Metropolitan Museum Shops Have Superb Designs, Reasonable Prices
Museum gift shops offer some of the most exciting and unusual merchandise in the marketplace.
Those who have enjoyed living in New York City and frequenting the Metropolitan Museum of Art shop will be pleased to learn that the museum has opened two gift shops in the Los Angeles area. Unfortunately, they are not in the San Fernando Valley, but one of them is just over the hill in Century City, and the other is in Costa Mesa.
Whereas comparison shopping is all but impossible on these objects, the quality of the reproduction is excellent and many levels above most of the gift items we see in the stores. Glass, silver and porcelain are presented, as well as jewelry, sculpture and a generous selection of note cards.
The 17th-Century Dutch marriage box was originally filled with gold ducats and presented by a suitor to the lady of his choice. Joined hands, together with allegorical figures of trust, hope, prudence, love and tenderness, are engraved on the box. The 2 1/2-inch-high box in silver plate is $59.50 and in sterling $185.
An exquisite Art Nouveau perfume bottle, frosted and with an ethereal figure of a woman in the center, is only $42. It was originally created by Lucien Gaillard at the turn of the century.
The selection of jewelry is wonderful and includes something for every budget. There is plenty of beautifully designed costume jewelry and some very fine pieces as well.
A Celtic necklace adapted from a 9th-Century early Christian brooch found in County Cavan, Ireland, is 16 inches long, of 24-karat gold electroplate, with enamel inset. It’s stunning and only $37.50. Third-Century Greek trefoil jewel earrings are set with emerald and garnet cabochons; tiny cultured pearls are suspended from intricate, handmade chains. These are of 18-karat gold and are $650.
Most of the sculpture reproductions are made in Portugal by artisans selected by the museum. A 2nd-Century Roman Aphrodite, cast in stone and about 18 inches high, is quite lovely for $295. A handsome composition marble head of Helios, 5th Century, is $78.
The baseball card posters from the museum’s Burdick Collection will please aficionados of all ages. Heroes of yesteryear from Lou Gehrig to Mickey Mantle are shown on the posters, which are only $12.95. And the selection of calendars at $6.95 is a joy.
You get the picture. These are truly splendid shops, with superb designs and, best of all, very reasonable prices.
If you can’t get to either store, call (800) 468-7386 for the catalogue.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shop is in the Century City Shopping Center, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., (213) 552-0905. A second store is at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 435-9160. Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.
