldry all became sources for design inspiration for turn-of-the-century craftsmen. In the example above—a handsome pair of oak barley twist candlesticks with hammered pewter bases—the […]
A Native American takes center stage on this work of Danish Art Nouveau ceramics by Ipsen. Dated 1907, the sculptor has presented his subject beautifully—noble, thoughtful, handsome. I found him in the South of England in the collection of a Danish ceramics connoisseur. He is crated and ready-to-go—I await the FedEx driver (here in Brighton) as […]
Shown above, a Late-Victorian English Steel Hat Box, circa 1880′ or 1890’s. Durable, functional, and aged with a beautiful patina, this container would have been used to protect a delicate hat—probably during carriage travel. Today it could be used for storage or to house anything from dog food to magazines to fireplace kindling. This handsome, […]
Perhaps the nicest pair of bookends I’ve ever bought! Certainly my favorite. English Arts & Crafts, circa 1900, of studded, hand-tooled brass set with blue ceramic cabochons. By my account, they’re sublime. Please come see them in the shop. All new purchases should be in-store by the end of October. More from the road tomorrow.
I’ve assembled a nice little collection of handsome brass candlesticks—from mid-19th century France and England. The three pairs shown above are just a bit bigger than average and would look equally at-home on a rustic farm table or at a sophisticated townhouse supper spread. Please come into the shop to see them and the rest […]
And now for a change of pace: behold this lovely pair of French Art Deco bookends, pictured above. Made in the 1930’s and signed “Gallot”, the deer are sculpted in spelter, treated with a verdigris bronze finish, and mounted upon black marble bases. Handsome, stylish and useful! These are just a small part of my recent acquisitions, purchased […]
Shown above, more from my recently-acquired collection of Modernist art pottery purchased in London this week. These examples were made by the Carstens Atelier and Scherurich Keramic, both in West Germany, in the 1960’s. To see these pieces in person, please come into the shop during the last week of October. By then, everything should […]
Greetings from rainy London! I am busy visiting London collectors and markets and have already made a good start on the buying. Today I acquired a number of pieces of Modernist art pottery including these red pieces (pictured above) from Italy and West Germany. Made in the 1960’s and 1970’s, these pieces will be at […]
My trunk is packed and I’ve hoisted it across the Atlantic. Today I begin a ten day shopping trip in England—starting in London, moving south, and, after that, wherever the trail leads. Over the last 20 years as a shopkeeper, I’ve met and befriended many collectors in various parts of the world. Some of them […]
The art of ceramics was mastered in various parts of the world at different times—and each culture contributed something different in the way of mastery. The Chinese knew the secret of producing the elusive red glaze (and weren’t about to share that secret with the Europeans!). The Dutch were known for their Defltware. And the […]
Like the photo frames shown yesterday, these handsome desk accessories are made of finely-cast pewter, plated with 24 karat gold, enameled, and decorated with hand-set Swarovski crystals. Made by jeweler Edgar Berebi in Providence, Rhode Island, this magnifying glass and letter knife will prove useful—while adding a measure of good taste to your office or […]
Something new: beautifully-crafted, lathe-turned brass tops in three different designs. A solid block of heavy brass is mounted to a lathe, spun, and “carved-down” into the shapes shown above. Modern, yes, though definitely classic. The quality and craftsmanship is immediately apparent the moment one of the tops is picked-up and handled. With a little practice, […]
For centuries, books—their preservation and their duplication—were the commission of the Church and the clergy. Countless monks spent countless hours bent over tables copying and decorating precious tomes. Once the Western printing press was invented (c. 1450), which made books much less-expensive and available to a much-wider audience, the laborious craft of the monk-scribe became […]
As we build-up our inventories for the Holidays, I’m always on the look-out for beautiful and interesting bookends. They make the perfect gift—handsome, useful, and everlasting. New Yorkers love books and, thus, they love bookends. With this in mind, I’ve purchased a new collection of bookends which I’d like to share with you over the next […]
Made in the 1960’s, these crystal stems are extra nice. Made of fine German crystal, they stand-upon a smokey-grey foot and are finished with a platinum rim—a classy decorative touch and a way to protect the crystal rims from chipping with use. The sets of six are available in a champagne coupe, demi-coupe, white wine glass, and red […]
We round-out our “show & tell” of newly-received West German pottery with these three pieces by Roth. Made in the 1960’s or 1970’s, they exhibit a particularly prominent “pumice” glazing which contrasts with its dripping red glaze. Although they are definitely Modernist, their earthy sensibility make them appealing to the Arts & Crafts aesthetic as […]
Amongst our newly-received European pottery comes this Rubenesque pitcher from Gräflich Ortenberg of West Germany. With a pleasingly-hefty feel and a decidedly voluptuous form, this piece will stand alone or join a grouping of pottery with equal aplomb. Please come into the shop to see more of our new pottery or click on the photo […]
Here we show a pair of West German pitchers—each from “a different side of the tracks.” The piece in front, made by Stein in the 1960’s or 1970’s, is part of a large production run. The base shape would have been glazed in a great many color (or textural) options—in this instance, a dark mossy […]
I love blue pottery and the West Germans did it well. Shown above, a range of blues by Scheurich, Kreutz, and Karlsruhe. From light to dark, textured to glossy, LEO Design has a wide range of blue art pottery vases. Please come into the shop to see our wide range of pottery—including the newly-acquired West […]
Like a foamy caffè latte, the pottery above is all about color and texture and taste. Though decidedly “not jolly,” a well-selected trio of these pieces could be “just the thing” in the right setting—against the right background color. The pieces above are made by the potteries Ruscha and Stein—plus a single piece of Dutch […]
In the first forty years of the Twentieth Century, America and England produced great quantities of “middle class” ceramics—the kinds of pieces that were bought inexpensively and used to decorate average, middle class homes. Such functional art pottery—vases, bowls and planters—were not considered “precious” or “sophisticated” but, rather, attractive and useful objets, intended to brighten a […]
We end our “Parade of Cufflinks” with a very handsome acquisition: a beautiful pair of enameled cufflinks from Art Deco England. Though British, they seem inspired by the Viennese Secessionism of the previous decade. They are part of a large collection of vintage cufflinks—recently-acquired and now in-store. Please click on the photo to learn more […]
Today marks the date: “Three-Months-‘Till-Christmas!” To help put you into the Holiday mood, we present the pair of cufflinks above—enameled in a festive green and red. But fear not! While we are busy preparing for the Holiday season—on buying trips, hiring staff, organizing our stockroom—you will not see a single pine garland or hear a […]
In the 1930’s, Art Deco was all the rage. Everything—from skyscrapers to automobiles to toasters—was designed in the streamlined, forward-looking manner which was initially called “Moderne.” The cufflinks above are no exception. Made in the 1930’s, they consist of faceted onyx glass “stones” set into decorative metal surrounds. They convey the spirit and style of […]
Made in England in the 1920’s or 1930’s, these red, enameled “Rugby Stripe” cufflinks are classic and sporty. They are part of a large collection of newly-acquired vintage cufflinks, now in-store. Please click on the photo to learn more about them or come into the shop to see the full array of vintage cufflinks. More […]
Though very simple, these glass amethyst cufflinks, set into gold-plated backs, are elegant—and far from plain. They were made during the 1920’s or 1930’s. Please click on the photo to learn more about them or come into the shop to see the full assortment of recently-acquired vintage cufflinks. More cufflinks tomorrow.
Moss agate doesn’t really contain any moss (or any other ancient plant matter) in it. Rather, the stone’s chemical components—compressed under pressure, with heat, over time—give the impression that fluffy bits of organic material have been trapped within the stone. And, sometimes, little landscapes can be imagined within the randomly abstract compositions. The cufflinks above […]
In the late Nineteenth Century, Western artists and designers became fascinated with “The Orient”—both the Near and Far East, which were increasingly opening-up to Europeans. Western artists looked to Asian design for inspiration and, after re-interpreting the look through European eyes, produced “Orientalist” designs: paintings, ceramics, sculpture jewelry, and fashion. Impressionist artists painted in […]
Also just-in, a pair of especially lustrous mother-of-pearl cufflinks. They’re bordered with 10 karat white gold fronts and finished with nicely gold-plated backs. White mother-of-pearl is a classic shirt button material, and, thus, a classic cufflink component. This pair just happens to be a little extra-nice. Please come into the shop to see the full […]
Shown above, another pair from our collection of newly-acquired vintage cufflinks—these crafted of polished carnelian cabochons. Carnelian is a hard, semi-precious stone found in Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany. Its rich, red color is due to the stone’s high Iron Oxide content. Carnelian has been mined for some 5,000 years and can be found as […]
I’ve recently purchased a cache of handsome cufflinks from a Fort Worth collector. Over the next few days, I’ll share some of them with you. Please come into the shop if you’d like to see the full assortment. Shown above, a pair of Art Deco beauties, enameled in bold black and robin’s egg blue. A […]
Let’s close-out with another look at our NYC-made frames—this time in their original pewter finish. Pewter—an alloy of tin, copper, antimony and (in this case) a touch of silver—is cast in a foundry in Queens, New York. Burrs and other irregularities are then hand-chased (cleaned-off) before the frames are polished and mounted with glass and […]
The frames above are another part of our extensive collection of photo frames. Made in Europe, the frames are first constructed in wood, coated with gesso, then incised with various decorative elements if applicable to that design. Next, the frames are water gilded with 24 karat gold leaf—paper thin sheets of pure gold. Finally, certain […]
In the ancient sand-cast method, an object to be duplicated is pushed-down into a tray of sand, leaving a crude (but serviceable) mold for casting. Then, molten metal—be it bronze, iron or brass—is poured into the impression which, when it cools, is removed, cleaned-up, and polished. Mankind has been using this technique at least since […]
Photo frames are a significant part of our “Handsome Gifts” business, especially when new babies or the newly-married are involved. The photo above shows some of our new styles, recently-received in store. These frames—made right here in New York City!—are cast in pewter, hand-chased (cleaned-up), and then plated in 22 karat gold. They come in […]
As we wrap-up our look at Autumn wedding parties, let’s turn our attention to the man who is sometimes overlooked during the nuptial planning frenzy: the father-of-the-groom. While traditional wedding practices usually highlight the mother-of-the-bride (and, often the bride’s father), the groom’s dad is often left out of the spotlight. Yet—quite possibly—there is no prouder man […]
In recent days, I’ve written about the up-coming Autumn wedding season—vintage glassware (a popular wedding gift) and cufflinks (a nice gift for the groom). Here’s another thought: how about some handsome cufflinks for the groomsmen? The pair of cufflinks shown above were made in the 1930’s—during the Art Deco period—and are fashioned of nicely-beveled black […]
While we’re talking about autumn weddings, how about something for the groom(s)? A beautiful and classic dress set would make a nice gift for the husband-to-be. The set above, made in the 1930’s, is crafted of black mother-of-pearl mounted into octagonal, shield-form settings. The set can be worn complete (for black tie) or just as […]
Another beautiful champagne coupe—of mid-century German crystal—is rimmed with a thin band of platinum. The metal banding gives strength to the delicate rim and provides an elegant, finishing touch. Made between 1964 and 1974, the set of six glasses would make a wonderful gift—for a newly-married couple or for oneself. Please come into the shop […]
With Autumn wedding season approaching, we’ve bought more vintage glassware which makes a lovely nuptial gift. Shown above, a crystal champagne coupe from the 1940’s, hand-etched with a simple decoration along the bowl’s lower ridge. We have two sets of six glasses on-hand. Please come into the shop to see them or call at your […]
Rome—“The Eternal City”—is one of Europe’s oldest continuously-occupied cities at over 2,700 years of age. Once the capital of the entire (vast!) Roman Empire, today it is simply the capital of Italy (and is that country’s most-populous city). The greatest artists of all time have worked-in and contributed to Roman art and architecture including Michelangelo, […]
Another part of our newly-acquired Japanese glassware collection is shown above, all hand-etched with a stylish “Harvest Wheat” motif. The collection includes martini, champagne, and wine stems plus rocks glasses, high balls, cordials, sherry stems and brandy snifters. A shaker, ice bucket, and cocktail pitcher (with glass stirrer) rounds-out the collection. All sold a la […]
We’ve just purchased an entire (large) collection of Japanese glassware including the Mid-Century “Icy Blue” Crystal pictured above—wine glasses, liquor stems, and port glasses, as well as champagne coupes, demi-coupes, and flutes. Just a touch of blue gives a visual chill to the crystal while the “soft square” shapes lend a Moderinist aesthetic. Please come […]
From our earliest days, we’ve been mesmerized by the sapphire—birthstone for the month of September. It is amongst the hardest of gemstones and amongst the most-expensive, as well. And, some might argue, sapphires are the most beautiful. Sapphires belong to the corundum family which includes rubies. In fact, sapphires and rubies are often found in […]
We’ve had a wonderfully temperate summer, yet, alas, it is coming to an end. Yet before we pull-out our autumn sweaters—and put-away our warm weather toys—perhaps there’s time for a round or two on the links. If not, how about this set of six mid-century rocks glasses? A dapper golfer—as if caught in stop motion—demonstrates […]
Previously sold-out, we’ve just received a shipment of wooden Presidential Blocks—an interesting and nicely-crafted gift for children or adults. Laser-carved and printed with non-toxic inks (and made in America!), each block bears a portrait of a president, the years of his term(s), the location of his birth and death, his party, and the sequence number […]
And, if yesterday marked four months ’till Christmas, today marks four months ’till Boxing Day—the day when (traditionally) English servants and tradesmen would get the day off—and maybe a present—from their employers. Speaking of boxes, the one pictured above—made of quarter-sawn oak in the early Twentieth Century—is very handsome, indeed. The oak strapping and brass […]
Perish the thought: Christmas is four months away! Here at LEO Design, we’re well-into our pre-Holiday planning: writing orders, scheduling staff, booking buying trips. The season will be here before we know it. The cufflinks above—enameled in a pattern of woven red and green ribbons—are rather “Christmassy”, don’t you think? But, rest assured, they are […]
The Ukrainian flag flies bright and crisp—a clear blue sky over a golden wheat field. Today is Independence Day of Ukraine and it commemorates the country’s Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Celebrations are held throughout Ukraine, as well as in Brussels (capital of the European Union), Chicago, and (sometimes) in Russia. […]
This beautiful pair of French Art Nouveau vases—crafted circa 1910—are on their way back home. Repatriated by a French décorateur d’intérieur, they are glazed in a crystalline Mediterranean blue over an olive green underglaze. We enjoyed them while they were here; now they’ll brighten someone else’s maison.
Just-in, a set of 1930’s wine stems with faceted, emerald green bowls. They are part of a recently-acquired collection of glassware now in-store. Please come into the shop to see them or call for further information.
Finally, we wrap-up (almost) a week of hand-crafted Arts & Crafts trays and plates. Copper or brass, silver-plated or un-adorned, each, in its way, reflects a different aspect of the International Art Nouveau Movement. We end with the tray above—English Arts & Crafts circa 1910—which is hand-hammered and tooled with a scrolling Ivy decoration. […]
Another hand-crafted Arts & Crafts tray is this sweet copper rendition, designed in an “oval spiked quatrefoil” form. Made in Edwardian England right around the turn-of-the-century, it references the Medieval Gothic—one of the many historical and cultural touchstones used by British Arts & Crafts designers. It has a “churchy” feeling without being dour or too […]
Throughout the worldwide Arts & Crafts movement, one of the defining characteristics of the style is the reliance on the crafted material to provide a significant portion of the work’s aesthetic appeal. On a copper plate, the hammered texture of the copper becomes the decoration. On an oak fireplace mantel, the wood’s grain provides the […]
Like the Norwegian copper plate presented yesterday, this one is also from the early Twentieth Century. It is English Arts & Crafts and the hand-hammered repoussé work takes the form of a border of scrolling grape vines—complete with leaves and clusters of fruit. First crafted in brass, then silver-plated, parts of the underlying metal have […]
I only knew one thing about this little copper plate when I discovered it: I loved it! A little sleuthing uncovered that it’s Arts & Crafts from Scandinavia—Norway to be precise. Designers and craftsmen throughout the world-wide Art Nouveau Movement often revived (and adapted) ancient historical and cultural references from their specific cultures. The […]
In recent days we’ve presented glassware from Japan, from the Czech Republic, and, now, from Venezia, Italia. The emerald green liquor service, shown above, was mouth-blown on the little island of Murano—floating a short vaporetto ride from La Serinissima, “The Most Serene,” the floating “City of Bridges.” This set was made right around 1950, when […]
Austrian designer, Josef Hoffmann, was born in 1870 in Brtnice, a cluster of tiny villages in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire—and which today lies within The Czech Republic. Though he is most closely associated with Vienna—where he developed the Viennese Secession and was a founding father of the Wiener Werkstätte—Hoffmann’s influence reached far beyond […]
Like the soft, rosy petals of the Cherry Blossom, these Japanese crystal champagne coupes are touched with a blush of pink. Made in the 1960’s, these two sets of six stems are a simple and elegant way to serve your guests graciously. Please come into the shop to see them—and the many sets of beautiful […]
Made in Mid-Century Italy for importer Rosenthal-Netter, this Modernist vase has a hand-made, “tribal” feeling to it. A manually-incised band encircles the red clay vase which is glazed in a mottled, earthy chartreuse. The color is not universally appropriate, but—in the right environment, against the right background—it could be dynamite. Please click on the photo […]
A pretty piece of art pottery, new to the shop. Made by Weller around 1933, this Art Deco piece has a raised, hand-painted botanical decoration which lies upon the shoulder of the “genie bottle” form. Delicate without being feminine, it would make a nice addition to just about anyone’s art pottery collection. Please come into […]
The star sign, Leo, continues into August; what better time to present this recently-acquired pair of bookends? Cast in iron and finished with a bronzed patina, the well-executed bas relief shows a resting male lion in profile. It is framed in a crisp, Art Deco frame. Part of our new assortment of just-received bookends—and another great […]
While many people consider the 18th Century the high water mark of design—the age of science, enlightenment and democracy—I seem to take a contrarian view. In terms of architecture, painting and the decorative arts, the 18th Century is my least favorite period I like what came before it (The Classical, Romanesque, Gothic, Elizabethan, Jacobean and Renaissance) […]
Beautifully modeled and crisply cast, these cast iron bookends capture the pitching and swaying of a Viking ship as it sets-out across roiling seas. Adventurous and romantic—in an old world way— these bookends might inspire a youngster’s dream of adventure (or an adult’s memory of youthful dreams of adventure). These bookends are just a part […]
We continue our introduction of recently-acquired bookends with a trip to the American Prairie. The bookends above, cast in iron in the 1930’s, show an American Bison surveying his domain from atop a bluff. Vast herds of these beasts once roamed the American West; imagine the trembling ground, the rising dust, and the deafening roar […]
We’ve recently purchased a nice collection of vintage bookends which can now be seen in-store. Over the next few days we’ll show some of them here in the journal. They’ll also be added to the on-line shop as we are able to clean, price, and photograph them. The pair above, cast in bronze, show an […]
Though not “glassware” in the conventional sense, this newly-acquired piece is beautiful nevertheless. Made in 1960’s Murano, Italy, it would make a substantial contribution to any domestic vignette—warm antique or cool modern. While it functions as an ashtray, it also provides a sculptural anchor to any desk, credenza or coffee table. Please click on the […]
Today’s the day! For one, the sun enters LEO, making today the first day of that (glorious) sun sign. Secondly, today marks the one year anniversary of our new, improved website (which you’re looking at). And three, it’s my birthday! The lion above, emerging from his jungle hideaway, is part of pair of “Wildcats” bookends […]
From Japan, a set of six Mid-Century champagne coupes, hand-crafted in smokey crystal with just a hint of purple. It’s another part of our recently-acquired collection of glassware, now in-shop—and just in-time for the wedding gift-giving season. Please come into the shop to see the full collection.
Also from Japan, another set of crystal champagne coupes, this time in icey blue. This set of six would be perfect for hosting—any season of the year. Nicely-weighted and finished. We also found the same pattern in two sizes of wine glasses. Please come into the shop to see them and the rest of our […]
Travel “Back to the Sixties” with this set of six Mid-Century high balls, decorated with a black and gold “Top Shelf” motif. Stylish, fancy—and thoroughly Modernist—these tumblers are one set of recently-acquired glassware now in-store. Please come into the shop to see the full assortment or click on the photo above to learn more about […]
A touch of the ancient joins Mid-Century Modern in this set of six high ball drinks glasses, printed with a pattern of coins and crests. They’re part of a recently-received shipment of glassware, now in-store. Please come into the shop to see them—and the rest of the shipment—or click on the photo to learn more […]
In our recent shipment of recently-acquired, vintage glassware, you’ll find the Deutsch Weingläser—German wine glasses—pictured above. Smoked crystal is rimmed with a ring of platinum to create these Modernist (yet thoroughly classic) wine stems which feel lovely in-the-hand. They are beautifully sophisticated without being pretentious. Please click on the photo to learn more about them, […]
Make your Sunday Soirée the talk of the town with this swanky beverage service from the 1960’s. Mirrored rims fade to clear on the eight high ball glasses which nestle into a chromed carrier. A mirrored ice bucket and pair of tongs complete the service. Please come into the shop to see this beverage service—or […]
Another nice set of glasses—part of our new shipment of vintage glassware—is this lot of eight amethyst glass tumblers from the 1960’s. Bottom-weighted and having a luxurious, heavy hand-feel, they also have a rippled interior design which creates a soft, “optic” effect. Perfect for a glass of red wine. Please come into the shop to […]
From post WWII Germany, a set of six smoked crystal champagne coupes, finished with platinum rims. Part of a new shipment of glassware now in-store. Come into the shop to see them or click on the photo to learn more about them. More new glassware in days to come.
On this day in 1789, French revolutionaries stormed and captured the 14th century Paris fortress called the Bastille Saint-Antoine. Long used as a prison by the kings of France, the citadel was a potent symbol of the monarchy’s dominance. Once captured, its name became a rallying cry for the rag-tag revolutionaries. To this day, 14 […]
We conclude the parade of newly-acquired, Modernist ceramics with a little Italian diversion. The trio of pieces, shown above, were made for the Italian company Raymor in the 1960’s. They capture beautifully the Italian’s mastery of line, form, and style—and represent Italian Modernism perfectly. Please come into the shop to see the entire new collection.
The little pitcher, pictured above, has a frothy yellow-orange glaze over a red underglaze and was made by Scheurich in the 1960’s or 1970’s. It’s part of a large collection of Modernist art pottery just acquired and now in-store. Please stop by the shop to see the entire collection of new pottery. More art pottery […]
Our newly-acquired collection of West German art pottery includes the piece above, made by Fohr in the 1960’s or 1970’s. It’s one of two dozen pieces of (mostly) red (mostly) West German Modernist ceramics recently purchased by LEO Design and now in-store. Please visit the shop to see the entire collection. More art pottery tomorrow. […]
The piece above, by Jasba, was made in West Germany in the 1960’s or 1970’s. It is one of two dozen new pieces of Modernist art pottery recently acquired and now in-store. Come visit the shop to see the entire collection. More new acquisitions tomorrow.
Our new collection of West German art pottery continues with the pieces above by Bay and Jasba. They were made in the post-war 1960’s and 1970’s. Please come into the shop to see the entire new collection. More new West German pottery in the next few days.
We’ve just acquired a new collection of (mostly) red, (mostly) West German art pottery from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Two dozen pieces from various post-war ceramics workshops. Shown above are pieces by Scheurich, Jopeko and Gräflich Ortenburg. Please visit the shop to see the entire collection. More of the new collection in days to come. […]
The Empire State Building stands boldly on this new greeting card by artist Dan Durkin. While the collection is not new—we’ve been selling Dan’s cards for a few years—the card shown above was made recently at our special request. Dan creates the original art work, prints the cards, then hand-applies touches of gouache before delivering […]
More hand-made greeting cards, printed one-at-a-time in a small Vermont art studio. The collection above—in red, buff, and white—are great for summer without being nautical. Please come into the shop to see the full range of new, summer-appropriate greeting cards. More new cards tomorrow.
Just in time for summer, I’ve received a delivery of hand-crafted greeting cards, made (one-at-a-time) in a small Vermont art studio. First the artist hand-carves the design into a linoleum block which is then inked and used to impress the design directly onto the paper. The original designs are fresh and perfect for the season—reminiscent […]
Happy Fourth of July! LEO Design will be open today from Noon ’til 6:00 pm. We’d be happy to see you! Shown above, a set of American-made, hand-crafted wooden blocks—decorated with a nautical theme. Laser cut and printed in non-toxic inks, these blocks show nautical flags, semaphore signaling, morse code signals, letters of the alphabet, […]
Perfect for Summer! We’ve just acquired a collection of West German art pottery—glazed in a fresh, summery turquoise—by Gräflich Ortenburg. The workshop was founded in the small village of Tambach, central Germany, just after the war in 1946 and closed in 1968. The pieces above were made in the last years of the company’s existence. […]
I’ve only ever been to Siena in the Autumn—well after the annual summer horse races which have helped make the Medieval city famous. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help being taken with the magnificent, bowl-shaped Piazza del Campo and imagine it packed with spectators, the thunder of horses hooves creating a sense of excitement and danger. […]
It’s July and the month’s birthstone is the ruby. Alas, I am clean-out of rubies—though I did manage to find this handsome pair of ruby enameled cufflinks from the Art Deco period. The said ruby enameling lies over radiant guilloché work and the whole lot is set into gold-plated mountings. Not rubies, fair enough, […]
Another interesting pair of cufflinks, new to the shop: sterling silver Vietnamese dragons snarling—ready to strike—from their positions, coiled upon your wrists. Probably from the 1920’s or 1930’s, these cufflinks are unlike any I’ve ever found. Please click on the photo to learn more about them. More cufflinks tomorrow.
