Decorative Leather Pig by Dimitri Omersa, 1950s

Details

Description

A brown cowhide leather animal figurine: a handcrafted leather pig by Omersa.

Dimitri Omersa (1927–1985) was one of the most … Read more A brown cowhide leather animal figurine: a handcrafted leather pig by Omersa.

Dimitri Omersa (1927–1985) was one of the most extraordinary and iconic figures in 20th-century furniture design and applied arts. His name is synonymous with hand-stitched, high-end leather figurines (footstools, poufs, and home accessories) that remain treasured collector's items. Through his work, he met an older leather craftsman who supplied the luxury London department store "Liberty of London" and was known in the industry simply as "Old Bill."

Legend has it that the first leather bunny was created almost by accident in the late 1920s: "Old Bill" didn't want to throw away the leather scraps left over from making luxury trunks and, in his spare time, sewed a small piglet filled with compressed cotton wool. In the 1960s, he began exporting them to the United States. After winning a gold medal at the California State Fair in 1963, Abercrombie & Fitch, the favorite luxury department store of billionaires, included his products in its catalog. The leather animals became indispensable status symbols in the homes and country houses of the American and British elite.

Over the decades, the cowhide leather develops an incomparably beautiful, deep brown patina. The shape and stitching technique of the piece shown in the image perfectly embody the key stylistic features of the Omersa design.

Dimensions:
37 cm long
28 cm high
16 cm wide I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
from
misattribution See less