Release Date: December 3, 2015

Gifts for Art Lovers from the Nation's Collection: Holiday Shopping this Year at the National Gallery of Art Shops and Online Store

Ornate necklaces, bracelets and earrings in gold and muted tones compliment the exhibition Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World
© 2015, Rob Shelley, Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art Shops are offering a grand array of exciting holiday gifts for every family member and friend on your list. With a selection inspired by works in the Gallery's collection that includes boxed cards, calendars, decorations, reproductions, exhibition catalogs and other publications, glamorous jewelry and textiles, and a sleigh full of art-related gifts for children of all ages, the Gallery Shops are prepared to meet all of your seasonal gift-giving needs.

The annual National Gallery of Art Engagement Calendar is always a bestseller. The coming year's volume includes iconic images by Vincent van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, Berthe Morisot, Peter Paul Rubens, Georgia O'Keeffe, and other favorites from the Gallery's photography, works on paper, and sculpture collections.

Coloring books for adults are all the rage, and the Gallery Shops carry the Vive Le Color! series in depth, as well as rainbow after rainbow of coloring pencils and crayons to soothe the harried adult. Always popular are the Shops' extensive collection of framed and unframed prints and posters; mobiles; catalogs and books on art, architecture, and photography; journals; note cards; puzzles; and more.

Annual holiday collectibles include boxed ceramic ornaments that reproduce in resin relief sculptures by Luca della Robbia; elaborate drawings exquisitely reproduced in metal to adorn your tree; embroidered tree skirts; felt mistletoe and white-berry garland; pleated paper snowflakes reminiscent of childhood craft projects; adorable 2-D tree ornaments inspired by the icons of Carnaby Street; mistletoe sparkling with opalescent glass beadwork; and other home décor and accessories.

This year the Gallery Shops have created suites of merchandise based on the delicate pattern of a Qing Dynasty porcelain, as well as motifs seen in Van Gogh's Green Wheat Fields, Auvers (1890). These products include glassware, porcelain tableware and vases, eyeglass cases, placemats, umbrellas, journals, pens, scarves, and ties.

Jewelry

The Gallery Shops' 2015 jewelry selection is a triumphant return to museum-quality style and glamour that will appeal to both traditional and contemporary tastes. Our completely refreshed assortment showcases handmade jewelry inspired by the Gallery's rich horticultural heritage, as seen in its garden courts and the Sculpture Garden. Other pieces are inspired by the gemlike colors and exquisite detailing of Renaissance art. The 2015 selection also features bold, sculptural jewelry created from metals, wood, and semiprecious stones, distinctively handcrafted to enhance their textures and forms. Necklaces, rings, and bracelets make use of a variety of materials, including Venetian glass from the foundries of Murano, and lightweight, dyed, and sustainable plantation timber. In addition, the Shops' wide selection of stylish wristwatches includes one inspired by the huge Calder mobile in the Gallery's East Building.

Wearable Art and Textiles

Textiles of all colors and fabrics are perennial gift favorites from the Gallery Shops. This year's stars include elegant, vibrantly colored silk and wool scarves and shawls (some with matching purses) inspired by the works of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinsky, Ellsworth Kelly, and others. Women's wool and wool-blend cloche hats reminiscent of the 1920s, '30s, and '40s are back in style, as are ladies' two-toned long and short gloves. The Gallery Shops are well-stocked with these, in addition to stunning one-size-fits-all shawls and wraps that complement any outfit, and fashionable totes with matching umbrellas.

Gift Ideas for Men

Men are always difficult to shop for. The Gallery Shops make it easy. Choose from colorful, art-inspired, 100% silk and silk-blend neckties and bow ties; an assortment of pocket squares with matching ties; stylish wool dress hats; cuff links, pendants, and money clips astonishingly crafted from motherboard fragments (for the techie on your list); top-grain leather portfolios and wallets; and the witty companion books How to Tie a Tie: The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Dressed, The Old Man's Guide To Health and Longer Life, and Beards.

Gift Ideas for Children

Let's face it, the holidays are for a smiling child. Guaranteed to produce that special smile are the Gallery Shops' holiday- and art-related toys, games, puzzles, plush animals, and books. The latter include such favorites as Jingle Bells, an elegant, magical cut-paper edition with a stunning 3-D pop-up at the end, written by American songwriter James Lord Pierpont; The Day the Crayons Quit, a new 40-page picture book for ages five to eight; Christmas Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, which can be purchased with our ever-popular plush wombat toy (sold separately); The Children's Book of Art: An Introduction to Famous Paintings,written by Rosie Dickens; and Winter: A Pop-Up Book with simple verses and scenes that bring to life the countryside as snow begins to fall, written by David A. Carter. Always a favorite are whimsical snow globes, and the Shops include one featuring Degas's Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (1878–1881).

Visit the National Gallery of Art and make your selections in person in the Gallery Shops, or order online at http://shop.nga.gov, by e-mail at [email protected], or by telephone at (202) 842-6002. The Gallery's permanent shops are located on the main floor of the West Building and the Concourse connecting the East and West Buildings.