Home New Items Lamps page 1 Lamps page 2 Vases Candlesticks Photo frames Chess set History Museum Ordering Info Contact Us Links

HISTORY Fontier Designs has been producing pewter ware in Central New York since 1985. Leon Fontier is the pewtersmith; his wife, Eileen Loh-Fontier, is the business manager. The pieces are made from lead-free pewter using a variety of pewtersmithing techniques. These include spinning, fabrication, and casting. Spinning is the main technique used in making most of the holloware. In this process, flat circular disks of pewter are formed into the desired shapes over a nylon or wood chuck on a lathe. Hand held tools are used to bend the pewter as it is turning. Fabrication involves the cutting, bending and soldering or welding of flat sheets into desired forms. The fine details that are seen on the work are made using the centrifugal casting technique. Many pieces require a combination of two or more techniques. Leon chooses to polish all of his work to a bright sheen . This is acquired by buffing and polishing techniques. All pieces will retain this finish for years, as long as they are treated gently. Some of his newer designs are also available in a satin finish, with which he has just recently begun to experiment. Leon was born in the Congo, educated in Belgium, then he moved to Central New York where he has been living since 1972. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Yale University Art Gallery, the White House collection, and many private collections. He has won awards at the Winterpark Art Festival in Florida, the Bruce Museum Craft Festival in Connecticut, and the 1999 William F. Kayhoe Award for Functional Metal. His work is shown at major galleries throughout the United States and Canada. For more information please Contact Us! [Home] [New Items] [Lamps page1] [Lamps page2] [Vases] [Candlesticks]