“There is an atmosphere of spiritual effort here. No other city is quite like it. It is a racecourse tension. I wake early, often at 5 o’clock, and start writing at once.” —James Joyce on Paris Vintage Map of Paris: 1,000-Piece Puzzle The perfect gift for a flâneur: a virtual stroll around the City of Light. Assembling this bird’s-eye-view map of Paris is an enjoyable way to (re)familiarize yourself with the twenty arrondissements and their gardens, boulevards, theatres, monuments, and more. Ticket to Charles de Gaulle—CDG “Paris is so very beautiful that it satisfies something in you that is always hungry in America.” —Ernest Hemingway French Gift BasketBring France home to your favorite Francophile. We’ve filled a panier du marché with five gifts with French DNA: a puzzle of a vintage Paris map; a notebook from heritage brand Clairefontaine; a traditional net market bag; cocktail napkins with maps featuring Parisian monuments; and a guide to the old-fashioned corners of Paris. Original 1951 NotebookThis is a reissue of the original notebook made in that year by a renowned French manufacturer. Legend has it that this is the model used by Julia Child to record her recipes when she was a student at Le Cordon Bleu. (The notebook made a cameo appearance in Julie & Julia, Nora Ephron’s 2009 movie.) Classic French Notebooks: Spiral-Bound, Size A5Walk into any stationery shop in France and you’ll see an extensive array of these beloved notebooks. This is the spiral-bound version of the classic composition books introduced to French children in primary school. Ruled pages; fountain pen–friendly. The pages are smooth, 90 g, ivory, French-milled paper. Scribe Rollerball Pen “...the pen of my dreams... It looks kind of retro, I suppose, but not annoyingly so. It is just a brilliantly designed tool... I am not a pen snob (boring), but I do believe that we should take as much enjoyment as possible from utilitarian objects.”—Luke Edward Hall, Financial Times. Rhodia Treasure Box This sturdy flip-top box—cleverly designed to look like one of the famous orange Rhodia notepads so beloved by Europeans—is filled with essential stationery items: four notebooks of differing sizes for various uses, as well as two Rhodia pencils. The Story of Impressionism: 1,000-Piece PuzzlePiece together this beautifully detailed puzzle to create the Paris of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, and along the way discover the people and places that helped create a new way to see the world. It’s a fun way to introduce art to young learners while following the artists as they paint the City of Light. Madeline Pajamas Read one of the beloved Madeline books to a small listener at bedtime while they snuggle up in these 100% cotton pajamas decorated with scenes from the adored books by Ludwig Bemelmans. PJs have a light pink background and are available in sizes 6 and 8. Cluny Tapestry Silk Chiffon ScarfThe design of this scarf is based on imagery of the six The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries in the Musée de Cluny, Paris, thought to represent a meditation on earthly pleasures. The hems are hand-rolled and sewn, not stitched; the scarf is large enough to wear as a light shawl. Classic French Market Bag Pull out the Larousse: you’ll run out of the superlatives you’ll need to describe this classic net tote. Maybe the company that makes it says it best: Le IT BAG écolo (the ecological IT BAG). Chic as Chanel, it’s eminently practical: it takes up hardly any space and is machine washable, durable, inexpensive, and 100% cotton. The Pond at Giverny Silk Chiffon Scarf Deep greens and blues portray the lush and luminous pond that captivated Claude Monet: “It took me a long time to understand my water lilies... I grew them without thinking of painting them... And then, all of a sudden, I had the revelation of the enchantment of my pond. I took up my palette.” Quiet Corners of Paris Quiet Corners of Paris is a beautifully illustrated peek into often overlooked, always beautiful locales: hidden villas, winding lanes, serene gardens, and cobblestone courtyards. Some of the places have breathtaking views while others are filled with historic and architectural details, such as stone archways, garden follies, boxwood mazes, ornamental statuary, stained glass, and Renaissance fountains. Traditional Savon de Marseille Savon de Marseille is the authentic soap that has been made in the Provençal city of Marseille, following a strict recipe and method, for more than six centuries. The result is a pure, natural soap that is unparalleled for skin care and, paradoxically for such a gentle product, stain removal. In France, it has been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from little faces to linens. Soap size: 3.5" x 3.5" x 3.5". Ticket to Heathrow—LHR“England is the paradise of individuality, eccentricity, heresy, anomalies, hobbies, and humors.” —George Santayana Liberty London Notecard Assortment“Liberty is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper.” —Oscar Wilde This notecard set features eight of Liberty London’s heritage floral prints, drawn from across the store’s vast archive of iconic designs. The archive is a national treasure, encompassing well over 45,000 designs and dating from the 1800s to the present day. The World of Jane Austen: 1,000-Piece PuzzleAs you work this jigsaw puzzle, you’ll find sixty characters and great houses from the novels of Jane Austen set against the landscapes in which they feature. Take a turn around the garden with Mr. Knightly, surprise Mr. Darcy at Pemberley, or escape to the seaside with Anne Elliot. Austen and her real-life contemporaries can be found amongst characters from all six of her novels. Shakespeare Playing CardsThe deck features fifty-four Shakespearian characters, arranged in four suits: hearts = lovers; clubs = fools; diamonds = heroes and heroines; and spades = villains, with Romeo and Juliet as the King and Queen of Hearts, Ariel as the Joker, and more. Jane Austen Characters MugThis heirloom quality bone china mug is decorated with wonderfully detailed humorous illustrations depicting more than forty of the central characters from Austen’s six major works. Made in Scotland, in a factory on Loch Lomond. Bodleian Libraries Silk Chiffon ScarfThis artful silk chiffon scarf features a montage of Victorian and Edwardian girls’ books with enchanting period titles (Queen of the Dormitory, The Girl of One Hundred Dresses, and more), collated by the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. Shakespeare’s Britain: 1,000-Piece PuzzleDecorated with symbols and icons of towns and abbeys, castles, battlefields, forests, and heaths, the image on the puzzle is a pictorial map of Britain as it was in 1583, with the geographical settings of Shakespeare’s history plays labeled. Vintage Map of London: 1,000-Piece PuzzleThe perfect gift for an Anglophile: a virtual stroll around the heart of London. The puzzle is presented in plastic-free packaging—a sweet muslin drawstring bag inside a sturdy, illustrated cardboard tube. A small poster guide is included. The Shakespeare Collection Socks Gift Boxes“Playful yet classy socks. A fun spin on a classic.” —The Scotsman Each Shakespeare Collection Socks Gift Box—designed and produced under license from The Shakespeare’s Globe Trust—includes five luxurious pairs of socks suitable for all genders. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Poetry in Bloom JournalThe design reproduced on the cover of this beautifully made journal is from an antique cover for The Sensitive Plant and Early Poems. The binding was originally crafted in 1910, in London, by Riviere and Son, bookbinders to the Royal Family. History of Cycling Mug“The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets.” – Christopher Morley The illustrations on this fine bone china mug chart the evolution of bikes throughout history, from the running machine in 1818 to the electric bikes of today. William Blake’s Shakespeare Playing CardsThis elegant set of playing cards features some of William Blake’s most beautiful illustrations of Shakespeare subjects. Blake, a visionary painter and poet of late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century England, was inspired by characters from some of Shakespeare’s most famous works. BabyLit ShakespeareIntroduce Shakespeare to your favorite young one with these cheerful, colorful, and humorous board books, two favorites from the witty and whimsical BabyLit series: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Fairies Primer and Romeo & Juliet: A Counting Primer. Ticket to Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport—FCO“You may have the world if I may have Italy.” —Giuseppe Verdi Ruler and Letter Opener Add an element of old-fashioned elegance to your desk with this letter opener and ruler. Crafted in Italy from hard-tempered steel, this graceful yet practical tool features a refined gold-plated handle and engraved imperial measurements. A thin layer of 24-karat gold is applied to the letter opener, giving it a beautiful, shining gold finish. | Paper Scissors The best scissors are designed for specific cutting projects. To this end, we are pleased to introduce our Paper Scissors, which are engineered specifically for cutting paper. Precision sharpening ensures that you can count on our Paper Scissors to deliver a perfect cut for years to come. Made in Italy | ItalianissimoItalianissimo (literally, very, very Italian) profiles fifty enticing Italian contributions to culture high and low, from the lofty realm of great ideas to the delicious realities of cuisine, fashion, cinema, and much more—an eclectic mix of the customs, culture, and concepts that embody the essence of Italy. Quiet Corners of RomeThis charming guidebook celebrates over fifty of the most beautiful, tranquil, and often hidden places in the Eternal City. You’ll find courtyards where mossy fountains splash; cool, quiet cloisters; exquisite gardens scented by boxwood and bay trees; pocket-sized piazzas filled with archaeological details dating to the days of Caesar. Vintage Italian Travel Poster Wrapping Paper Printed with a design that incorporates vintage travel posters advertising famous Italian towns and cities, this all-occasion gift wrap is acid free and therefore also suitable for bookbinding, scrapbooking, and other creative projects. The evocative posters, saturated colors, and gorgeous typefaces make an impressive presentation. Imported from Italy. “I Wish You All the Joy” Silver Shakespeare BraceletThis stylish silver cuff bracelet is etched with this succinct blessing from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice: “I wish you all the joy that you can wish.” This timeless piece is a perfect gift for lovers of the Bard; for anyone celebrating a birthday, graduation, or holiday, or for just showing you care. Crane Scissors Crafted in Italy from hard tempered steel, these little shears are extremely sharp–perfect for cutting ribbon and other textiles, without becoming dull. Refined blades also make them ideal for embroidery and other detailed work. La Dolce Vita Sock Collection Our stylish friends at the London Sock Exchange have designed a new trio of socks featuring Italian icons: pasta shapes on a bright green sock, a moped on a soft gray sock, and a Venetian gondolier on a coral sock. Italian Leather Journal Hand-crafted in Italy with 128 unlined cream pages, this softbound journal is ideal for sketching and capturing moments on the go. With a wrap-around tie closure, this slim design does not sacrifice elegance for durability. Zuppe: Soups from the Kitchen of the American Academy in Rome Much more than a collection of remarkable recipes, Mona Talbott’s Zuppe is also a wise and gentle tutorial on “the beauty and delicious rewards of frugality” and how the humblest foods can be the most profoundly satisfying. Pasta: Recipes from the Kitchen of the American Academy in Rome Pasta is a behind-the-scenes tutorial on the way that pastas and sauces are made in the renowned kitchen of the American Academy in Rome. The recipes, while remaining true to their authentic Italian roots, sparkle with a lightness and purity that one doesn’t normally expect from pasta. Carne: Meat Recipes from the American Academy in Rome When meat is served at the American Academy in Rome, it is with a thoughtful exuberance that provides a practical model for home cooks. In Carne, Chef Christopher Behr shares more than sixty exceptionally delicious recipes that celebrate community and make a special occasion of any meal. EuroRail Ticket“I am never sure of time or place upon a Railroad. I can’t read, I can’t think, I can’t sleep—I can only dream.” —Charles Dickens Writers and Characters MugAbsolutely the most stimulating (yet blessedly silent) breakfast companions with whom to share a cuppa: Charlotte Brontë with Mr. Rochester, Seamus Heaney with the Naturalist, Hilary Mantel with Anne Boleyn, J. R. R. Tolkien with Bilbo and Smaug, Agatha Christie with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and many more. Sauntering Sauntering features sixty walker-writers—classic and current—who roam Europe by foot. Twenty-two countries are traversed. Join Henriette d’Angeville, the second woman to climb Mont Blanc; Robert Macfarlane dropping deep into underground Paris; and many more. “Where Is the Library?” PencilsThis set of five pencils is imprinted with the all-important query in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German. Each question is engraved into the pencil, not printed. Made in the USA. Art TriviaThis eye-catching portable box holds 140 multiple-choice questions about artworks from around the globe and artists from all eras; topics range from ancient to contemporary art, fine arts to traditional crafts, museums and galleries to street art. Ticket to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport—ATH“Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea.” ―Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek Mythology TriviaThis box is filled with 140 multiple-choice questions that cover myths and folklore—from gods and heroes to magical beasts and monsters—from cultures around the world, including Egyptian, Greek, Norse, and more. Greek Gods and Goddesses MugThe twelve Olympians depicted on this mug are drawn in witty detail and are depicted with their symbolic signifiers, including an owl, cornucopia, trident, harp, quiver, and more. Greek Gods and Goddesses NotebookThis colorful notebook is decorated with twelve Greek gods and goddesses, along with their Roman names in italics and their areas of dominion. Hardcover, ninety-six lined pages. The Real Women of Greek Myths: 1,000-Piece PuzzleIn this beautifully detailed jigsaw puzzle, rediscover the lives and stories of the women of Greek myths, from Medusa and Medea to Helen, Eurydice, Aphrodite, Phaedra, Artemis, and others. The New York Review of Books Compact Umbrella “It is the habitual carriage of the umbrella that is the stamp of Respectability.” —Robert Louis Stevenson Weighing less than one pound and under twelve inches in length when closed, this handy umbrella is perfect for everyday use and easy to store in a backpack, briefcase, or purse. As the manufacturer says, this is “the best and last umbrella you’ll ever need.” |