Porcelain bottle stoppers from Anthropologie


Show Stoppers
These wildlife-themed porcelain bottle stoppers are sure to strengthen the survival instincts of wine and spirits.
  • Porcelain bottle stoppers, $12 each
  • Anthropologie; 800-309-2500; anthropologie.com

Aid to Artisans bowls


Master Craft
Mozambique-based artisan Silva Mapereia earns a living by carving blackwood into these spindly, one-of-a-kind, 6.5-inch-tall lidded bowls.
  • Silva Mapereia blackwood bowls, $45
  • Aid to Artisans; www.aidtoartisans.org

Wooden cutting board


Grain Adventure
A laser-engraved skier turns the natural pattern of acacia wood into a serious downhill slope atop this 9-inch-wide chopping board.
  • Wonderful Wooden Cutting Board (Small), $20
  • Charles & Marie; charlesandmarie.com

Ceramic owl bank from The Conran Shop


The Right Bank
Who better to watch over savings than a handsome 12-inch-tall ceramic owl?
  • Owl bank, $25
  • The Conran Shop; 866-755-9079; conranusa.com

Mud Studio stoneware juicer


Juicy Fruitful
In its ongoing aim to provide work where unemployment is high, South Africa-based ceramic design company Mud Studio employs local artisans to craft these stoneware juicers.
  • Mud Studio stoneware juicer, $28
  • Anthropologie; 800-309-2500; anthropologie.com

Flashlight candleholders


Guiding Lights
These witty, battery-operated rubber flashlights offer enlightenment on both ends: They double as candleholders.
  • Flashlight candleholders, $45 each
  • David Weeks for Kikkerland Design; Mxyplyzyk; mxyplyzyk.com

Pop Ink triple-milled soaps


Sweet Treats
Decorated with bath-loving feathered-friends, Pop Ink's triple-milled soaps produce a verbena-and-lavender-scented lather.
  • Pop Ink triple-milled soaps, $24 for four
  • David Weeks for Kikkerland Design; Mxyplyzyk; mxyplyzyk.com

Scharffen Berger chocolates


Species Pieces
Eating these 2.5-inch-tall Scharffen Berger chocolates fashioned after endangered animals will help save the real things: Eight percent of proceeds go to the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
  • Scharffen Berger chocolates, $45 for three
  • Walteria Living, Barneys New York; 212-826-8900; barneys.com

Sisal Coil Bowls from Macy's


Peace Work
Weaving and exporting sisal coil bowls, like the 12-inch one shown here, has created thousands of jobs for Rwandan women affected by genocide.
  • Sisal Coil Bowls, $40
  • Path to Peace, Macy's; macys.com

Cindy Sherman towel


Absorbing Art
Cindy Sherman fans will delight in seeing the photographer's work on this fetching 70-by-60-inch cotton towel—especially since Target is donating all profits to the Art Production Fund, which introduces new audiences to contemporary art.
  • Cindy Sherman towel, $50
  • Target.com

Origami boat drain stopper


Plucky Skiff
With a plug as its anchor, this 8-inch vinyl origami boat will stay moored near the drain.
  • Origami boat drain stopper, $9.95
  • DCI 275 Store; 401-621-5360

New Orleans plate


Grid Expectations
 This 12-inch porcelain plate features an aerial view of post-Katrina New Orleans (white denotes areas affected by flooding). Fifteen percent of the proceeds go to restoring the 1,300-acre City Park downtown.
  • City Plate—New Orleans, $50
  • notNeutral; notneutral.com
More Great Holiday Gift Ideas

From the Winter 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine