Eli Leon and Lemmy. Photo: Courtesy of Eli Leo Living Trust
Eli Leon Collects Unique Textiles
For 55 years, Oakland psychotherapist Eli Leon collected unusual textiles. Above all,his collection included kitchiana, aprons, vintage clothing, traditional standard quilts, and, most famously, Afro-tradition quilts. On the one hand,he bought most items in California. But he would go on repeated research and collecting trips to East Texas, northern Louisiana, and southern Arkansas.
The Sale of the Unique Collection
This June 23- 25, Geneva and Julie Addison will be selling his collections from his home at 5663 Dover St. in Oakland. Above all,the collections are breathtaking. For instance,they are manifestations of a collector with a sharp eye for acquiring and displaying in his home. Moreover,proceeds from the sale will go towards Leon’s care. See their blog about the sale, with more than 500 photographs. However, his Afro-tradition quilts are not included in this sale.
At my Quirky Berkeley blog, I explored Leon’s life, home and collections. Here is a small bit of the wonderful items that will be for sale this weekend. For example,the first weekend of the sale will deal with the non-textile collections. Then,the traditional quilts and other textiles will be sold later this summer. Further,the sale is first come, first served. Subsequently,it represents a perfect chance to pick up some pre-collected quirky material culture and to honor a great scholar and collector.
Most importantly,Leon’s most famous collection is of African American quilts. However,his trust plans that the collection will be preserved intact by a museum. Furthermore,the collection includes 100 of the traditional American quilts,. Here are a couple photos.
Above all,Leon was a passionate and driven and skilled collector. In addition,I have never seen a better opportunity for buying quirky little things. In other words,visiting Leon’s house will give a glimpse into the world of that driven and talented collector.
Tom Dalzell, a labor lawyer, created a website, Quirky Berkeley, to share all the whimsical objects. The site now has more than 8,000 photographs of quirky objects around town.It also includes posts where the 30-year resident muses on what it all means.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/05/african-fabrics-in-art-quilts/