10 BEAUTIFUL THANK YOU GIFTS NOW
Thank you gifts can be just as thoughtful and inspirational as original gifts can be. Knowing what will send a tickle or a shiver lets someone know how much you get them and how much you appreciate them. Here are 10 beautiful ideas we’ve curated for you: 5 to drink and 5 to hold your best delicacies.
1. CHELSEA RED ANCHOR PERIOD INSPIRED MELON PORCELAIN CENTERPIECE
OFFERED BY KATHERINE HOUSTON PORCELAIN
Artist Katherine Houston works, using an 18th century handcrafted porcelain technique, with a 21st century approach to design and technicality.
Houston’s large fluted melon is hand sculpted in hard paste porcelain, and washed in a range of Chelsea Red Anchor Period glazes to achieve it’s depth of color.
Available at 1st Dibs.
2. VINTAGE BOURBON
A bottle of vintage bourbon is a beautiful gift on so many levels. Imagine the depth of flavor it develops after laying low for over 150 years. And the glass bottles and finely printed labels from back in that day are pure delight.
Available at Finest and Rarest.
3. FRENCH NEOCLASSICAL ORMOLU MOUNTED GLASS CLARET JUGS
To thank a really special dinner host, a couple of bottles of fine claret and this sweet pair of French Neoclassical claret jugs, circa 1900.
The glass vessels are elaborately caged in finely cast and chased ormolu. Dripping with fruits and vines, festooned with ribbons, and swirled in flourishes, this gift says “Thank You,” in abundance.
Available at 1st Dibs.
4. TEARS OF LLORONA TEQUILA
So, I was promised a couple of bottles of Tears of Llorona, by a good friend. I waited and waited. They were the first batch of a very small production of super extra-añejo tequila. I heard about them… they were being handcrafted and twice barreled. Made with slow-growth 100% blue agaves, slow-roasted piñas, slowly fermented with a proprietary yeast, Tequilero German Gonzalez has a formula for heaven. So, I waited...
The old-fashioned distillation process used to make this tequila uses a pot still, barreling at a high specific gravity (43%), with two barrels in sequence. All of these represent a number of opportunities for osmotic loss -- attributed in folklore to “angels’ tears,” one attribution for its name. Llorona is a tearful mythological character who was wronged by the man she loved.
I actually got to finally taste a sip. And my 2 bottles were in sight… sort of...
So, I reminded my friend about those 2 bottles of Tears, and he said “... maybe not it might be #tearsforshira!” Yo!
It’s a beautiful gift for a beautiful friend.
5. TIFFANY AND CO ELSA PERETTI MODERNIST COVERED TUREEN ON TRAY
Like a dollop of sterling silver, this modernist soup tureen, designed by Elsa Peretti, would look beautiful on your host’s dining table, don’t you think? Made in Italy. Signed by Peretti. CIrca 1980s.
Available at 1st Dibs.
6. GRAHAMS NE OUBLIE
Instead of bringing dessert , bring a bottle of Ne Oublie, Graham’s extremely rare 1882 tawny Port, recently released in the US.
The Port is from one of three remaining casks bought by AJ Symington, from a Douro farmer in the 1920s. There are only 650 decanters of Ne Oublie available.
Available at Grahams Port.
7. HARVEST CABBAGE CENTERPIECE
Here’s another beauty from Katherine Houston, her China Red glazes bring the multi-layered leaves of an heirloom cabbage to life.
Houston is directly influenced by ancient Imperial and Chinese porcelains as well as those of 18th century Meissen and Sèvres.
Houston has been commissioned by The White House to create an exclusive work of art – an ‘American Pumpkin’ – to be used as State Department gifts.
Available at 1st Dibs.
8. MCCLELLAN 1946
We’re not sure how there is any McClellan 1946 scotch whiskey left to drink on this planet… but, alas, lads and lassies, you might still buy a jug, if you have a loose $200K. That’s how much the last unopened bottle went for at auction. It’s a thank you that will go down nice and smooth.
Or pay only $3,300 for a few sips at the Old Homestead Steakhouse in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.
9. MICHAEL ARAM GOOSEBERRY BOWLS
Golden gooseberry husks form these gorgeous bowls designed by Michael Aram Because of their delicate piercings, they are best suited for dry treats. They are plated in 22-kt.-gold.
Available at Archinetix.
10. G.E. MASSENEZ CALVADOS VIEUX
This might just be the most beautiful Calvados. And it makes a lovely gift for a Thanksgiving dinner host. G.E. Massenez Calvados Vieux, held in its gracefully bulging vessel as it bathes a whole apple that grew from blossom to full fruit inside its glass walls.
The inclusion of a so-called 'Prisoner Apple' makes the whole gift look spectacular… and it also adds to the depth of flavor. You’ll taste apple pie spice, caramel and pear notes over and under the dry apple theme.
Available at Spirits of France.
Read more about Beautiful Thanks, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact including Beautiful Thanks to BeautifulNow Fans Now and Giving Beautiful Floral Thanks Right Now.
Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Thanks in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT on 11.30.2014. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!
PHOTO CREDITS:
- Photo: Courtesy of Katherine Houston Porcelain. Chelsea Red Anchor Period Inspired Melon Porcelain Centerpiece.
- Photo: Courtesy of Finest and Rarest. Vintage Bourbon.
- Photo: Courtesy of Guinevere Antiques. Ormolu Mounted Glass Claret Jugs.
- Photo: Courtesy of Tears of Llorona. Tears of Llorona tequila.
- Photo: Courtesy of The Silver Fund. Elsa Peretti Covered Tureen on Tray.
- Photo: Courtesy of Graham’s. Ne Oublie.
- Photo: Courtesy of Katherine Houston Porcelain. Harvest Cabbage Porcelain Centerpiece.
- Photo: Courtesy of Bourbon Blog. Mcclellan 1946.
- Photo: Courtesy of Archinetix. Michael Aram Gooseberry Bowls.
- Photo: Courtesy of Dreyfus Ashby. G. E. Massenez Calvados Vieux.
