About Briggs Design

Briggs Design is a collaboration between Jeffrey and Lindley Briggs who have worked together for over 40 years to create unique commissioned sculpture. We work closely with, and guide our clients through the entire process from initial concept to design, and from mechanical scale drawings to completed sculptures. Our methods have proven successful time and time again. At Briggs Design we have a working familiarity with a wide variety of molding and casting processes as well as sculptural materials. We have the ability to work in a wide range of scales, from 2'' Office Gods, 10' arches , to full scale carousels, and we have vast experience with color mixing, painting and patinas.

In 1970 we started a wood sculpture business called Briggs Bugs & Butterflies. Over the course of 18 years, we produced over 6000 larger-than-life wooden butterflies, flies, dragonflies, moths, peacocks and wooden flowers that were sold to galleries, interior designers and collectors throughout the country. Next we branched out into creating one-of-a-kind sculptural prototypes and designs that were produced and marketed nationally by other companies. Many of our designs were produced in China. We collaborated with other firms on creating colossal props for the NYC visual merchandising market: 6' Chinese ginger jars , vases, and plates for Bloomingdales, 9' Art Nouveau Ladies for Bonwitt Teller, and a 10' mountain for The Rockport Shoe Company.

In 1989, Jeff began working as a designer/sculptor for Fabricon Carousel Company in NYC. He has sculpted carousel animals, horses, elephants, dolphins, and frogs, as well as carousel scenery panels that are presently part of functioning carousels all over the world: Singapore, Bolivia, New Zealand, Finland and many cities in the USA. At the same time, Lindley worked as colorist for Fabricon Carousel Company, supervising the hand painting of entire carousels as well as colossal Chinese ceramics and other 3-D visual merchandising projects. Our extensive client list includes Disneyworld, Euro Disney, the Plaza Hotel, FAO Schwartz, Eddie Bauer and L.L. Bean, Timberland and Rockport Shoe Companies.

In recent years Briggs Design was commissioned to design and sculpt two custom carousels: Cullen Family Carousel for the Detroit Riverfront Park along the Detroit River, and The Greenway Carousel for the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston. We worked closely with each conservancy to create a unique theme for each of these carousels. Both carousels depicted the flora and fauna inhabiting the natural environment where they were located. The production of each carousel included innumerable committee meetings, approval processes, community outreach and concept sketches before the actual creation of the sculptural elements. Jeff worked as designer/sculptor, art director and supervisor for both carousels. The sculpting, casting, painting and final installation of all the carousel elements for each project took approximately two years. Both carousels are loved by all who experience their charm and sense of joy. They appeal to the child in all of us.