‘Bubble Necklace’ by Italian designers Marina and Susanna Sent, available at MoMA; $115.
With Mother’s Day coming up in the U.S., I thought I would depart from my usual visual art and design- related posts, to focus on the affordable and unique items I have found in museum stores around the globe.
A hand-woven, limited-edition bracelet by Julie Rofman, similar styles available at the Guggenheim store; approximately $200.
Although some in the museum community object to the “commercialization” of museums through a retail presence, museum stores are an important source of revenue and sometimes, incredible finds for lucky visitors. I had the pleasure of working in Business Development at the Guggenheim while finishing my Master’s Thesis and saw firsthand the level of care with which buyers select merchandise, keeping in mind the museum’s educational mission, visitors’ preferences and featuring contemporary craftsmanship.
A silver and pearl wrap necklace from the Philadelphia Museum of Art that I received as a birthday / Hanukkah gift in 2010 (the picture doesn’t do it justice!).
As a regular museum-goer, I often peruse museum shops for interesting merchandise and have found some incredible pieces over the years, particularly jewelry, books, and exquisite catalogues.
A selection of my favorite books and catalogues from various museums and foundations.
Purchases from museum stores support the collections and exhibitions of our cultural institutions and often serve as a treasure trove for cool, unusual, and artistic gifts, whether for yourself or others!
I especially recommend: MoMA; The Guggenheim; The Philadelphia Museum of Art; The de Young; The Jewish Museum; and SFMoMA.
