Treat your mom like the goddess she is. Totally Historic’s gift guide for Mother’s Day has you covered with these art-inspired gifts fit for a queen.
And what better places to find art-inspired gifts than the Metropolitan Museum of Art store and Art.com? I’ve been a loyal customer to both for years, because their products provide a touch of elegance that art lovers, well, love. So, let’s dig into these stylish, sophisticated gifts for Mother’s Day.
The following links are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no cost to you.
Jewelry
No gift guide for Mother’s Day would be complete without jewelry. The Met store offers a variety of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and watches inspired by every style and historical period.
1. Bracelets
From bangles imitating luminous Tiffany glass to a statement piece with ancient Greek ornamentation, these bracelets celebrate iconic designs. If you’re into something a bit more ancient, try the lapis lazuli and turquoise bangles inspired by Egypt’s Middle Kingdom. Or, bring some good fortune to your mom by gifting her the Nefer bracelet, which evokes New Kingdom amulets.
2. Necklaces
If a necklace is more your mom’s style, go for this heart scarab pendant, inspired by amulets from ancient Egypt. Alternatively, a more ornate choice is the amethyst long pendant, which harks back to 16th-century Turkish textiles.
Or, go for a classic 20th-century-inspired locket. It’s shaped like a leather-bound book, with forget-me-nots on the cover. Finally, you can never go wrong with pearls. And these pearls are a doozy, because they evoke gold-and-pearl rosaries made in the 17th-19th century Philippines. The double-strand necklace comes with gorgeous matching drop earrings.
3. Brooches
These brooches are stunning. If you’ve got a mom or grandma in your life who loves a good brooch, why not get her a crystal peacock inspired by the 18th-century Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory? How about the jeweled dragonfly based on 20th-century jewelers who loved a good insect design? You can’t go wrong either way!
4. Earrings
Earrings are a go-to in any gift guide for Mother’s Day. Get inspired by the ancients with Egyptian New Kingdom hieroglyphic drop earrings or Greek gold and lapis triple-drop earrings. Head on over to Tudor England for regal chandelier earrings or small hoops with pearls. Or, evoke Turkish Iznik kilns with enamel hoops designed to imitate a painted dish with the çintamani (auspicious jewel) motif. Finally, go classic with some cameo drop earrings that were super fashionable in 19th-century Europe.
5. Watches
While watches are a classic Father’s Day gift, moms love ’em too! Get elegant and dainty with this crystal evening watch based on 19th-century French fashions. Alternatively, get regal with this pendant watch inspired by Fabergé eggs favored by the Imperial Romanov family.
Accessories
If you get your mom jewelry every single year and want to change it up, try these fun accessories. First up, we have a stylish scarf based on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glass window, Magnolias and Irises. Then there’s the umbrella with Van Gogh’s Irises. Everyone needs an umbrella, so why not make it fun? Finally, we’ve got two bags for your mom to throw all her crap in. The first is a tote decorated with a unicorn chillin’ in a garden. It’s from a famous medieval tapestry at the Met Cloisters. The second is a chic tote with an architectural rendering of the Met’s facade.
Office & Stationery
Office accessories are a great way to spruce up any work environment. Even though the world has largely gone digital, paper’s still around. And there’s no better way to maintain a messy desk than with a gorgeous paperweight. This one has an iconic design by William Morris of the Arts and Crafts movement. Another art-inspired desk accessory is the floral arabesque mousepad, which looks like a mini-Islamic carpet. For book lovers, check out the bookmark of Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave. Finally, your mom can jot down her musings, notes, or grocery lists in this Monet Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies journal.
Home Decor
Home decor and accessories make wonderful gifts for mom. Kitchen mamas will love this apron celebrating Clara Peeter’s A Bouquet of Flowers or the tea towel of The Favorite Cat by Nathaniel Currier. For tea lovers, you can choose from two Van Gogh items: a teapot designed with Roses or a mug with a tea infuser decorated with Irises. For mothers who run on coffee, the espresso cup and saucer designed with Katsushika Hokusai’s Great Wave is a must. And who can forget coasters, those handy little accessories that protect your surfaces from beverages while being super stylish? These coasters, inspired by Tiffany glass, will get the job done.
Art Prints & Framing
Totally Historic’s gift guide for Mother’s Day wouldn’t be complete without some actual art! Art.com is my go-to for art reproductions. They have millions of art prints, including famous paintings, drawings, and photographs. The reproductions can be prints, posters, stretched canvas, or wood mounts. You can also opt to frame your print or canvas when you make a purchase.
The type of art reproduction depends on your mom’s tastes, but I’ve included two examples below.
Finally, if you’d rather frame a personalized image for your mom, like a photo of you or, let’s be real, her fur baby, Art.com does custom framing. Click here to learn more.
If you’re interested in more history and art-inspired gifts, check out the following gift guides:
Leave a Reply