Struggling to find the perfect, conversation-starting present for the culture vulture in your life? Look no further. This year's most artful and unusual Christmas gifts have been unveiled, offering everything from a luxurious Traitors cloak to official Marina Abramović penis salt and pepper shakers.
Gifts for Film, TV, and Theatre Fanatics
For the dedicated viewer, this season brings a treasure trove of screen-inspired merchandise. Fans of the BBC's hit show The Traitors can don the official cloak, a unisex, Velcro-fastening garment with a satin-lined hood, priced at £28.99. Meanwhile, devotees of The Devil Wears Prada can prepare for the sequel with a cap featuring Miranda Priestly's iconic 'cerulean' monologue, available for £25.
Other small-screen highlights include Dustin's 'Thinking Cap' from Stranger Things (£25) and a satanic T-shirt from South Park (£21.95) commemorating the plot where Donald Trump gets the devil pregnant. For musical theatre lovers, a Phantom of the Opera bear (£40) offers a cuddly, if manipulative, companion.
Art, Music, and Literary Finds
The art world is well represented with several provocative offerings. The famously profane artistic duo Gilbert & George have inspired a swear box decorated with their favourite expletives, costing £35. For a more decorative statement, a Tom of Finland doormat (£90) depicting the boots and breeches of Canadian mounties promises to give any doorstep a homoerotic twist.
Music enthusiasts are catered for with Britpop Trumps (£12.99), a card game pitting Blur against Oasis, and a lavish box set of Oasis's Morning Glory singles for £79.99. Bibliophiles can gift classic library card socks from the British Library (£14.99), while fans of vaporwave can delve into a 574-photo art book from cult rapper Yung Lean (£60).
Quirky Collectables and Designer Homages
For those who appreciate the bizarre and beautiful, this guide does not disappoint. The legendary performance artist Marina Abramović has released official penis-shaped salt and pepper shakers, inspired by her Balkan Erotic Epic, for £125. On a cuter note, the terrifying 'Neomorph' from TV's Alien: Earth series is now available as a cuddly figurine from £13.50.
Design gets its due with a silver ring featuring Barcelona's Gaudí skyline (£159.95) and socks paying homage to architect Zaha Hadid's curvaceous buildings (£9.50). Even composer Max Richter has been bottled, with an eau de toilette containing notes of 'graphite' and 'magnetic tape' for £120.
From a Pedro Pascal prayer candle (£22) to a Lego Trevi Fountain (£139.99) and Brutalist Britain paper models (£25.99), this guide proves that the most memorable gifts are often the most unexpected. It's time to bring some artful oomph to your festive gifting.
