Roses are red. Violets are blue. If you’re looking to skip the usual Valentine’s Day suspects, this list is for you. Filled with less-than-expected V-Day gifts, this round-up includes pieces that are sure to drive the design devotees in your life wild. From small tokens of appreciation (ideal for gifting your interior designer) to investment-grade splurges perfect for spoiling— who else? — yourself, all of these gifts are sure to become objects of your recipient’s affections.
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Botanical Prints
Flowers may be a Valentine’s Day decor standby, but they’re liable to wilt within a day or two. For a perpetually-petaled option, consider gifting a set of vintage framed botanical lithographs. On a budget? Consider a single print featuring the recipient’s favorite flower. Money’s no object? Treat them to a set. With a collection of six or eight botanical prints, your giftee can say goodbye to a blank wall in the blink of an eye. Not sure you’re well-versed in what blooms your dearly beloved prefers? Pull some inspiration from the language of flowers. Baby’s breath symbolizes eternal love, while pink camellias signify “I’m longing for you.”
Chinoiserie Pillows
Plush and perfect for snuggling, throw pillows really are the perfect Valentine’s Day decor. Even better? One wrapped in romantic motifs like birds and blossoming branches. A Chinoiserie pillow will fit the bill nicely, especially if you snag one in a pretty pastel palette. If you’re not sure where to start, consider seeking out pillows created by iconic fabric houses like Schumacher or Brunshwig & Fils. Schumacher’s “Huntington Garden” features a sprawling Tree of Life-inspired pattern dotted with long-tailed birds perched on twisting branches. For something less textbook, try pillows fashioned from a fabric like Schumacher’s “Chiang Mai Dragon.” The Art Deco-inspired print features dragons interwoven with a sea of vibrant, psychedelic-looking flowers.
Majolica
If your giftee is a vintage lover, chances are they’re mad for majolica. The English earthenware is best known for its vibrant color and whimsical motifs. From cabbage leaf platters to shell-encrusted tureens, these posh pottery pieces are easy to match to your loved one’s passions and whims. For a grand statement, opt for a majolica tureen. Bonus points if you bequeath a swan-shaped one — they’re known to mate for life. Looking to arouse a different sort of mood? A stack of majolica oyster plates is liable to do the trick. While the jury’s still out on whether the crustaceans are truly an aphrodisiac, a true oyster fiend will be driven mad regardless.
Murano
If Italian is the language of love then Murano is the glass of love. Pass on icy pieces of transparent glass and opt for a vibrantly colored, Italian-made Murano piece. Reserve vases and lamps for grand, been-together-for-decade gestures, and consider catchalls and decorative objects for more newly minted partnerships. While ruby red bowls are a safe bet for celebrating romance, Flavio Poli and Alessandro Mandruzzato Murano bowls heart-worthy art pieces as well. Also worth considering are Mid-Century Modern Murano ashtrays. They’re plentiful on the secondhand market and can easily be repurposed as catchalls. Fill one with anything from candy to plane tickets to Italy, and you have the makings of a monumental gift.
Pink Marble Furniture
Celebrate love at first blush with a piece of pink marble furniture or decor. A recent revival in Postmodernism has thrust pink marble into the spotlight, but its use in furniture dates back to Victorian times. While its rarity might make you think pink marble is pricey, it’s often priced comparably to white marble objects. For casual gal pals, consider vintage pink marble bookends, photo frames, or vanity sets. Clean-lined, postmodern pieces can easily be synced with a wide range of decor, making them safe to gift without necessarily knowing the decorative makeup of someone’s home. Want to make more of an impact. Try a pink marble Maitland-Smith decorative box. From pyramid-shaped boxes to domed boxes to standing boxes, these epic hideaways are designed to have and hold forever.
Vintage Silver
Break up with the notion that you need to accrue 25 years before gifting silver to your honey. Whether it be a tray, champagne bucket, or letter opener, a vintage silver piece is prime for gifting at any point in your relationship. Because the world of silver is vast, consider hobbies and activities your giftee enjoys before starting a search. Gifting to a brunching bestie? Try a silver-plated egg cup or toast rack. Have a love who considers themselves a cocktail connoisseur? Outfit them with a silver jigger or shaker. Animal-lover? Select a vintage Arthur Court piece. From walrus ice buckets to bunny-shaped platters, Arthur Court pieces span the animal kingdom.
Trompe l’oeil
They say love can play tricks on the mind, but what about the eyes? Trompe l’oeil pieces, which consist of solid tables and lamps that masquerade as draped forms and platters adorned with fake fruit or legumes, are perfect for surprising and delighting your loved one. A chip-and-dip-style platter is the ideal token for a friend who loves to host, while a pair of tassel-form candlesticks promises the make your recipient burn a little bright for you. One thing to note: purely decorative pieces, such as ceramic fruit topiaries, are smart to reserve those whose personal aesthetics you best. For a truly splurge-worthy gift, consider a Fornasetti tole umbrella stand, a vintage draped Chapman lamp, or a John Dickinson “wrapped” and tasseled table.
Famille Rose Ceramics
Valentine’s Day isn’t the time for preppy blue and white ginger jars. Instead, gift their rose-colored, French-named counterparts, Famille Rose ceramics. A name generally used to define Chinese-style ceramics featuring a predominantly pink color, Famille Rose porcelain dates back to the 19th Century. Today’s market is a mix of authentic Chinese pieces and reproductions made in other parts of the world. With their ornate prints of pink, green, and gold, Famille Rose pieces are ebullient-feeling making them the perfect for doling out to anyone you find particularly sweet in you life, from mentors to co-workers to friends.
Lead photo by John Merkl, styled by Jody Kennedy; At the home of Allison Speer, designed by Allison Caccoma
