Arts Design

BN 2015 GIFT GUIDE VOLUME #2: 10 BEAUTIFUL ART & DESIGN PIECES TO GIVE NOW

In our view, art is the ultimate gift. If you agree, check out these 10 wonderful finds that we’ve curated for you.

1. ART GLASS VISIONS -- CAROL ANDREWS

Art Glass Visions, by artist Carol Andrews, are like little windows into a kaleidoscopic dream. Andrews takes digital images of flowers and trees, then assembles them into a handmade repurposed brass frame, then tops them with hand-cut glass. Measuring just 4.5 x 6 inches, they make a lovely gift that can add a little bright spot to any surface.

Available at Carol Andrews Fine Art.

2. HORNED URCHIN DOOR KNOBS -- CHARLES EDWARDS

If you've got a friend whose door is always open to you, these Horned Urchin Door Knobs, are a really cool gift! They'll turn that door into a work of art. Beautifully sculpted, in nickel, by Charles Edwards, they are inspired by 19th century designs, and made to order.

Available at Charles Edwards.

3. POPPY PLATE -- ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE

Turn any meal into a work of art with these beautiful Robert Mapplethorpe plates. The iconic photographer's breathtaking flower images are printed on porcelain plates, which you can collect as a set. See the Poppy Plate above, and more below at the end of this post. We love them all.

Available at the LACMA store.

4. CHESS SET - MAN RAY

Renowned artist Man Ray, known mainly for his avant garde photography, designed this sleek chess set in 1920, yet it looks totally modern. Now available as a re-edition, made of carved solid beech wood, give it to a favorite playmate.

Available at Artware Editions.

5. SPICE CONTAINERS

While you can't give these gifts, they were already gifted to the Jewish Museum, in New York, these 19th century silver and gold Spice Containers are a gift to behold. They were made in Russia and Poland, as ritual vessels to celebrate the sweet beauty of scent during weekly Havdalah ceremonies to mark the end of the sabbath and the beginning of a new week.

Visit these gifts of Dr. Harry G. Friedman and Mr. and Mrs. Albert A. List, and the Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection at The Jewish Museum.

6. BALLOON DOG -- JEFF KOONS

Art on a plate is a brilliant idea! Here is how artist Jeff Koons does it, with his famous yellow Balloon Dog emblazoned on metallic-finished porcelain plates, made by Bernardaud. Signed by Koons and available in limited edition exclusively through the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), this gift is sure to bring joy to your giftee. Part of the proceeds of the sale will benefit the museum.

Available at MOCA Store.

7. CHAIR -- MARC NEWSON

Give your friend a beautiful seat! We love the Fauteuil "Felt" Chair, designed by Marc Newson for Cappellini for its cool comfortable curves and its beautifully painted bright colors. It would look great in any contemporary setting or as an eccentric offset in a more traditional room.

Available at ArtCurial.

8. THE DAWN -- ROLLS-ROYCE

If you’re looking to go over the top in style, holding nothing back, you might consider giving The Dawn, a new beauty from Rolls Royce!

It’s a two-door, four-seat luxury convertible, also known as a drophead coupé. Some are claiming it’s the “the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built.”

Available at Rolls Royce Motor Cars.

9. WAIKIKI NO. 6 -- MAX WANGER

Give a day at the beach that can last forever! Photographer Max Wanger’s gorgeous giclé print shows off his talent of taking simplicity and negative space and turning out a powerful image and story. It comes beautifully matted and framed in white.

Available at One Kings Lane.

10. MAURIZIO CATTELAN LIPSTICK UMBRELLA -- SELETTI

Make rainy days more beautiful with this Maurizio Cattelan Lipstick umbrella, by Seletti. It’s funky and bright, to cheer up any gray gloomy weather, with images from vintage advertisements.

Available at the MoMA Design Store.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Carol Andrews. Kaleidoscape.
Image: by Carol Andrews. Art Glass Visions Trees.
Image: Courtesy of Charles Edwards. Horned Urchin Door Knobs. Nickel.
Image: Courtesy of LACMA. Robert Mapplethorpe. Poppy Plate.
Image: Courtesy of Artware Editions. Chess Set, designed by Man Ray.
Image: by: David Heald. Courtesy of The Jewish Museum. Spice Containers. Repetition and Difference Exhibition.
Image: Courtesy of MOCA Store. Jeff Koons Balloon Dog. Bernardaud.
Image: Courtesy of Artcurial. Marc Newson Felt Chair.
Image: by Chris Tedesco. Courtesy of Rolls Royce Motor Cars. 1952 Silver Dawn drophead Coupѐ.
Image: by Max Wanger. Waikiki No. 6.
Image: Courtesy of MoMA Design Store. Maurizio Cattelan Lipstick Umbrella by Seletti.
Image: Courtesy of LACMA. Robert Mapplethorpe. Amaryllis Plate.
Image: Courtesy of LACMA. Robert Mapplethorpe. Orchid Plate.
Image: by BN App - Download now!
Image: Courtesy of LACMA. Robert Mapplethorpe. Arum Plate.