Buzz
Struggling to find a gift for that friend who’s impossible to shop for? Dive into our guide for inspiration—it might just offer the ideal solution for someone who seems to own everything, except perhaps a 69-carat diamond, a beer tab eagle sculpture, or the gift of fire.
1. For International Friends: The Statue of Liberty
Prepare for a massive delivery. France’s iconic gift, the 'New Colossus,' was officially unveiled in 1886, though the concept originated in 1865. French statesman Edouard Rene Lefebvre de Laboulaye envisioned it as a tribute to the U.S. post-Civil War. The statue was constructed abroad and transported in sections. If you’re considering a similar grand gesture for your overseas sibling, be sure to advise them to free up some outdoor space.
2. For Your Suspicious Neighbor: The Bugged Great Seal of the United States
UN Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge displays a replica of the Great Seal of the United States to the Security Council. Soviet Foreign Minister Andrey Gromyko grins with amusement behind Lodge. © Bettmann/CORBIS (1960)
Suspect your neighbor might be channeling their inner Walter White? Before dialing the DEA, consider gifting them a bugged Great Seal of the United States. In 1945, the Soviet Union’s Young Pioneer organization handed U.S. Ambassador Averell Harriman a wooden, hand-carved Great Seal as a token of friendship. However, their idea of camaraderie was flawed—the seal concealed a listening device crafted by renowned Russian inventor Leon Theremin. The device was nearly undetectable, being paper-thin, signal-free, and battery-less (a marvel of 1945 technology). Harriman displayed it in his office at the Ambassador’s House, where the 'Thing,' as it became known, remained hidden until 1952—three ambassadors later.
3. For the Friend Obsessed with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: Savannah, GA
The only downside to this gift is that you’ll never outdo it. Next year, your high-maintenance friend might expect an entire state. After that, she’ll likely demand everything below the Mason-Dixon line. Honestly, that’s pretty much how it all began.
During the Civil War, General William T. Sherman and his troops were tirelessly securing ports from the Confederate Army. After capturing Atlanta in September 1864, Sherman and his men vanished for nearly six weeks, leaving the White House in the dark. President Lincoln grew increasingly anxious. Then, on December 22, Sherman sent a telegraph to Lincoln, stating: “As a Christmas gift, I present you the city of Savannah, complete with 150 heavy guns, ample ammunition, and approximately 25,000 bales of cotton.”
4. For the Animal Enthusiast: A White Elephant
We all have friends with unconventional pets—hedgehogs, ferrets, or pot-bellied pigs. To truly wow such a friend, take inspiration from King Manuel of Portugal and gift a white elephant. In 1514, this unique present was given to Pope Leo X, who was so captivated by the elephant, named Hanno, that he commissioned Raphael to paint its portrait.
Let’s hope your animal-loving friend is more responsible than Leo. Convinced that gold could solve any problem, Leo allegedly instructed Hanno’s caretakers to feed the elephant laxatives mixed with gold when it became constipated. Unfortunately, the gold was too much for Hanno, who died at just six years old.
5. For the Pre-Teen Who Has It All: Tangier and Bombay
Being part of a royal family often means receiving extravagant gifts, like vast tracts of land. When Charles II of England agreed to marry Catherine of Braganza in 1640 (she was just two years old at the time, while Charles was 10), his dowry included the North African town of Tangier and what is now known as Bombay.
6. For the Friend Who Can’t Stop Quoting The Big Lebowski: A Bowling Alley
In 1947, a two-lane bowling alley was installed in the White House as a birthday present for President Truman. Despite not having bowled since he was 19, Truman managed to knock down seven pins on his first roll. The alley, funded by donors from Truman’s home state of Missouri, was later relocated to the Old Executive Office Building in 1955. While Truman himself rarely used it—preferring poker—the addition became a favorite among his staff, some of whom even formed a bowling league.
7. For the Gardening Enthusiast: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
According to legend, the Hanging Gardens were built in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Amytis, who longed for her homeland, Media (modern-day Iran). To ease her homesickness, the king constructed a lush paradise filled with her favorite plants from Media. While the gardens are said to have been destroyed in an earthquake around 2 B.C., some historians doubt they ever existed, considering them more of a poetic metaphor. Nevertheless, recreating this ancient wonder could make for an unforgettable gift.
8. For the Friend Who Adores Bling: The Taylor-Burton Diamond
If you know someone who shares Elizabeth Taylor’s passion for dazzling gems, consider gifting them the Taylor-Burton Diamond. This 69.42-carat pear-shaped diamond was purchased by Richard Burton for his then-wife in 1969, marking the first time a diamond was publicly sold for over a million dollars. It turned out to be a wise investment—when Taylor auctioned it in 1978, it fetched $5 million. She used the proceeds to fund a hospital in Kasane, Botswana, famously stating, 'They need one badly, and I certainly don’t need another ring.'
9. For That Friend You Secretly Dislike: The Trojan Horse
We all have that one person we’re obligated to gift, despite our lack of affection for them. Why not follow the Greeks’ example and present them with a massive wooden horse concealing an army? While they marvel at the craftsmanship, 30 to 50 soldiers could emerge and wreak havoc on their town. This legendary tactic is how Greece infiltrated Troy and ended the Trojan War in the 11th or 12th century B.C. One can only imagine Troy wishing they’d received a gift receipt for that one.
10. For Your Creative Sister: Las Meninas
Your sister is always scouring Etsy for unique and artistic prints. Surprise her with Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, a gift that will leave her speechless. Painted in 1656, this masterpiece was Velázquez’s tribute to his royal patron, King Philip IV. It features Infanta Margarita surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting, a dog, and even Velázquez himself, with the king and queen reflected in a mirror. Today, the original hangs in Madrid’s Museo del Prado. If the real deal is out of your budget, consider one of Picasso’s 58 reinterpretations from the 1950s.
11. For Your Grandma, the Knick-Knack Collector: Fabergé Eggs
Gift your grandmother one of these exquisite jeweled eggs, and she’ll cherish it every time she polishes her collection. The first Imperial Fabergé egg was crafted in 1885 for Tsar Alexander III as a unique Easter gift for his wife. Its success sparked an annual tradition, which his son, Nicholas II, continued by commissioning eggs for both his mother and wife. It’s a tradition your grandma will surely adore.
12. For the Fire Enthusiast in Your Life: The Gift of Fire
Wrapping this gift might be tricky, but the joy on your pyromaniac friend’s face will make it worthwhile. Just don’t follow Prometheus’s example and steal it. According to myth, Zeus reserved fire for the gods, but Prometheus, who created humans from clay, defied him by stealing fire from Zeus’s hearth. As punishment, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock, where an eagle feasted on his liver daily. A cautionary tale to ponder before gifting fire.
13. For Your Dad’s Cousin: A Beer Can Tab Eagle
This gift is eco-friendly, budget-conscious, and a patriotic nod to the United States. Your cousin will be so thrilled, they might even treat you to a PBR and some pork rinds. Gerald Ford received a similar present from a Kentucky Cub Scout group during his presidency. The eagle, crafted to honor America’s bicentennial in 1976, was featured in a traveling Presidential Gift exhibit that toured various presidential libraries.
14. For the IKEA Enthusiast: A Carpet Concealing Cleopatra
This is truly a unique gift: an ancient, priceless carpet hiding an Egyptian queen. Cleopatra needed to meet Julius Caesar, so she devised a clever plan. She had herself rolled up in a carpet—or possibly bed linens, according to some historians—and delivered to Caesar. The bold move paid off: she secured his support in her quest for the Egyptian throne and later bore him a son. While you don’t need to go to such extremes, the carpet alone will make a memorable present.
15. For the Obsessed Texas Chainsaw Massacre Fan: A Human Skin Book—Maybe Even Yours
To satisfy your potentially macabre friend, consider a gift akin to the one James Allen, a notorious highwayman, gave to the man who captured him. In the early 1830s, Allen robbed countless individuals until John Fenno stood his ground and refused to surrender his belongings. When Allen attempted to shoot Fenno, the bullet ricocheted off his belt buckle, allowing Fenno to apprehend the thief. Sentenced to 20 years in prison, Allen died after only a few years. Before his death in 1837, he penned a full confession of his crimes. Upon his demise, skin was taken from his back to bind a book. The skin was dyed gray, and the bookbinder fulfilled Allen’s eerie request to bind the confession in his own skin. The book was then presented to John Fenno, as Allen had wished.
You can read it if you wish, though the experience won’t be the same without holding a book bound in human skin.
And Possibly the Most Disturbing Gift Ever...
A Video Showing Women Decapitating Snakes and Soldiers Killing Puppies
This story originally appeared in 2011.
