Though I lived in New York for 27 years, I never knew that the New York Historical Society exhibited a sensational collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany leaded glass lamps and other Tiffany Studio objets. 100 lamps—table lamps, lanterns, chandeliers—are beautifully displayed in a two-floor gallery. Never have I seen such a wonderful accumulation of Tiffany items, all in one place. Besides lamps, there are a small number of desk accessories and a large stained glass window depicting the good shepherd. The collection—indeed the entire New York Historical Society—is a true gem. It was a hidden gem, for me (at least for 27 plus the six years I've been gone). But it's hidden no more. I intend to visit frequently, whenever...
This lamp, sunny even when turned-off, is positively luminous once turned-on. The ceramic body, made in the Sixties or Seventies, is decorated with high-texture, dripping organic orange and brown glazes. It has a particularly comforting presence—and is useful for illuminating your home.
The dark days of winter make us crave more light. And, if we cannot find the real kind, we will seek the "homemade" variety. This Aladdin brass oil lamp was made in Chicago in the 1910's. It was such a well-designed lamp, it won the Grand Prize at the 1915 San Francisco Panama-Pacific International Exhibition. Today, it provides nice, warm light in little corner or atop a table. The curvaceous milk glass shade softens and spreads the light throughout the room.
Let's end our parade of lighting with this special brass lamp—one which provides a little extra "oomph." A handsomely tapering brass shaft, with a vertically ribbed base, is lashed with brass lacing and punctuated with brass studding. This "laced and studded" embellishment does not push the design over-the-top. Instead, it provides just the right textural enhancement to an otherwise classic table lamp silhouette. The "laced" finial, atop, adds the final perfect detail to a handsome, timeless lighting fixture.
This lamp, made in New England, is one of a handful offered in my on-line store.
Don't let the slender profile of this lamp, shown above, fool you. It is heavy, solid and stable, indeed. For many years, one of these lamps has stood on the corner of my cash wrap desk—secure against bumping, modest in its footprint, and providing ample light (with handsome style). Note the exceptional, pointed finial—evidence that this lamp was designed and produced with great attention to detail. It would have been very easy for the lamp maker to throw a nice, generic finial atop the fixture. Instead, the lamp maker designed a custom finial for this lamp alone—which adds the crowning touch to this exceptional light fixture. This lamp, made in New England, is one of a handful offered in my...
Sometimes one needs nice light in a narrow space—say, atop a mantelpiece, on a small bedside table, or upon a sideboard or credenza. A candelabra lamp, like the one shown above, provides plenty of style despite its modest dimensions. It would even work well in the center of a library table or partners' desk. The base has a spare 5" x 9" footprint and the shade is just a few inches bigger.
This lamp, made in New England, is one of a handful offered in my on-line store.
Though the days gradually are getting longer, this time of year is still a season of darkness. People want more light! The holidays—Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years—all do their best to brighten-up this darkest time of the year, often by adding cheerful light. It's also a time of year when merchants see an uptick in their sales of lamps and other lighting. The heavy, columnar brass lamp, shown above, will certainly contribute a healthy measure of "clubby gravitas" to any home, office or business. In fact, one theatrically-gifted Anglophile fashion designer's decorator bought a dozen of them from me for the company's (then new) supper club in London. They were placed atop banquet seat dividers and looked wonderful (they sent me...
It is not only one week 'til Christmas. It is also the first night of Hanukkah! Hanukkah—the eight night "Festival of Lights"—celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple by God's People of Israel. The Books of Maccabees relates a story that only one night's worth of lamp oil could be found—and yet—the lamp burned for eight nights. Hanukkah menorah have eight candles, one for each night of the celebration, plus the "shammash" or "attendant" candle which is placed higher (or lower) than the other eight. This shammash candle is used to light the other eight candles—one each night. The Modernist bronze menorah, shown above, is ready for the Holiday Season. Click on the photo above to learn more about it....
After San Francisco's devastating earthquake of 1906—and the fires which followed, which were worse—the city was in need of a jump-start. The "San Francisco Panama-Pacific International Exhibition" of 1915 was the kind of celebration and promotion that brought the world to The City by the Bay. In truth, this world's fair was intended to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal the previous year. However, civic and business leaders also knew that such an event could be a wonderful showcase for San Francisco, encouraging industry and tourism for the city. A square mile of land—inconceivable today—was used to build-out the fair. A telephone line was run from New York City which allowed New Yorkers to hear the Pacific live. The...
Autumn is here. As the days grow shorter—and the nights longer—we lose more and more natural light. We spend more time indoors, especially in the evenings, and need (and crave!) more light. It's no surprise, then, that we see a seasonal spike in lamp purchasing in the Fall and Early Winter months. Although we have sold hundreds of antique lamps over the years, I have also carried this line of handmade contemporary brass lighting (from New England) since our first year in 1995. This Library Table Lamp is one of our recent additions to the selection. It has a handsome, traditional style and would look equally handsome on a desk, on end tables, or even on a mantelpiece. It holds...
In old glass factories, where craftsmen were making objects out of colored glass, any broken pieces, scraps or bits of leftover glass would be tossed into a pile called the "slag heap." Every now and then, the artisans would scoop-up a shovelful of this random, mixed-color glass for use in making a one-of-a-kind art glass piece—perhaps a bowl, a lamp shade, or a sheet of flat glass to be used for a stained glass window. Such one-off pieces of glass were called "slag glass."
The fourth and last of our "lamp show" is this "Laced & Studded" beauty. It will bring a sculptural dimension to your room, thanks to the hand-fitted embellishments. It also has a wonderful custom-sculpted finial. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Even when turned-off, this lamp seems to radiate light and warmth. The ceramic lamp, dressed in a highly-textured orange glaze, screams Mid-Century Modern. It was made in the 1960's or 1970's and you can learn more about it by clicking on the photo above.
More lighting tomorrow.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248
Though slender, this lamp still packs an aesthetic punch! And don't let its willowy silhouette belie its substantial weight and gravitas. One such lamp will fit the trickiest of small spaces. Two (or more) of them make a strong statement on a sideboard or at bedside. Click on the photo above to learn more about it. More lighting in the days to come. Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com). We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com). Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh...
It's been about eight weeks that our days have been getting longer. And now's the time when we fully begin to recognize and appreciate the extended light. In celebration of "The Season of Increasing Light," we'll be sharing a small collection of light fixtures, now available on-line at LEO Design. This handsome and substantial lamp is in the form of a heavy column, with a "turned" base and capital. It really makes a statement—with its strong lines and considerable "visual weight." Click on the photo above to learn more about it. And always feel welcome to give us a call if you have questions about this lamp (or any other piece). More lighting in the days to come. Though...
While checking-in to The Hotel Metropol in Moscow, I could not help but think of the protagonist, The Count, in Amor Towles's best-selling novel, A Gentleman in Moscow. I had locked-up my home door behind me some 26 hours earlier—and I was more than a little fried from the very long journey (on three cramped airplanes, through four bustling airports). Nevertheless, I was invigorated by the historic hotel's warm Art Nouveau interior—and fell in love with the original period brass chandeliers which hovered over the storied lobby. In my mind's eye, I could picture The Count, seated in the corner of that very lobby (partially hidden by a potted palm), silently observing the object of his desire, the film star Anna Urbanova, as...
This “Bank Manager’s Lamp” is classic, heavy and perfect for a stately desk. And the base forms a convenient “tray”—the perfect place to stash business cards, notepads, paperclips or your mobile phone. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. More brass lamps tomorrow. LEO Design’s Greenwich Village […]
Joining our “parade” of lamps is this simple—and simply handsome—option. It’s a tapered brass column, set upon a heavy square base, and finished with a completing tapered final. This lamp is not too big, not too small—just perfect for bedside, sideboard or mantlepiece. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it. And please call us for further information about our lamps, including various shade options, lead times, or any other questions you might have.
Here's another handsome brass lamps, made by a small New England company. Heavy, well-finished and very good looking, it comes with a soft antique finish which will darken over time. If you want, you can polish it up for a bright finish. Personally, I like to give it a kiss of polish every six to nine months—just enough to make them look clean, not too bright. The lamp above is formed of a heavy column upon a handsomely-turned base. It provides substantial punctuation in any room—singly or in pairs. Please click on the photo above to learn more about it and feel free to call for further information on shade options, lead times or dimensions. LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is...
A handsome, contemporary brass lamp, this one lashed with brass laces and punctuated with brass studs. This lamp sits equally well in either an antique, traditional or Modernist setting. It has a specially-crafted finial which completes the laced, tapered look. Please click on the photo to learn more about it.
LEO Design's Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed. While we contemplate our next shop location, please visit our on-line store which continues to operate (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
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On this day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped the switch at his Pearl Street electrical generation plant, thereby electrifying one square mile of lower Manhattan—59 customers in all. Having invented and patented the electric light bulb two years earlier, Edison had turned his attention to creating an electric delivery infrastructure to compete with similar utilities […]
Another wonderful Mother’s Day gift—one that’s pretty, useful and bright. It has had a long and interesting journey and it still looks great! In the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, department stores were the premier shopping venues in American cities, East to West. The very best department stores became the taste-makers for the carriage trade—and for […]
