‘Tis the season of giving, and we believe that gifts should feel as timeless as the moments they celebrate. We’ve gathered a selection of treasures that invite joy, wonder, and a touch of elegance into every home. Whether it’s a delicate accessory, a thoughtful keepsake, or a playful surprise for the little ones, each piece is chosen with care to inspire and delight. Let the art of giving unfold in the simplest, most meaningful way this holiday season.

The Museum Store is open Monday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm with extended evening hours during Wonderful Wednesdays.

Gifts for Her

From elegant jewelry to elevated home accents, these carefully curated gifts are designed to delight the woman who appreciates life’s finer details. Find delicate accessories, heirloom-worthy keepsakes, and graceful décor pieces that blend classic charm with modern luxury. 

Gifts for Him

Among our favorite gifts are distinguished treasures for the modern gentleman. From refined sartorial accessories to quality personal items, this collection embodies sophistication and heritage. Each piece tells a story of enduring style and impeccable taste.

Gifts for the Host

Elevate every occasion with our distinctive selection of barware and entertaining essentials. From exquisite crystal decanters and glasses to stylish bar cart necessities, these beautifully crafted (and sometimes playful!) pieces are perfect for the aspiring mixologist. Whether they’re hosting intimate gatherings or grand festive soirées, these personal touches will delight the host and their guests alike! 

Gifts for the Nature Lover

Cultivate joy with good-natured gifts for the nature lover in your life. Whether they’re an avid gardener, bird-watching aficionado, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the outdoors, these items promise practicality while adding a touch of whimsy to any adventure.

Gifts for the Kids

Presents that are playful and nurture their growth and creativity? Priceless. Spark imaginations with our enchanting collection of toys and games. From puzzles and interactive playthings to art supplies and storybooks, each gift is crafted to inspire wonder. 

Gifts for the Decorator

Transform any space into a sanctuary of style with our collection of decorative accents and luxurious home essentials. From statement-making artisanal pieces to plush throw pillows and cozy blankets, we have everything the design enthusiast needs to elevate their home. Our carefully curated selection of interior design books offers inspiration and expert advice for every decorator.

Gifts for the Tea Lover

Warm the heart and hands of the tea lover in your life. From artisanal tea blends and local honey to charming mugs and accessories, our selection ensures every sip is a moment of comfort and joy.

Gift of Membership

For more than sixty years, the Delaware Antiques Show’s recognizable trademark has been the image of a dove with an olive branch in its beak. This stylized motif derives from the design on the underside of a spoon in the Winterthur collection made by Bancroft Woodcock (1732–1817), a Quaker silversmith who worked in Wilmington, Delaware, from 1754 to the early 1790s. 

But why decorate the underside of a spoon? According to Donald L. Fennimore, Winterthur curator emeritus in Flights of Fancy: American Silver Bird-Decorated Spoons, the reason stems from a technical issue. On silver spoons, the juncture of the bowl and handle is a potential point of weakness because of the softness of the metal. Silversmiths therefore thickened that juncture to provide increased rigidity. They then made the area more attractive by ornamenting it with a variety of decorative motifs, including scrolls, shells, and images of birds. 

As Fennimore wrote, “In a brief but intriguing period between 1750 and 1830, imagery on the backs of English and American silver teaspoon and tablespoon bowls soared on the wings of birds.” Although numerous varieties of birds appear on English spoons, silversmiths in America invariably chose the dove with olive branch—a symbol of renewal and regeneration that has been used for millennia in both a religious and secular context. 

The Bancroft Woodcock dove with olive branch design was registered as the official trademark of the Delaware Antiques Show in 1964, the first year of the show. Since that time, the familiar insignia has continued to symbolize the quality and professionalism exhibited at this annual event.

By Kedra Kearis, Ph.D., associate curator of art and visual culture

Not long after his return from the London studio of Benjamin West in 1771, Charles Willson Peale noted that he painted “Mr. Loyd [sic] a conversation,” a reference to the impressive, large-scale figural group, now in Winterthur Museum’s collection. The painting depicts Maryland planter Lloyd, his wife Elizabeth Tayloe, and their daughter Anne. Now recognized as The Edward Lloyd Family (fig. 1), his note “conversation” references a fashionable British portrait style that portrayed wealthy families engaged in conversation or leisure activities. Eager to display their wealth and status, this conversation piece features the Lloyds surrounded by objects that signal their wealth and sophistication, including rich imported textiles, elegant furniture, a handsomely carved cittern, or early English guitar à la mode. Charles referenced their estate—the Wye River estate located in Maryland— with an English garden pavilion based on a drawing in architect Isaac Ware’s well-known book of designs. A Winterthur favorite, this painting is now featured in the first-floor galleries as part of The Peale Painters: Global Perspectives in the Winterthur Collection. Details of the portrait can now be examined closely, revealing the contrasting pale green silk lining Edward’s scarlet and gold embroidered coat, the light reflected from Elizabeth’s jeweled hair comb and necklace, and the Palladian arches of the imagined Wye estate house. 

Beyond the conversation in the painting between these fascinating sitters, another develops around the artist himself, head of the multi-generational clan of painters. Charles was responsible for mentoring his sons and daughters in the art of painting and the business of running the Philadelphian Peale’s Museum. This echoes a hallmark of the Peale family–the practices of teaching and learning, copying and collaboration. Besides the Lloyd portrait, the exhibit features works by his lesser-known brother James Peale, and those of subsequent generations of Peales. Two portraits from the early nineteenth century of du Pont women by Rembrandt Peale invite additional conversations about European art traditions of the past and the contemporary painting trends in Paris embraced by Rembrandt on his many travels abroad. Additionally, a case of small collection objects displays a silhouette from the early 1800s thought to be produced by profile cutter Moses Williams, a formerly enslaved member of the Peale household. 

Another conversation arises from the exhibition around two recent acquisitions by the Museum completed by two female members of the Peale family, Sarah Miriam Peale and Mary Jane Peale, who both remained unmarried to pursue painting professionally. Mary Jane Peale’s Still Life with Fruit highlights her engagement with the Peale tradition of still life painting led by her uncles, Raphaelle and James (fig. 2). Mary Jane arrived at her talents under the mentorship of her Uncle Rembrandt and her cousin, Sarah Miriam. The experiences of Sarah and Mary, both in education and art production, mark important differences between the male and female artists of the family. The gallery interpretation includes a rich array of graphics, either self-portraits by the artists or portraits completed by another family member, illustrating this remarkable and ongoing conversation among the close-knit, generations of Peale artists. In addition, the story of their extraordinary artistic output paints a picture of a changing nation, one full of opportunity and encouragement, but also limitations and challenges.