Home & Galleries Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links
Seriously Fun Art - Stories in Clay and Colour by Leigh Allan, Originals by LE since 1975
Originals by LE © 1975-2011 Leigh Allan Home - Originals by LE Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, polymer clay artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links Home & Galleries Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links Home - Originals by LE Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, polymer clay artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links
 
Home & Galleries Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links
Cats art Horse art Rabbit art Alice in Wonderland art Phantom of the Opera Doll art Medley of clay art click to see what's on
Click for what's EBAY - grab a bargain!
Did you know...?
that many Originals by LE creations have a moving part, like the Gypsy Rabbit above, pouring tea. See more here.
The action is designed before firing the piece and operated by pushing the lever built in, an Originals by LE trademark.
You'll see many with moving parts throughout the site and more pictures will be added over time.
Humpty Dumpty sips tea on his pet Bluebird above.
Kitty sipping tea on Hare back by Leigh
mechanical movements
Santas

Seriously fun Clay Art sculptures that tell a story.
You can wear them and even play with them!!!
Many have moving parts!
Originals by LE polymer clay miniature figurines, jewellery and dolls. Whimsical characters to treasure and collect by Leigh Allan (formally Saunders)

clay sculpture horse necklace by Leigh Allan

Wearable figurine miniature art? What's the story?

Thank you very much for visiting. For the first few years, starting in 1975, I only sculpted animal miniature figurines. Those were sold in small boutiques in Arizona. In 1981 we moved to San Diego California and in 1983 the department store Saks Fifth Avenue carried them in gifts and they did very well. It was in Saks that entrepreneur Diane Powers, owner of the upmarket shopping plaza Bazaar Del Mundo in Old Town, San Diego, took on the line for her Gallery. As a highly creative and intuitive businessperson Diane suggested I fashion the figurines of horses, zebras, giraffes, rabbits, cats etc, into wearable art strung on handpainted colorful beads, like the necklace model Betty is wearing above. That style sold around the world to collectors and celebrities who wanted something completely uniqu, fun and interesting. The figures became necklaces, brooches, charm bracelets, charm necklaces, earrings, ear wraps and more and were wildly successful - and of course each one made entirely by hand.

clay sculpture horse necklace close by Leigh Allan


Celebrities~
Originals by LE art is owned by collectors and celebrities the world over. Commedianne Rita Rudner; actress and director Shelley Duvall; fitness guru Richard Simmons (owns many of the Dalmatian themed pieces); Mrs. Dolores (Bob) Hope; Talk Show host Sally Jesse Raphael; Telly Savalas; Robin Williams; Mrs. Henry Winkler and many more own this artwork.

>>>Click links and images for close-ups<<<

photos on this website span 35 years

many photos go back to 1975
and are shown in their 'vintage snapshot glory'
- blurry bits and all.
Close-up images are large so allow time to download

 

Continue on for more about the art and how it's made.
Further information can be found around the website

do you believe in fairies?
here's Down the Rabbit Hole Alice up-close
And be sure to see more on the Alice page

They will haunt you forever.
Spooky and loveable. These 'two century old' Ravensbreath Ghost dolls are made of cloth (distressed and singed) and their faces hand-painted. There are miniature clay and cloth versions too. You can see them all on their website www.ravensbreath.com or
www.ghostdolls.com . Learn more about these highly popular ghoulie little characters.

What would urge someone to design such oddball earrings? Customers who eat them up, that what!! Click the picture.
Would you like your favorite pet immortalised in a whimsical clay figure? I have made family dogs, cats, horses, cows, you name it, as miniatures, charm necklaces, pins.
 
Baby Animals go see
BABY ANIMAL CHARM
With 'removable' dummy/pacifier or bottle.
Any baby animal you like.
Precious handmade keepsakes

click here
cows
see what's listed
Click for what's EBAY - grab a bargain!

 

top

________________________
clay Puppeteer on Tiger by Leigh Allan
(vintage photo) This a piece commissioned by a Hollywood designer who supplies Christmas tree ornaments for celebrities looking for original and unique pieces.
Dumas the Singing Puppeteer rides from village to village upon Prince the tiger, entertaining children of all ages with song and game.
From the saddle Dumas works the strings of his dashing Cavalier marionette who serenades his lady love in the tower above. Tiger Prince roars to the fright and delight of the excited audience.

Set around the performers, front and back, are many treasures, some hidden, and it is from these Dumas bestows his magic. This ornament or one similar can be made again.
________________________
Moving fancies
Masquerade bunny on horseback

Masquerade bunny on horse, on and off with mask
Humpty Cow
Jumping Jill rabbit
Lady with fan on horseback
Lola kitty
To add a very special touch, many of the figures are animated by moving a lever that has been built into the piece before firing. This is my trademark. Pouring tea, jumping rope, fanning oneself....the actions are endless
top
How they're made
Leigh Allan sculpting
How to sculpt clay animals by LeighHow to sculpt clay animals by Leigh
Book of clay sculptures by Leigh Allan

Each figure is modelled by hand from a block of polymer clay, fired in many stages and finally painted and glazed.

Styles range from jewellery to ornaments/decorations, standing figurines, dolls and more....Originals by LE booklet of handmade polymer clay artclick on our booklet to see close-up

_____________________
Storybook Characters
Alice in Wonderland - through the mirror
Pinocchio
Wizard of OZ
Phantom of the Opera
Alice in Wonderland
Pinocchio
Wizard of OZ
Phantom of the Opera

What would you design?
If you could create your favorite sculpted piece with all the treasures you fancy around it, what would it look like?
Do you love horses, cats, rabbit, cows, dogs, pigs, elephants, lions - tazmania devils...?
Do you enjoy storybook characters like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of OZ, or my own gothic storybook characters like the Ghost Orphans of Ravensbreath Castle? Or perhaps characters from classic tales like The Phantom of the Opera or Charles Dickens? And what about fantasy folk, fairies, wizards and Christmas magic such as Father Christmas riding a unicorn, tiger even an ostrich!
Chances are some variation has been made of all of those subjects over the years and might even be for sale on this website or in one of the photos of past creations.
Anything on this site can be remade, but if you want a piece that reflects your personal whimsy then write with your ideas and I will happily make what you want. And don't forget dolls too.

Originals by LE - hand-sculpted (one of a kind) polymer clay miniature figurines, Christmas tree ornaments, wearable art and dolls since 1975.

_____________________
Favourite Pets
your dog, cat, cow...
I've designed favourite pets surrounded by all the things they love.
top

now for something completely spooky


The Ghost Orphans of Ravensbreath Castle. Original Dolls and story by M Leigh Allan



Welcome to the Ghost Orphans of Ravensbreath Castle and their ghost dolls and haunted jewellery


Ravensbreath, home of the Ghost Orphans of Ravensbreath Castle

www.ravensbreath.com

 

The Ghost Orphans of Ravensbreath Castle are tattered little souls, gothic and somewhat macabre with a worldwide fan base. Ghost children make these dolls in their own likness (with a bit of help). They also have a small line of haunted jewellery.

Their ghost novel is in production.

 

Annabel Lee and Percy, ghosts of Ravensbreath Castle
This is Annabel Lee (head ghost girl) and brother Percy.

 

Ravensbreath Ghost Orphans

There are 9 ghost dolls in all that can be collected one by one or as the whole family. The ghost dolls come in two forms, large and small, and are stained, singed and terribly distressed from centuries imprisoned in their ghost world of Ravensbreath.

The small sizes are 7-inch and under. Jointed clay bodies, handpainted, handsewn clothes

 

Large Ravensbreath Ghost Dolls

The All cloth dolls are 18-inches and under, handpainted fabric and sewn
Above is Gweena Madalaine, aka Ratgirl, Baby and Annabel Lee

 

Annabel Lee, head ghost girl of Ravensbreath Castle

 

The Ghost Orphans of Ravensbreath Castle. Original Dolls and story by M Leigh Allan

Please get to know us at ravensbreath.com
We will haunt you forever

 


Originals by LE © 1975-2011 Leigh Allan Home - Originals by LE Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, polymer clay artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links Home & Galleries Galleries - Originals by LE, Leigh Allan Leigh Allan, artist Process - See how they're made Contact Leigh Links
Originals by LE © 1975-2011 All images and sculptures copyrighted, All rights reserved.
Hand-sculpted, One-of-a-Kind Wearable Art, Miniature Figurines & Dolls

 

*************

top