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.
Frederik Roijé Storyline Bookshelf
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
Max Gunawan Lumio Book Lamp
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
Set of Magritte Plates
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
Hello Coat Rack
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
Assyrian Palace Guard Bookends
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
Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can Perfumed Candle
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
Frank Gehry Wiggle Side Chair
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
Artist Palette Cheese Tray
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
Four Tulips Vase
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
Radiating Glass Clock
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
Wave Wine Rack
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
Mosaic Murano Glass Centerpiece Bowl
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
Haring Wooden Chair
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
Apollo by Robert Mapplethorpe Limoges Porcelain Tray
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
Amber Box “A Paradise Apple”
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
Astronaut Duvet Cover
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
Conceal Shelves Set
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
Void Vase
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
Pulcina Espresso Maker
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
Motorcycle Helmet Champagne Bucket
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
