Omersa Leather Elephant, 1960s England **DEPOSIT TWO**
About the Item
- Creator:Omersa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 31 in (78.74 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1853329974792
Omersa
Omersa is best known for its iconic leather decorative objects, footstools and other seating and furnishings that take on animal forms. The British brand appropriately began with a pig.
Legend has it that a man named “Old Bill” worked for the eclectic department store Liberty of London and wanted to use leftover scraps of leather from handmade luggage to craft an animal-shaped footstool. The first swine-shaped ottoman was born in 1927. Decades later, in 1958, Yugoslavian native Dimitri Omersa had found work in the leather industry in a town in Hertfordshire after time spent imprisoned in the years following World War II. He was working for an independent leather company when he and Bill crossed paths. Taking a shine to one another, Dimitri took over production of the playful leather pig footstools and ottomans for Liberty, and Old Bill retired.
Omersa’s line of animal-themed furnishings expanded to include donkeys, elephants and more. The company made these home accessories in the United Kingdom specifically for Liberty until the mid-1970s and the ears of the lovable leather creatures that were produced during the era are said to have been adorned with the retailer’s branding. A leather badge now appears on the furnishings that is inclusive of the name Omersa as well as the year of manufacture.
Today Omersa creates bespoke leather stools, desktop accessories and other seating in various animal shapes. The company’s artisans rely on traditional methods to craft each of their pieces by hand, paying particular attention to sustainable practices. To this day, Liberty continues to stock the Omersa animals it has carried since the 1930s.
In 1963, the animals crossed the pond to America and won a gold medal at the California State Fair. The mid-1960s saw a relationship take shape between Omersa and Abercrombie & Fitch — long before it transformed into a clothing mecca for teens in the 1990s and early 2000s — while the 1980s saw Omersa forge a partnership with Scully and Scully, a purveyor of luxury furniture and decor founded in New York City.
Dimitri Omersa passed away in 1975, but the animals continued to be produced by his wife Inge for another decade.
While the ownership of the business has changed hands more than once since then, Omersa’s artisans continue to create a range of animal-shaped decorative objects and furnishings that include sheep, cows, horses and more. Annual production is limited, and each piece is made with top grain cowhide leather sourced from an environmentally responsible UK tannery. Authentic Omersa furniture and decor is stuffed with the wood wool of European pine trees and is designed and produced by local craftspersons in Lincolnshire, England.
Find antique and vintage Omersa furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Los Angeles, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Omersa Leather PigBy OmersaLocated in Los Angeles, CARare leather pig by Omersa. Heavy, functional stool for an adult. Old model with elongated snout Made in England, Circa 1960s. Beautiful vintage coloring a...Category
Vintage 1960s English Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
- 1960s De Sede Leather TurtleBy De SedeLocated in Los Angeles, CARare turtle shaped ottoman by Swiss designer De Sede. Circa 1960s. Very heavy and well made. This fun and unique turtle shaped ottoman can be used as a sit...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
- Vintage Omersa Leather DonkeyBy Dimitri OmersaLocated in Los Angeles, CAClassic leather donkey by Omersa. Definitely a very early model. Missing eyes and ears and tail. Great looking age and patina. Perfect stool, ottoman or...Category
Vintage 1950s Great Britain (UK) Ottomans and Poufs
MaterialsLeather
- Wood Tripod Stool, 1960s FranceLocated in Los Angeles, CAMinimalist wooden tripod stool made in France, circa 1960s. Substantial and chunky, this stool has 3 club legs that screw into base. Raw grain to the wood which gives the piece nice ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Stools
MaterialsWood
- Chunky Wood Tripod Stool, 1960s FranceLocated in Los Angeles, CATripod stool made in France, circa 1970s with a light wood with a raw finish. Great minimalist design. Functional stool. Perfect for books or objects as well. Seat diameter 13".Category
Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Stools
MaterialsWood
- Wood Tripod Stool with Backrest, 1960s FranceLocated in Los Angeles, CAUnusual wooden stool made in France, circa 1960s. Substantial and chunky. Three legs with angled backrest. Great sculptural stool with a lot of presence...Category
Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Stools
MaterialsWood
- 1960s Vintage Leather Elephant Stool, Dmitri OmersaBy Dimitri OmersaLocated in Downingtown, PAVintage Leather Elephant Stool or Ottoman, Dmitri Omersa, 1960s The leather footstool is designed in the shape of an elephant in a beautiful leather. The tusks are white leather an...Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- Dimitri Omersa & Co Pig in Leather for Abercrombie, England, 1980By Dimitri OmersaLocated in Paris, FRVery nice Pig by Dimitri Omersa & Co in leather for Abercrombie England 1980 Good condition.Category
Mid-20th Century English Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- Omersa Made in England Handcrafted Leather Rhino Footstool / Ottoman, Circa 1960By Dimitri Omersa, OmersaLocated in Los Angeles, CADimitri Omersa handcrafted leather rhino footstool or ottoman. Circa 1960's. The leather is very thick and shows patina and wear throughout. ...Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- Leather Elephant Small Footstool, by Dimitri Omersa, 1960sBy Dimitri OmersaLocated in Delft, NLLeather Elephant small footstool, by Dimitri Omersa, 1960s An Elephant footstool, made in brown leather and firmly filled with straw, by Dimitri Omersa, 1960s The elephant was the first piece designed by Dimitri Omersa when it took over the art of making leather animals from “old bill...Category
20th Century British Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- 1960s Dimitri Omersa Leather Rhino Retailed by Abercrombie & Fitch - RestoredBy Dimitri OmersaLocated in St. Louis, MOEarly Vintage 1960s leather ottoman / sculpture in form of Rhino, made by Omersa and was retailed by Abercrombie & Fitch. This rhino has been refurbished, including new Omersa factor...Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- Very Rare Small Infant Liberty London Omersa Brown Leather Piglet Pig FootstoolBy Omersa, Liberty of LondonLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely sublime very rare and original 1930’s Liberty’s London Omersa brown leather land dyed infant Piglet stool or footstool with origina...Category
Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather