Leather Elephant Stool by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch, c 1963, Signed
View Similar Items
Leather Elephant Stool by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch, c 1963, Signed
About the Item
- Creator:Dimitri Omersa (Designer),Abercrombie & Fitch (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)Depth: 11 in (27.94 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Leather,Patinated
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:c. 1963
- Condition:Very good vintage condition. Very attractive signed collectors example ready to be loved and enjoyed immediately.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1330231078542
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.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch — a brand that spans over one hundred years — was initially famed for its wide variety of expensive sporting equipment and attire. It was said it carried everything from “exercise balls to elephant guns.” The company started as an outdoorsman and hunting store in the late 19th century before transforming into the clothing mecca for teens in the 1990s and early 2000s.
In New York in 1892, David T. Abercrombie — a former miner, trapper and railroad surveyor — opened the Abercrombie Company as a sporting goods and camping equipment store. Ezra Fitch — a wealthy lawyer, real estate developer and one of Ambercrombie’s best customers — became a partner in the company in 1900. In 1904, the company was incorporated and renamed "Abercrombie & Fitch Co." Fitch bought Abercrombie's share of the business and became the sole owner from 1907 to 1928.
Fitch anticipated a clientele far broader than merely those who had to camp to earn a living. Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) became the go-to retailer when the wealthy planned safaris and other international excursions.
While it’s true that military style by now has truly invaded fashion, A&F is credited with bringing the safari suit, a hunting outfit based on British colonial military uniforms, to the urban consumer. For more than half a century, their goods were the image of correctness and opulence — inspiring a humorist to mock a perfectly-outfitted, affluent fisherman as an “Abercrombie and Fitcherman.” Fitch retired in 1928, selling his interest in the company to his brother-in-law, James S. Cobb.
By 1939 A&F was touted as the greatest sporting goods store in the world. During A&F’s peak, its customers included Ernest Hemingway and Teddy Roosevelt. The company outfitted the polar expeditions led by Roald Amundsen and Admiral Richard Byrd and provided equipment to the famed aviators Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart.
Hard times fell on A&F in the 1970s, but the brand pivoted and emerged as a trendy clothing chain for teens and young adults in the '80s and '90s. Whenever it expanded during its heyday, the company confined its new stores to downtown areas of large cities and luxury-destination hotel stores. The company then attempted to widen its customer base by moving into the suburbs and adding less-expensive items to its usual stock.
For fashion lovers, the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers, and today’s enthusiasts of the era’s aesthetic don’t have to look much further than to vintage Abercrombie & Fitch to get their fix.
On 1stDibs, find Abercrombie & Fitch coats, jackets, vintage leather goods and more.
- 77" Leather 'Superking' Rhino by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch, SignedBy Dimitri Omersa, Abercrombie & FitchLocated in Los Angeles, CAA very-rare and original collectors example of the monumentally sized 77" rhinoceros footstool by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie and Fitch, circa 1960s. This example is signed with the 'A&F Co' stamp underside one ear, and is in beautiful lightly aged and patinated condition. Incredibly rare and sought-after, this is the pinnacle pièce de résistance of Omersa collecting. Sturdy and structurally sound, this monumental rhino is ready to be used as a stool or bench for one to two people as it can support the weight of two adults - the interior is built with a steel frame, or use as a designer floor or tabletop sculpture or a friendly companion for an otherwise lonely house dog or cat. Some creative ways to use this Dimitri Omersa footstool is as an ottoman next to a coffee table, a foot stool or armrest next to your favorite lounge chair or reading armchair or use as dining table bench seating for one side of the table. Omersa's designed leather animals...Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- 80" Leather Superking Rhinoceros by Valentini, Spain, circa 1970s, SignedBy Valenti, Dimitri OmersaLocated in Los Angeles, CAA rare vintage monumentally sized 80 inch long 'Superking' rhinoceros footstool by Valenti, Spain, circa 1970s. This example is signed with the 'Valenti Made in Spain' stamp on its underside. Similar to leather animal designs by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch. Some creative ways to use this Omersa style leather rhino is as a floor or table / credenza sculpture or as a footstool or armrest next to your favorite lounge chair or reading armchair. Due to internal structural issues, not advised to use as a bench or other type of seating without first repairing the internal structure. As you can see in our photos, we have a large collection of Omersa leather animals...Category
Vintage 1970s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
$7,300 Sale Price23% Off - 'Cesto di Dalie' Umbrella Stand by Piero Fornasetti, 1950s Italy, SignedBy Piero FornasettiLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis rare and highly sought-after collectors item is the 'Cesto di Dalie' umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti, circa 1950s, signed underneath with a Fornasetti medallion label. This h...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Umbrella Stands
MaterialsMetal
$2,990 Sale Price32% Off - Rare 'Unicorn' Leather and Aluminum Curved Sofa by Vladimir Kagan, c. 1963By Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis extremely rare and highly sought-after collectors piece by Vladimir Kagan is his Model #U-522 'Unicorn' curved sofa by Vladimir Kagan Designs Inc. designed and produced circa 1963, shortly after Kagan separated from Hugo Dreyfuss of Kagan-Dreyfuss. This investment grade collectible design features soft and supple light grey tufted leather over two aluminum 'Unicorn' bases, large enough to seat four people. There is not much comparison for this awe inspiring statement piece, ideal for an interior designer looking for a show-stopper that is fitting for the most demanding and critical client. Incredible design of utmost rarity and fabulous ready-to-use condition with that light patina you want to see. From an art/ design collector's perspective - this sofa is simply the bees knees...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAluminum
$50,800 Sale Price22% Off - Egg Chair by Arne Jacobson for Fritz Hansen in Blue Leather, SignedBy Arne Jacobsen, Fritz HansenLocated in Los Angeles, CAA fantastic signed example egg chair by Arne Jacobson for Fritz Hansen in a custom commissioned electrifying blue high-grade leather with in...Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
$6,999 Sale Price36% Off - Burgundy Leather Sofa by Pierluigi Cerri for Poltrona Frau, c 1990, SignedBy Pierluigi Cerri, Poltrona FrauLocated in Los Angeles, CAThe burgundy leather is incredible on this Poltrona Frau circa 1990 Post-Modern sofa by Pierluigi Cerri. Featuring soft and supple Italian leather cushions over a ribbed leather wrapped (over steel) frame with smoked chrome legs, the rear has a floating leather shelf with manufactures brand embossed. The color is superb - see the close ups for better color representation. Ideal for rooms where you need a pop of deep beautiful color in comfortable seating. Use as a loveseat or settee but this two-seat sofa is large enough to fit three when needed. Comfortable cushioned armpads make it a nice place to take a nap. This burgundy leather couch...Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Loveseats
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
$4,100 Sale Price38% Off
- 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
- 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
- Dimitri Omersa Rhino Footstool for Abercrombie & FitchBy Dimitri OmersaLocated in San Francisco, CADimitri Omersa design leather Rhino footstool for Abercrombie & Fitch. The best condition example available on the market today and the competitively ...Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- X Large Leather Rhinoceros Footstool Dimitri Omersa Abercrombie & Fitch, 70'sBy Abercrombie & FitchLocated in Pemberton, NJVintage XL leather rhinoceros decorative footstool designed by Dimitri Omersa for Abercrombie and Fitch, circa 1960s is hand-stitched and features aged leather. This Charming fellow is huge-much bigger than I expected. It measures 20" T x 45" L x 10" D and the seat height is 16" T. The horn, tail, and eyes are intact. The vintage leather footstool...Category
Vintage 1970s British Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- Large footstool "PIG" by Dimitri Omersa. 1960s. Abercrombie & FitchBy Dimitri OmersaLocated in Köln, NWLarge footstool "PIG" by Dimitri Omersa. 1960s. Abercrombie & Fitch. The pig was one of Omersa´s first models The large pig is filled with wood wool and covered in leather. The leat...Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Footstools
MaterialsLeather
- Dimitri Omersa Leather Pig Footstool for Abercrombie and FitchBy Dimitri Omersa, Abercrombie & FitchLocated in North Hollywood, CAAdorable Abercrombie and Fitch leather pig footstool by Dimitri Omersa, manufactured in England, circa 1960s. This footstool showcases the high-q...Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
MaterialsLeather