bltd

This is a must have for a Mozart fan. It’s a handcrafted wooden musical box (sphere) that plays “Voi Che Sapete” from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. The sphere makes it special, of course, but please don’t just put in on a shelf to look at; occasionally turn the key to hear the 18-note chime play the music, because that is its function, after all.
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Whoa. If you’re not a fan of the taxidermy trend, have I got something to share with you. Bend Seating has trophy heads made of metal. And they’re geometric, engineered from a mathematical formula. And this makes them awesome. Wall art? Heck yeah. Coat hook? Yes please.

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These blew me away. Faceted boulders! Low-res rocks! Talk about a great addition to a landscape, or as a sort of objet d′art (air quotes) in an empty corner of a room. There’s not a lot of info, but really, what do you need to know other than they’re made from steel?
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Do you remember the ITS OK Edition that we posted way back in ’08? Well, Sighn is still going strong, and is now offering custom cut letters to spell out whatever your heart desires.

Pricing is $5 a character, 50 character max.
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Happy Holidays to you and yours this season! We’ll return with our usual postings on Tuesday, December 28th.

Pictured above: Filigrantrae Wooden Holiday Tree by Trine and Peter Find, $275.00 from A+R Store

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Speaking from personal experience*, these paper puzzles are not for the faint of heart. They do require a bit more patience than the average puzzle, as there’s many complex parts. That said, this guitar (and violin) look amazing and could be a good gift for someone that has the willpower to finish it.

Detailed simulacrum of an actual guitar.
Instructions and display hook included.
Made in Japan.
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If this particular concept seems familiar, you might be recalling the Christmas Tree by Buro North. This tree by Modernica is similar in that it’s made from wood (environmentally friendly) and can be flat packed for easy storage, yet it has the distinct advantage in having stars for branches.

Made from natural baltic birch and is available in a small (22 1/2″, $115.00) or large (69″, $240.00) version.

What’s this, you say? Well, it’s a nativity by Valerie Atkisson. Two flat pieces of steel connect in the middle to create the silhouette of the traditional story. Are you more excited about the fact that it is available in gold or that it stores flat? (Me: stores flat!)

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Snap! Ghost Cameras are handmade, glazed earthenware replicas of vintage cameras. They come in three variations: 1960, 1970 and 1980, modeled after the Argus C3, the Polaroid SX-70, and the Polaroid One Touch, respectively. I’ve only seen these online but recently have just had the pleasure of seeing the 1980 Ghost Camera at awesome East Village store Alphabets. Ghost Cameras are designed by Yellow Owl Workshop and handmade in Portland, Oregon.

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We’ve posted plenty of map-themed items before; Haptic Lab Quilts, Magnetic Future Map, Places on Earth, but this will be the first where you can literally create your own world. The outlines of the continents are painted on, leaving you  on your own to create the division lines and territories. Undo the Louisiana Purchase. Create Jeff Land. Or draw some sea monsters. You get the idea.

Dimensions:

30″ tall, 19” diameter globe.

On a side note, this could easily be a weekend diy project; buy a globe at a flea market and paint it.

Just came across these cute lil wooden owls by designer Matt Pugh. Perfect as a desk accessory, I’d say. Available in Oak or Walnut and a variety of colors.

Dimensions: 10cm x 5cm x 5cm
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Sure, you can find marquee lights around and about at antique shops and such, but with these you can pick whatever letters you want and there’s an ‘@’ symbol too. Immediate gratification vs. original signage? Tough choice.

‘@’ Light, 17″w, 17″h, 4″d: $178.00, Available from UO
Alphabet Lights, 19″w, 4″d, 24″h – 27″w, 4″d, 24″h (varies per letter): $178.00, Available from UO

You say whaaa? Well, it’s an eternally tapping copy of the artist’s (Nik Ramage) own hand. You simply flick a switch to start or stop the resin cast fingers tapping. You know, so you don’t have to do it yourself, which frees you up for other important matters. Well worth £480, right?… Er, if you’re swimming in cash, that is.

Materials: Cast resin, steel and motor.
Dimensions: Human hand.
Power: 2 x AA Batteries (included)
Edition: 10 artist’s proofs. (Only 1 remaining)
Colour: Masking Tape.

I love, love, love these custom nesting dolls by Hally McGehean. There’s fashion mag pics and vintage photography to choose from, or whatever else if you go the custom route. You can even get a little racy with photos of yourself (in various undress) if you’ve the guts. Love it.

shown above: 5 EX BOYFRIENDS, nesting dolls
set of 5 wooden decoupaged nesting dolls, signed, dated, and numbered.

This metal heart ‘emits a soft spheric’ sound so that when you’re crying yourself to sleep on Valentine’s Day you’ll have some comfort. Just kidding. Forgo those lame boring valentine’s gifts (roses, candy, blah) for this little gift, because it’ll last a heck of a lot longer and it looks waaay better than any red/pink-plastic/cellophane-stuffed-bear/basket type of thing. Pair it with a sentimental note and you’re done*.

If you’re still looking for a gift, by the way, you can always take a gander at our Gift Guide. It’s chockfull of easy-to-browse thumbnails of almost everything that we’ve ever posted that could be a decent gift.

Polished Aluminum.
4″ diameter

*unless your significant other is a gold-digger, in which case be prepared to duck and/or dodge when he or she throws it at you.