Cool home decor picks from the world's best museum gift shops

By Dobrina Zhekova
May 11, 2017
Courtesy of the vendors
Museums have always been bastions of culture — institutions where ancient and modern artifacts are displayed for our pleasure and education.

If you are anything like me, any trip to a new city will include a day spent roaming around the hallways of its most notable museums. Though, I’ve noticed that after each trip, a large portion of my souvenir haul comes from museum gift shops. And I don’t just mean a fancy keychain or a framed Mona Lisa print.

With museum visitor numbers surging across the globe, cultural institutions have seen an opportunity to offer visitors a more creative array of products that, very often, includes the original work of local artists.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, for example, has two separate stores where people can find design objects approved by MoMA’s curators that were made by designers around the world. And, no, that’s not just an American thing. We dare you to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam without going on a shopping spree at its gift shop.

And because the internet and international shipping are two wonderful things modern civilization has gifted us with, all of these covetable items are now available online.

Prepare your home for a mini makeover, and keep scrolling for 20 super-cool objects we found in the online stores of some of the world’s most popular museums.
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1 of 20

Frederik Roijé Storyline Bookshelf

Credit: Courtesy of MOMA

Museum of Modern Art, New York City

The shape of sound waves fascinated Dutch designer Frederik Roijé, inspiring him to create this unique steel bookshelf.

To buy: moma.org, $210

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2 of 20

Max Gunawan Lumio Book Lamp

Credit: Courtesy of MoMA

Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Lumio looks like a normal book when it’s shut, but once opened, it transforms into a high-performing LED lamp.

To buy: moma.org, $198

3 of 20

Set of Magritte Plates

Credit: Courtesy of MoMA

Museum of Modern Art, New York City

When IKEA dinnerware doesn’t cut it for you anymore, opt for this colorful set of plates inspired by the works of surrealist painter René Magritte.

To buy: moma.org, $8 each

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Hello Coat Rack

Credit: Courtesy of MoMA

Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Brighten up your entryway with this cool coat rack, or just display it as a piece of wall art in your living room.

To buy: moma.org, $60

5 of 20

Assyrian Palace Guard Bookends

Credit: Courtesy of MoMA

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Inspired by the divine guardians that stood at the doorways of the Assyrian palace at Nimrud, these bookends are perfect to organize a shelf with history books.

To buy: metmuseum.org, $135

6 of 20

Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can Perfumed Candle

Credit: Courtesy of LACMA

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

Before you ask — no, it doesn’t smell like tomato soup. The “Pop Wood” candle fragrance contains fig, incense, cedar, and musk, and it was actually made by master perfumers in France.

To buy: thelacmastore.org, $60

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7 of 20

Frank Gehry Wiggle Side Chair

Credit: Courtesy of LACMA

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

Legendary architect Frank Gehry released this chair in 1972 as part of his furniture series “Easy Edges,” and it became an instant hit because of its unique shape and the fact that it’s made from cardboard layers.

To buy: thelacmastore.org, $1,380

8 of 20

Artist Palette Cheese Tray

Credit: Courtesy of National Gallery of Art

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Skip the classic wood board and, instead, serve up a selection of cheeses on this artist palette-inspired ceramic board.

To buy: nga.gov, $48

9 of 20

Four Tulips Vase

Credit: Courtesy of Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Tulips were the most expensive flowers in the 17th-century Netherlands. This vase is inspired by a Jacob Marrel’s drawing in a famous “tulip book” from 1640 that probably served as a catalogue.

To buy: rijksmuseumshop.nl, approx. $99

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10 of 20

Radiating Glass Clock

Credit: Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Colorful hand-painted stripes make this glass clock a true work of art. It is made in Italy and is signed by the artist.

To buy: artinstituteshop.org, $155

11 of 20

Wave Wine Rack

Credit: Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

The design of this six-bottle bamboo wine rack was inspired by the “rolling waves of the ocean.”

To buy: artinstituteshop.org, $200

12 of 20

Mosaic Murano Glass Centerpiece Bowl

Credit: Courtesy of Smithsonian

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

This vividly hued glass bowl was mouth-blown and handcrafted by artisans in the Venetian island of Murano.

To buy: smithsonianstore.com, $220

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13 of 20

Haring Wooden Chair

Credit: Courtesy of The British Museum

The British Museum, London

New York–based graffiti and visual artist Keith Haring’s distinctive artwork influenced the design of this unusual chair that will surely become the focal point of any room.

To buy: britishmuseumshoponline.org, approx. $162

14 of 20

Apollo by Robert Mapplethorpe Limoges Porcelain Tray

Credit: Courtesy of The Getty Museum

The Getty Museum, Los Angeles

An elegant tray with a striking black and white image of Apollo by Brooklyn photographer Robert Mapplethorpe will bring some character to your coffee table.

To buy: getty.edu, $70

15 of 20

Amber Box “A Paradise Apple”

Credit: Courtesy of The State Hermitage Museum

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

Who can blame Russian czars for their obsession with amber objects? This amber-and-metal apple box is simply gorgeous and would make for a great place to store your jewelry.

To buy: hermitageshop.org, $329

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16 of 20

Astronaut Duvet Cover

Credit: Courtesy of MCA Chicago

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Sure, this duvet cover set would be the perfect gift for a kid but we’re definitely ordering another one for us, because it’s so cool.

To buy: mcachicagostore.org, $119

17 of 20

Conceal Shelves Set

Credit: Courtesy of MCA Chicago

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Metal shelves that become invisible under a stack of books? We’d like to say it’s magic, but it’s all about creative thinking and design.

To buy: mcachicagostore.org, $35

18 of 20

Void Vase

Credit: Courtesy of MCA Chicago

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

This is not your average vase. The almost-invisible Void vase makes a small bouquet seem as though it’s floating in thin air.

To buy: mcachicagostore.org, $20

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19 of 20

Pulcina Espresso Maker

Credit: Courtesy of MCA Chicago

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Doesn’t it seem as though your days would be off to a much better start if you had this coffee maker in your kitchen?

To buy: mcachicagostore.org, $80

20 of 20

Motorcycle Helmet Champagne Bucket

Credit: Courtesy of MCA Chicago

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

With a bucket this cool, you’ll be looking for excuses to pop open some bubbly every night.

To buy: mcachicagostore.org, $248

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By Dobrina Zhekova