Best Catalogs, esp. Museum Shops

November 16, 2018 8:47 AM

I like catalog shopping, especially museum stores with arty gifts and cool jewelry. And the sort of catalogs whose list you get on because you're a PBS donor. I know about Novica, Metropolitan, Art Inst. Chicago, Smithsonian, Wireless, Signals, MuseumStore, others, but maybe you have some cool favorites.
posted by theora55 to Shopping (18 answers total)

National Geographic
Vermont Country Store
posted by Melismata at 8:53 AM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: MoMa
posted by leotrotsky at 8:55 AM on November 16, 2018 [8 favorites]

uncommon goods!
posted by vividvoltage at 8:55 AM on November 16, 2018 [7 favorites]

Best answer: Lehmans
posted by leotrotsky at 8:56 AM on November 16, 2018 [4 favorites]

Neue Galerie has some amazing stuff; sadly, it's priced accordingly.
posted by praemunire at 9:01 AM on November 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

I really like Uncommon Goods.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:02 AM on November 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

The Reader's Catalog: "The shop for literary goods and gifts."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:08 AM on November 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

Levenger for pens, organizers, paper, and reader-type stuff.
posted by hydra77 at 9:13 AM on November 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

The Colossal Shop!
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:27 AM on November 16, 2018 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Heard Museum Shop
posted by jazzbaby at 9:31 AM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Japanese American National Museum
posted by mogget at 10:50 AM on November 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

More on their site than in their catalog, but Artful Home
posted by Mchelly at 11:51 AM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: MASS MoCA
posted by carrioncomfort at 12:02 PM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: No catalog, but going to Paxton Gate is a little like shopping your way through a natural history museum. Their online shopping system is pretty good.
posted by grandiloquiet at 2:23 PM on November 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I can get lost in catalogs, too. Here are some of my favorites that haven't been mentioned yet; I've been to a few in person, and for others, I've virtual-window-shopped from time to time just to see what's new. Aside from museums, be sure to check out library shops and university shops, as well.

- de Young / Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
- Exploratorium Store
- SFMOMA
- Museum of Craft and Design
- Getty Store
- LACMA (L.A. County Museum of Art)
- Gallery Nucleus
- Library Store / Library Foundation of L.A.
- NY Public Library Shop
- British Library Shop
- Gift at the Gardner (Isabella Gardner Museum)
- Met Opera Shop
- National Gallery, London
- National Portrait Gallery, London
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- British Museum Shop
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 1:14 AM on November 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: National Building Museum
New York Transit Museum
posted by gudrun at 10:23 AM on November 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I have been working my way through these. My facebook ads just got way classier. Favorites for those new to me, thanks to all.
posted by theora55 at 7:06 PM on November 17, 2018 [5 favorites]

The Minnesota Historical Society has probably the two best gift shops in the state IMMSHO, and their web site would be a good one to shop for prints and books and gifts — though I am not certain that all the things in the store are available online.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:58 PM on November 17, 2018 [2 favorites]