Vintage Leather Abercrombie and Fitch Duck Doorstop by Dimitri Omersa England
View Similar Items
Vintage Leather Abercrombie and Fitch Duck Doorstop by Dimitri Omersa England
About the Item
- Creator:Dimitri Omersa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Width: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)Depth: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950’s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Ann Arbor, MI
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6641235138612
Dimitri Omersa
Omersa is best known for its iconic leather footstools and decorative objects that take on animal forms. The British furniture brand appropriately began with a pig.
Legend has it that a man named “Old Bill” worked for 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, made with top grain cowhide leather sourced from an environmentally responsible UK tannery and stuffed with the wood wool of European pine trees, is designed and produced by local craftspersons in Lincolnshire, England.
Find authentic Dimitri Omersa leather animals, decorative objects, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Lino Tagliapietra Effetre Murano Art Glass sculpture and stand signed and datedBy Lino TagliapietraLocated in Ann Arbor, MILino Tagliapietra Effetre Murano Art Glass sculpture and stand signed and dated 1982 from the edition of 100 number 37.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Barovier and Toso Murano Art Glass Dog Sculpture in Pink and Opalescent GlassBy Barovier&TosoLocated in Ann Arbor, MIBarovier and Toso Murano Art Glass dog sculpture in pink and opalescent glass Designed by Ercole Barovier. Amazing quality and execution.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Geometric Abstract Murano Glass Sculpture by Gino Vistosi, 1985By Gino VistosiLocated in Ann Arbor, MIAmazing abstract Murano glass sculpture signed and dated by Luciano Vistosi. Vibrant green layered glass with abstract white shapes. date...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Renato Anatra Gymnast Dancer Sculpture Murano Art Glass Signed by the ArtistBy Renato AnatraLocated in Ann Arbor, MIRenato Anatra Gymnast dancer sculpture Murano Art Glass Signed by the artist on the black applied base as shown.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsArt Glass
- Alfredo Rossi Signed and Dated Murano Black Glass Female Sculpture IrredescentBy Alfredo RossiLocated in Ann Arbor, MIAlfredo Rossi Signed and dated Murano black glass female sculpture with a glowing irredescent finish. Very high quality solid glass sculpture.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsArt Glass
- Boris Kramer Large and Heavy Abstract Stainless Steel Sculpture Artist SignedLocated in Ann Arbor, MIBoris Kramer Artist signed stainless steel Abstract sculpture. Sculpture is signed by the artist. Amazing design.Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Dimitri Omersa Leather Duck Doorstop by for Abercrombie and Fitch, 1950sBy Abercrombie & Fitch, Dimitri OmersaLocated in AMSTERDAM, NHA wonderful example of the leather duck doorstop (or paper weight) by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie and Fitch, circa 1950s. This is a collectible early...Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
- Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie and Fitch Leather Duck, U.K. 1950'sBy Abercrombie & Fitch, Dimitri OmersaLocated in Amsterdam, NLLeather duck stuffed with straw by Dimitri Omersa. The duck can be used as a door stop or as a decorative item in a kids room. It has traces of use.Category
Vintage 1950s British Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
- Vintage Dimitri Omersa Leather Elephant for Abercrombie and FitchBy Abercrombie & Fitch, Dimitri OmersaLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Dimitri Omersa leather elephant for abercrombie and fitch.Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
- Vintage Leather Elephant By Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch 1960sBy Dimitri Omersa, Abercrombie & FitchLocated in Troy, MIA leather elephant stool by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch Circa 1960s - 1970s Hand stitched leather with floppy ears leather tusks and tassel tail A unique example with rea...Category
Vintage 1960s English Modern Animal Sculptures
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
- Largest Leather Rhino Stool by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch, SignedBy Abercrombie & Fitch, Dimitri OmersaLocated in Lisse, NLA wonderful and original collectors example of the large-size rhinoceros footstool by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie and Fitch. This impressive size and highly decorative design Rhi...Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather, Glass