All too often, gifts that bring initial delight end their lives in dusty corners, attic nooks, or worse still, the dump. Nifty gadgets’ batteries go unreplaced, coffee-table books get swapped out, kitchen utensils lose their luster. This gifting season, we searched far and wide for gifts that would stand the test of time—ones that are durable, made to last, and, most importantly, will actually be used for years or even decades to come.

Salvatori Ellipse Mortar and Pestle

Of all of the gifts I’ve ever received, the Ellipse mortar and pestle from the Italian stone company Salvatori has to be among my all-time favorites. Designed by the British architect and designer John Pawson and sculpted from white carrara marble, it makes for an ideal addition to any kitchen. I’d be hard-pressed, pun intended, to find a better-looking one. salvatoriofficial.com; $630 —Spencer Bailey, editor-in-chief

Gohar World Egg Chandelier

I’m a sucker for pretty much anything Gohar World brings into the world, but this egg chandelier is one that I’ve had my eye on for months. It’s one of those objects that you or I probably never could have dreamed up, but that we’d all be delighted to receive—a piece that adds joy, quirk, and conversation to any space. Now available in a mini size due to popular demand, it’s something that can be enjoyed by villa owners and studio dwellers alike. gohar.world; $188 —Emily Jiang, associate editor

Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility

If I were to have a personal Book of the Year, Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility (Haymarket Books), co-edited by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua, would probably be it (in close competition with Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories). As I wrote in my review of the book earlier this year, I’m going to be shoving this book into peoples’ hands for years to come. This vital, necessary collection of essays serves as a kaleidoscopic (and hopeful) look into the climate movement and our planet’s complex past, present, and future. haymarketbooks.org; $16.95 —S.B.

Tom Dixon Tank Wine Set

Evening wine set-up or science experiment? It’s hard to tell with Tom Dixon’s new Tank wine set, made up of two cups that echo the shape of distillation glassware and a chemistry flask–esque decanter, tinged with various shades, including this elegant ebony. Best used in dim lighting with the fireplace on and Miles Davis as accompaniment, here’s the answer to your gift quest for your fanciest friend. tomdixon.net; $275 —E.J.

Theory11 x Eleven Madison Park Limited-Edition Playing Cards

Chef Daniel Humm’s three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, which since 2021 has been serving an all-vegan, plant-based menu, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Humm has helmed its kitchen for 20 of those years and has owned the restaurant since 2011. To mark the occasion, he published Eat More Plants: A Chef’s Journal (Steidl), a new book of his thoughts and drawings, as well as this exquisite deck of letterpress-printed playing cards featuring his watercolor illustrations. elevenmadisonhome.com; $17 —S.B.

Haws x Gardenheir Watering Cans

We all have at least one green-thumbed friend or family member in our lives, and these watering cans—a collaboration between Gardenheir and the renowned watering can–maker Haws England—are a gift they’ll treasure (and actually use). Varnished in a subtle, timeless olive green, they’re objects that don’t call out for attention, but will inspire appreciation from anyone who takes notice. gardenheir.com; $58 —E.J.

Molteni & C Porta Volta Chair

Architects don’t usually make for great furniture designers. But, working with the likes of Jean Nouvel and Foster + Partners, the Italian design company Molteni & C has consistently proved otherwise time and again. Exemplifying this, Molteni & C’s new Porta Volta chair designed by Herzog & de Meuron is as precise, versatile, and svelte as the Basel-based firm’s immaculate buildings. A chair that cocoons you, it’s perfect for a home office or library. shop.molteni.it; $5,040 —S.B.

Philip Glass Piano Etudes

Music lovers, rejoice: Newly published by Artisan Books, this deluxe boxed set of the legendary composer Philip Glass’s series of 20 piano etudes—originally created to “address the deficiencies in my own playing,” in Glass’s words—makes for a delightful gift for Glass fans and pianists alike. Including the complete etudes, each engraved and sewn-bound into individual folios, as well as a hardcover book, Studies in Time, which contains essays on the meaning of practice by the likes of Alice Waters, Ari Shapiro, Ira Glass, Justin Peck, Laurie Anderson, and Martin Scorsese, the set leaves little to be desired. A piano player myself, I can attest to that. hachettebookgroup.com; $150 —E.J.

Sohn Foot Pillow

Couch cushions may come in nearly every shape and size these days, but chances are low that you’ve come across one in the shape of a foot. This one, made by Sohn, a Williamsburg-based company at the nexus of fashion and design, is sure to crack a smile on its recipient’s face. For sale on Sohn’s website (alongside similarly-sized hand pillows), they are also available at the Lower East Side boutique Beverly’s NYC, where they often sell out. If there’s someone in your life whose home could benefit from some added whimsy, be sure to get your hands—or, ahem, feet—on one soon. beverlys.world; $475 —E.J.