A novel potentially tridentate Schiff base has been prepared by condensing antipyrine-4-carboxaldehyde with 2-aminophenol. This ligand formed a series of complexes with cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) ions. The ligand and the metal complexes were characterized through various physicochemical and spectral studies. These studies include elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, UV-Vis, IR, 1 H NMR, mass and ESR spectral studies. The ESR spectral data revealed that the metal-ligand bonds have considerable covalent characters. The XRD profile of the ligand and the cobalt(II) complex indicated a hexagonal crystal structure. The fluorescence spectra of the ligand and its metal complexes in DMSO were also recorded. The copper(II) metal complex was subjected to thermal decomposition study.