Despite the apropos name, buying someone a holiday present from a gift shop can seem a bit, well, uninspired. But New York City’s museums are anything but that, and their shops’ selections include some incredibly chic and unique gift options. From unexpected conversation pieces for adults to toys that will enrich little ones, here’s a guide to the coolest museum gift-shop gifts in the city.
Fire escape ornament, $27.99, Tenement Museum Shop
The Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side is dedicated to telling and preserving the stories of New York City’s immigrants. Tour recreated tenements from the 19th and 20th centuries, or go on a New York City walking tour to learn how New Yorkers before us lived. To bring a bit of New York history and flavor to any Christmas tree, gift the Tenement Museum’s kitschy fire escape ornament, complete with clothes hanging to dry on the railings. It’s made of laser-cut metal right next door in New Jersey.
DIY miniature tea room, $42, MoMA Design Store
Delight children or any fan of miniatures with this craft kit from the MoMA Design Store. Made of wood and paper, the kit comes with 300 pieces, including LED lights. The storefront even opens up to reveal the delicacies inside. It’s a great addition to a mini mantel-top holiday cityscape.
Matisse mug, $68, MoMA Design Store
Modern art lovers will appreciate this chic mug featuring Henri Matisse’s Femmes et singes. “A work from Henri Matisse’s 1940s cut-outs series—the subject of a groundbreaking MoMA exhibition in 2014–2015—has been reproduced on this mug from East Fork Pottery, a company founded by Matisse’s great-grandson Alex Matisse,” the MoMA Design Store describes. The stoneware mug is made in North Carolina and features decals made in France.
John Lennon T-Shirt, $24.95, Museum of the City of New York
The perfect option for any Beatles lover or pop culture enthusiast on your list. “Captured in Bob Gruen’s iconic 1974 photo, (John) Lennon sported a $5 sidewalk T-shirt, powered by strong coffee and French Gauloises, fully embracing his New Yorker status,” the Museum of the City of New York describes. The shirt is cotton and comes in sizes small to extra large.
‘Museum 123,’ $16.99, The Met Store
Inspire little art lovers with this children’s introduction to fine art. The book simultaneously displays the Met Museum’s collection while teaching kids their numbers. “The colorful spread accompanying each number presents images from different works of art and in contrasting styles. This book is part of a series developed and published by the Museum to introduce your children to the world of art,” the Met writes.
Paleontologist Fossil Dig Doll, $30, American Museum of Natural History
Dino lovers will be taken with this paleontologist doll from the American Museum of Natural History. Inspire them to follow passions and learn about the prehistoric world through play. “The doll was developed for eco-conscious gift giving by Impact Merchandise, and both the doll and packaging are made from recycled and recyclable materials. The doll comes accessorized with two dinosaurs, a backpack, and tools to dig out and discover dinosaur bones from the included clay brick,” said a spokesperson from the museum.
Jane Austen mug, $24, The Morgan Library & Museum
For the literary folk on your shopping list, this mug from The Morgan Library & Museum captures the spirit of Jane Austen with the quote: “Obstinate, Headstrong Girls Society Since 1813.” The stoneware mug is microwave and dishwasher-safe. The Morgan Library Museum on Madison Avenue is a bibliophile’s dream with floor-to-ceiling rows of books in a stately manor. The museum began as the personal library of financier, collector, and cultural benefactor Pierpont Morgan.
Bauhaus mobile, $210, Guggenheim Store
For the tiniest person on your gift list, inspire a love of modern art with this Bauhaus mobile from the Guggenheim. It was handcrafted in Denmark exclusively for the museum and features fiberboard shapes with different colors on each side. The bold geometric shapes and primary colors are sure to expand little imaginations — and perhaps spark an interest in German modernism!
Guggenheim mugs, $37, Guggenheim Store
Architecture buffs will appreciate the subtle nod to Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiral Guggenheim design in this tabletop set. “Honoring architecture and design of the Guggenheims’ Mid-century Modern era, we have proudly reissued our classic tea and tabletop porcelain collection,” the museum describes. The set comes with coffee mugs, espresso cups, and a tea/coffee pot.
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