Whether you’re shopping this holiday season, whether it’s for friends who love to cook or family who loves to eat, we’ve uncovered the secret source for the best kitchenware holiday gifts you can find – museums! Instead of mugs or useful kitchen utensils, the museum features a variety of kitchen utensils and cutlery that are both beautiful and functional.
        We’ve rounded up the best dinnerware gifts for every culture, interest, and artistic style. What’s more, they come in a wide range of prices, so you can choose from a white elephant gift for the office, a great gift for relatives, and something to wow your too-cool sibling you couldn’t buy. , thing.
        Each item on our list has a compelling story, a unique and eye-catching design, or both. From iridescent folded napkins to vintage tea set replicas, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list, not to mention some must-have items in your own kitchen.
        Give a festive mood with a useful purpose. Any host or hostess will love this set of 100% cotton holly tea towels and napkins from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History ($52 at time of publication). Each towel and napkin is adorned with vintage holly botanical art from the Cavallini archives. This practical gift also features the scientific name of holly (aquifolium) and “Noel” written over towels and napkins. Useful for busy owners this time of year, they are also machine washable. What’s more, it comes in a reusable muslin drawstring gift pouch.
        This set of ceramic killer whale cups ($42 at time of publication) from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian is textured with teal spikes. After your gift recipient has drunk their drink, they can take a sip from the glass. Beautiful modern design of North American killer whales, blue contrasts with dark brown, a practical and attractive gift for your boss, friends or family, be it tea, coffee or hot cocoa lovers. According to the West Coast Art Gallery Spirit, in many Native American cultures, the orca or killer whale is a powerful symbol of longevity, harmony, and protection. These mugs are microwave and dishwasher safe and hold 12 oz each.
        Whether they eat meat like tyrannosaurs or are herbivores, for kids (or adults – we won’t judge!) who are still learning how to properly use chopsticks, this cutlery set will make dining more fun. These green Tyrannosaurus rex chopsticks ($11 at time of publication) from the American Museum of Natural History store in New York City not only make it easier to grab food, they have an articulated jaw that opens and closes when squeezed. “chew”. Even if they’re not dinosaur lovers and know that the T-Rex ate as many calories as 80 people a day (via FiveThirtyEight), this set is sure to make your young recipients roar.
        Mixing the perfect drink is an art, so why wouldn’t an ice cube bucket be a work of art? A stainless steel ice bucket engraved with Italian Armor ($180 at time of publication), part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s barware set, commemorates an encounter with Italian-made armor around 1510. The ice bucket comes in a leather-tone gift box with a handle that mimics the leather belt of the armor that inspired it. Buckets can only be washed by hand, they cannot be washed in a dishwasher.
        This fun red Pantone Tritan water bottle ($40 at time of publication), courtesy of the National Gallery, will help your favorite art lover or graphic designer turn to the trendiest color of the season: 2035, of course. If design isn’t your thing, Pantone offers thousands of different colors that can be used in a variety of graphics and products, including beverage bottles. The 16.9 oz bottle has a stainless steel screw cap and a narrow 2.5″ width meaning it fits perfectly in backpack bottle pockets and car cup holders because there’s nothing better than a beautiful new water bottle. annoying than a cup holder that doesn’t suit you!
        Are there any tea lovers in your life? This ceramic and stainless steel tea set ($88 at time of publication) from the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art makes the perfect gift. This delicate blue and white artwork is the same design as the set in the Freer Gallery in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Asian Art. The set includes six mugs and a teapot with an insertable stainless steel strainer for your favorite loose tea. Teapots hold up to 14 oz and each cup holds 3 oz. As an added bonus, the entire set is dishwasher safe.
        If you’re looking for a stylish alternative to your standard Koozie, the Puffin Space Suit Drink Holder ($29.99 at time of publication) is the way to go. We have explored the entire galaxy and we think this is the perfect gift for your friend who is obsessed with everything space related. A koozie-style warmer can hold 12-ounce cans of beer, cider, or soda, as well as 16-ounce tall slim cans. This cute little space suit is hand wash only, and the small backpack on the back actually opens and closes to keep extra cookies, candy, or other small items close at hand.
        This impressive Florentine dinner plate ($60 at time of publication) from the Getty Museum in Los Angeles might be just the kind of thing you’d be hard pressed to buy for your relatives. This is not just a beautiful breakfast tray in bed, this piece of art used painstakingly historically accurate techniques from the 14th century. Despite the affordable price, it is made of hand-carved wood. Measuring approximately 10 x 15 inches, it’s perfect for holding a plate of food and drinks, or maybe just a few drinks – it’s safe to use with hot drinks and is alcohol resistant. This product is hand wash only.
        This 10″ acrylic tray ($60 at time of publishing) is a great option for those who need to entertain and maybe need something for drinks or snacks. It was created to commemorate the National Gallery’s exhibition of African-Atlantic history, which featured Alma Thomas’ painting The March on Washington. According to Clio, the painting printed on the tray was painted by Thomas after participating in the March for Jobs and Freedom in Washington in 1963 and depicts the era’s protests against the unequal treatment of blacks and other people of color.
        Anyone who cooks a lot can use another spatula in the kitchen. This iridescent birch spatula from the American Museum of Natural History ($15 at time of publication) was designed to evoke the markets of Marrakesh, Morocco. It’s a good size at 12 inches long and has a hook on the handle so it can be hung up for storage. This quality heirloom spatula is dishwasher safe. Since it is made of wood, it can only be washed by hand or wiped clean. However, it is safe to use on all cooking surfaces, even non-stick pots and pans.
        Beautiful modern art Can you eat it? Yes please. These food-safe ceramic trays ($90 at time of publication) are on sale at the Art Institute of Chicago Museum Store and can be purchased individually, or if you’d like to make a set yourself, they also have matching vases. Simple yet colorful art is the work of contemporary Hudson Valley ceramic artist Mary Ann Davis. We think the tray is just as good for a small cheese board as it is for homemade sushi or snacks. All products are handmade and decorated by hand. Remember that they can only be washed by hand.
        No one likes rings on furniture to keep sweat or drips out, which is why these coasters ($15 at time of publication) are labeled “Christmas Gifts.” Six coasters are decorated with paintings that hang at the Art Institute of Chicago, including Vincent van Gogh’s Bedroom, Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Two Sisters (on the Terrace), Georges Hughes, La’s Sunday over the Bowl, Paul Cezanne’s Basket . apples” and two works by Claude Monet: “Water Lilies” and “The Artist’s House in Argenteuil”. Each coaster is made from high density fibreboard for durability and has a cork backing to secure it to your coffee table.
        The AMNH Shark mug ($35 at time of publication) from the American Museum of Natural History is the most convenient gift for keeping drinks hot or cold all year round. The copper-coated interior of the mug holds up to 12 ounces to keep closed drinks warm. The cork base prevents slipping on the table, while the thumb-open lid allows you to close the spout or keep drinks warm or cold while traveling. This official American Museum of Natural History mug features a minimalistic hammerhead shark line art. Due to being metal, it cannot be used in the microwave, so hand washing is recommended.
        If you’re looking for a really impressive gourmet holiday gift, consider the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s Walnut Slicing and Serving Board ($110 at time of publishing). At 16 inches long and almost 9 inches wide, this handcrafted cutting board is large enough for a cheese board or for everyday slicing and dicing. The board is crafted from solid black walnut and features an original brass logo inlay that will develop an aged patina over time and use. Made in the San Francisco Bay Area, each plank has its own unique wood grain pattern, making it as unique as your loved ones.
        An ingenious gift for anyone who loves or appreciates mixing cocktails, the Double Lid Ice Box at MoMA Design Store ($34 at time of publication) offers a simple horizontal place to create unique hexagonal ice and a box to store it. Each batch makes 33 ice cubes and the bowl holds a total of 150 ice cubes. This 9″ x 9″ x 5″ ABS and silicone ice tray also takes up ample space in your freezer. It is available with either white and black interior or black and white interior.
        The only thing that makes you smile more than fluffy pancakes? Fluffy pancakes smile at you. This adorable frying pan is inspired by Japanese artist and entrepreneur Takashi Murakami’s first NFT and features his signature smiling flower. The Takashi Murakami Flower Pancake Pan ($40 at time of publication) is safe to use on both induction and gas stoves. The pan is just over 5 inches wide for perfectly proportioned pancakes. The resin handle keeps your hands securely away from the stainless steel of the pot itself. It even offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
        Looking for a gift for someone who has just moved into a new house or apartment? MoMA Design Store’s colorful versatile kitchen tool set ($30 at time of publication) is a useful gift they’ll appreciate. The tools in this attractive bottle include a funnel, lemon juicer, spice grater, egg crusher, cap opener, egg separator and measuring cup. The compact stowage that holds tools together also makes it a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves to cook while traveling, replacing a drawer full of kitchen tools in about the same place as a bottle of wine. This set was designed by Akebono Sangyo and is hand wash only.
        Made from powder-coated steel, this architectural wire mesh bowl ($50 at time of publication) from the MoMA Design Store is an attractive and common gift item and is available in three colors: red, blue and yellow. This can make a great fruit bowl for holding apples, bananas, or citrus fruits, but not together, as bananas and apples release ethylene gas, which speeds up citrus decay (certainly not the best method for keeping lemons fresh). The open nature of the design allows for maximum air circulation, making it an excellent choice for storing onions, garlic and shallots. It measures just under 5 inches high by 10 inches in diameter and comes with a 90 day quality guarantee.
        These numbered folded napkins ($42 at time of publication) are a gift that keeps on giving and will be your holiday gift for those who love to host dinner parties. These vibrant, iridescent napkins feature fold lines to help the gift recipient fold the napkins in six completely different ways (a separate set of instructions is also included). Drawing on childhood memories of her grandmother teaching her how to fold napkins, the designer created this set of reusable washable cotton napkins so your gift recipient can help continue the tradition. There are six napkins in the set, each 20 inches square.
        The Clara French Press ($99 at time of publication) is about as well made as your coffee-obsessed friend is picky about the beans used to fill it. The black minimalist design looks great on any countertop. It has a vacuum insulated inside to keep the coffee hot, as well as filling lines for ground coffee and boiling water, making it easy to prepare multiple cups of java in an instant. The BPA-free plastic lid can be poured from either side without the need for coffee drinkers to line it up with the spout. The stainless steel interior is PFTE and PFOA free.
        Turn a college age corkscrew into something more artistic, but make it fun. The perfect gift for friends, family, or as a treat, SFMOMA’s Tipsy Corkscrew ($28 at time of publication) is a two-piece set that includes die-cast metal, a chrome-plated cone base, and a balancing bird corkscrew. This unique gift is fun enough to keep in plain sight, but it’s also a useful bar accessory that your recipient will cherish for years to come. The base of the pyramid is 4 inches high and the bird is 6 inches long, making it easy to hold while in use. We confess that we want to buy this for our home bar!
        The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, home to two of Andy Warhol’s famous soup can paintings, is offering this cheeky Campbell Soup Mug ($14.99 at time of publication) in blue and other versions. When asked why he drew his series of soup cans, Warhol replied, “I used to drink it. I ate the same lunch every day for 20 years” (via LACMA). Priced at $15 at time of publication, this is a solid purchase for any pop art lover or soup junkie in your life. This 16 oz ceramic mug has a durable handle for hot drinks and comes in a red/brown cardboard gift box for a gift.
        Help your recipients protect their countertops from a plate of focaccia straight out of the oven with this beautifully designed The Great Wave Tripod ($16 at time of publication) from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Decorated with stunning artwork from the Edo period Hokusai, this tripod measures 8 square inches, is heat resistant up to 450 F, and has special cooling channels on the back that help air pass under the heating plate. The non-slip food-safe silicone material can also be washed in the dishwasher if it gets dirty. It can also be used as a pitcher holder or as a spoon or spatula holder to keep countertops clean.
        For all the pizza lovers in your life! Making pizza requires the perfect ratio of crust, sauce and cheese. And what better way to celebrate that balance than by donating a Fixie Bike Pizza Cutter ($24 at time of publication) to the Museum of Modern Art. Does this work for takeaway pizza? Absolutely. Should you make homemade pie? We think so. The set includes two pieces: a bike-shaped pizza cutter with a stainless steel blade and a cute stand. Assuming your loved ones don’t have little ones running around, here’s a kitchen utensil gift they can put on the counter or shelf and show off as a work of art in between pie-cutting.
        Keep your loved ones salty with the Rivsalt Himalayan Sea Salt Grater ($32 at time of publication) from the Museum of Modern Art in Los Angeles. Includes a Japanese-style stainless steel grater specially designed for salt and an FSC-certified oak salt board that doubles as a grater stand. Also includes (of course) pink Himalayan salt crystals due to natural impurities containing 84 trace elements. Items are neatly packaged for ease of packaging, and under $40 (at time of publication) make them a good choice for many recipients.