Birmingham Museums 2020 Christmas Gift Guide
Birmingham
Museums 2020 Christmas gift list
Christmas
is going to feel a little different this year, but we can still share valuable
moments with family and friends. If you’re looking for a unique gift for a
loved one, that also supports the wonderful world of the arts during this
difficult time, then this gift list is perfect for you.
While
our sites may be closing temporarily during the lockdown, our online shop remains
very much open, abundant with a range of beautiful, distinctive gifts. Every
purchase will contribute to Birmingham Museums Trust, an educational charity, providing
vital support during through this period of uncertainty.
What’s
more, our gifts are inspired by the brilliant city of Birmingham and its legacy,
making them perfect for art lovers and keen historians. Take a browse through
our top Christmas picks, and be inspired by the city’s exciting, vibrant
heritage.
Benny’s
Babbies Poster - £15
Created
digitally during lockdown, and now gracing the walls of the Birmingham Museum
& Art Gallery, this collage celebrates Birmingham and the people that make
it great. Satirical artist Cold War Steve created this work to express his love
for the city, and it features famous faces such as activist Malala Yousafzai,
and the band members of Black Sabbath atop the iconic Rotunda building. This A2
poster is perfect for any lover of Birmingham culture, and is bound to keep you
occupied for hours as you try to see how many stars you can spot!
Buy online: Bennie’s Babbies
Poster
Sarehole
Mill’s Homeware Range
Sarehole
Mill, one of Birmingham Museum Trust’s nine historic properties, has fascinating
connections to JRR Tolkein, author of The Lord of the Rings, as well as
featuring a delectable on-site bakery. Our online shop includes a range of
homeware gifts inspired by the baked goods and waterwheel, including an apron, tea
towel, and coaster. Why not treat your favourite baker, or encourage a family
member to develop a lockdown cooking hobby?
Buy
online: Sarehole Mill apron, tea towel, coaster
Walk
Birmingham Book - £9.99
If
there’s one thing we’ve all loved doing over the lockdown, it’s going for
walks. This handy guide will take you all around the city, with 20 brilliant
walks that explore Birmingham’s heritage. From Sutton Coldfield to Longbridge,
and Harborne to Sheldon, use this gift to encourage the whole family to venture
out this Christmas.
Buy
online: Walk Birmingham Book
The
Brum Cup - £10
If
you know somebody who can’t cope without their morning coffee, here’s the
perfect environmentally friendly gift, with a beautiful city scape design by
local artist Olive Burke. The Brum Cup is made from natural husk, is
compostable and dishwasher safe, and also entitles the user to discounts on
takeaway hot drinks across the city! With several participating venues offering
discounts, and profits from the sale of the Brum Cup supporting Birmingham
Museums Trust, everyone’s a winner with this gift.
Buy
online: The Brum Cup
Birmingham
Museum Trust’s Books
For
book lovers, we have a range of exciting and educational reads to suit all
ages. Children can learn from the weird and wonderful ‘Horrible Histories’ series,
or be inspired by the stories of prominent Birmingham women within the
beautifully illustrated ‘Once Upon A Time In Birmingham.’
Adults
can discover more about our world-renowned collections with stunning coffee
table books such as ‘The Pre-Raphaelites Guidebook’ and ‘The Staffordshire
Hoard Book’, or immerse themselves within the artwork with gifts such as the
‘William Morris Colouring Book.’
Peacock
Gifts
The
magnificent William De Morgan peacock charger, on display at the Birmingham
Museum & Art Gallery, has inspired a range of unique gifts. Order a lovely
lime, mandarin and basil scented candle, to create a cosy home ambience, or opt
for the compact mirror, to transport your favourite art with you wherever you
go.
Buy
online: William De Morgan candle
and compact mirror
Staffordshire
Hoard Mead - £15
For
a festive drink with a historical twist, why not order a loved one a bottle of
our Staffordshire Hoard Mead? This light, semi-sweet honey wine was developed in
partnership with the Shire Meadery, and inspired by the Staffordshire Hoard. As
tribute to the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found, this harks back to
a time when mead was only available to those of great wealth and renown. Make
your family feel like royalty this Christmas with this delicious tipple,
infused with juniper and meadowsweet.
Buy
online: Staffordshire Hoard Mead
Pre-Raphaelite
Cushions
For
lovers of all things 19th Century, these cushions will make the
perfect Fine Art accessory. Choose between Prosperine, the beautiful Roman
goddess painted by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, or the vibrant image of The Blind
Girl, by John Everett Millais. Whether strewn on a sofa or given pride of place
in the living room, these Pre-Raphaelite cushions will add style and comfort to
your home.
Buy
online: Prosperine Cushion
and The Blind Girl Cushion
Punks
and Chaucers Range
For
a light-hearted and distinctively Brummie gift, look no further than the Punks
and Chaucers fashion range. These local designers use ethically traded, organic
cotton, hand screen printed in the UK. Choose from iconic Birmingham slogans
‘Our Kid’ and ‘Yes Bab’, available as t-shirts for adults and children, or bibs
for babies. Wear your Birmingham heritage proudly with this cheeky gift!
Buy
online: Yes Bab T-shirt
and Our Kid Bib
Locally
Produced Jewellery
Dazzle
a loved one this Christmas with beautiful tree snake earrings, created by
Vanessa Miller, Jeweller in Residence at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. This
unique design was inspired by the iconic Smith & Pepper snake rage at the
museum, working directly from the designer’s sketch book. Also, why not browse
our extensive collection of jewellery by Birmingham craftspeople, including
stunning pendants, rings and necklaces.
Buy
online: Tree Snake Earrings
and browse the collection
Art
Post: The Personalised Card Service - £2.90 each
For
a Christmas card with an arty twist, why not try our bespoke new Art Post
service. This allows you to send personalised cards, featuring prominent
artworks from the Birmingham Museum’s collection, delivered direct to your
loved one’s door. Choose from 8 stunning images, including the majestic ‘Bacchus’
by Simeon Solomon, and Elijah Walton’s atmospheric mountain landscape ‘Monte
Civita’. Add your own personalised message to the card, and rest safe in the
knowledge that your purchase is going towards the upkeep of Birmingham Museums
Trust.
Browse our Art Post gifts
online
Gift
Voucher: A Meal for 2 at Sarehole Mill’s Pizza Pods - £27
At
a time when in-person experiences are few and far between, this voucher ensures
a special experience with flexible booking. This gift voucher entitles two
people to pizza, cake and a drink within the enchanting grounds of Sarehole
Mill, sheltered from the rain within our brand new igloo pods. With several
tasty options to choose from, this voucher is perfect for your favourite
pizza-lovers, (or yourself and a member of your household!)
Buy
online: Pizza Pods Voucher
Birmingham
Museums Trust Membership - £30-£35
For
the ultimate way to maintain a relationship with Birmingham Museums Trust, memberships
are available! This is the key way to support us during this difficult time,
and is a gift that gives back, as it entitles you regular e-news, and free
entry to all 9 historical sites once they re-open. Whilst this may not be in
the immediate future, members can make a huge difference to the future of BMT
right now, by investing in this gift.
Buy
online: BMT Membership
Looking
for further inspiration? There’s plenty more to choose from within our
dedicated online gift section, with
everything from Aston Hall inspired raspberry preserve, to arty Birmingham
Museum face masks.
The
lockdown continues to have a devastating impact on arts organisations such as
Birmingham Museums Trust, and we rely on generous donations and proceeds from
our online shop to ensure our survival. Whether big or small, every purchase
you make from us this Christmas really makes a difference to the preservation
of our nine historical sites, and enables us to continue to bring arts and
culture to the people of Birmingham.
We
can’t wait to see you again in-person as soon as possible, but in the meantime,
happy shopping!
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