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Each piece of this collection is a hybrid of fine porcelain and durable stoneware. The proprietary blend of local clay from Hasami, Nagasaki gives the pieces a soft and smooth touch, yet you’ll find that they’re strong and robust enough for daily use. The collection nests for neat storage and the ash wood lids double as a serving tray, plate, or trivet.
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How about a little lunar imagery on your dishes? This stoneware set has black painted moon phases, and, as each dish is around 3.5″ in diameter, they would be a good fit in the kitchen for smaller portions (snacks) or in a dressing area for coins, jewelry, and other small pocket contents.
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Maybe you think this pitcher and cup from Lagos del Mundo doesn’t belong on your ‘must have’ list, but that will all change when you’re sitting outside on a hot summer’s day without an aesthetically pleasing receptacle for a cool, refreshing drink. The ceramic pitcher with cup is handmade from natural clay and glazes; the same materials have been used for over 3,000 years, so you’ll not need to worry about this set ever going out of style.
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Why should you care about a walnut trivet tray set? Maybe you shouldn’t, as there are much more important things going on in your life, but your dining table just emailed to let me know that it cares an awful lot about not being burnt from hot pots and pans, and why don’t you stop being a slob and protect your nice furniture?
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Here’s an elegant little coffee dripper that fits directly onto your cup. Made from borosilicate glass, it’s heat and scratch resistant. The dripper has double-walled construction that insulates, and the angle of the cone’s wall and the size of the bottom holes are engineered for an optimal extraction for perfectly brewed coffee. Brew for one or use the Gino Server for two or more.

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Platters with grids will bring out the best of your OCD, or at least that’s what we’ll hope. SAIC student Allison Rokusek uses various fine-lined grids for the design of these porcelain platters, as she believes grids “help section the world into more digestable pieces.” Makes sense, doesn’t it?
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You better act fast if this coffe service set makes your heart beat faster, as only 10 editions exist. That kind of limited availability halfway explains the price, and once you add in the vibrant, hand mixed color pigments, it makes complete sense. Made by porcelain artist Alissa Coe, the set includes a wood gift box and a small book about the production process of Sucabaruca.

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Bad news: this Doppio Round Cutting Block is not cheap. It would be so much better if it lost a zero in its price tag, as right now it’s about the price of a very decent armchair. Alas, we’ll settle for appreciating the double layer of marble- the dark side is Nero Marquina marble from Spain and the white is Carrara Marble from Italy- and imagining it upon our tabletops.
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What the what?!? Can it be? A marble serving board hand-cut with beveled edges? Talk about impressing your guests, fine Agaria Marble in a gem-like shape will make anything you put on it look like a million bucks (probably). Appetizers, charcuterie, you name it, it’s going to look like it came from a chef’s kitchen on this kind of serving board.
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If you’re still struggling to find a gift for a wine lover, might I suggest a modern decanter such as the Essence by Iittala? It’s simple and elegant, and, if your recipient likes color, it is available in a translucent copper ombre as well as a quieter clear glass. A small lip at the mouth ensures precise pouring while the bottom-heavy base provides heft and stability.
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Remember this? Also called the Cubist Nutcracker by some, this nutcracker by Adam and Harborth does the job in a straightforward way. Place a nut in an appropriately sized indention in the larger cube, take the other smooth cube and place it on top of the nut and then give it a good whack. Voilá, the nut is cracked.
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Maybe it’s time to upgrade your salt and pepper mills, and, if so, you’d be smart to take a look at Lostine Design Studio’s offering. Oak is dip-dyed for a stylish statement and the non-corrosive grinding mechanisms may be adjusted for fine or coarse salt and pepper. Choose either the small and large size depending on your preference, or choose both for a salt and pepper pairing.
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Don’t arrive empty handed to a dinner party, it’s rude. At least bring a bottle of wine, or, if the host/hostess is particularly fashionable, maybe even these Metallic Leather Gem Coasters. Sold as a set of 4, the faceted design adorns pebbled metallic leather, giving off a nice sheen while protecting precious surfaces. Available in gold or silver.
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If you want to score major points with someone who likes tea, you can’t do much better than gifting this teapot by Heath Ceramics. Originally designed in the 1940s to work with their dinnerware, the teapot has a copper handle wrapped in leather and is microwave, dishwasher and oven safe. Consider adding a couple of Large Modern Cups to complete the set.
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It’s a Nut Hammer. It’s a pretty smart idea: a removable silicone ball holds the nut in place- just strike the hammer against a flat surface and the cast-iron head will take care of the rest. The silicone keeps flying shards at bay and minimizes the mess usually associated with cracking nuts. It’d be an excellent holiday gift.
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