10 gifts to wow the person who loves the unusual

Everywhere I turned at the auction house, I came face to face with yet another item that was “out there.” I didn’t recall ever seeing so many unusual items – from lamps to chairs – at one auction house before.

None were the customary Christmas gifts that you’d wrap in green paper and tie with a red bow. These were gifts that stretched the imagination, and as such would be appreciated only by a few.

What a knockout gift these would be for the person who is artistic, creative, fascinating, adventurous, humorous, or just plain strange or weird. Most of these items certainly fit that category and would make wonderful conversation-starters.

Up-close view of a paper-mache parrot on a swing. — Up-close view of a papier-mache parrot on a swing.

They all beckoned me for different reasons: Some were oversized. Some were oddly shaped. Some didn’t make much sense. Some were whimsical. Some were colorful. Two – a quirky vase in the shape of a human heart and a bulbous rattan chair – even spoke to me.

Here’s a sampling of what was available for sale at the auction. Do you fancy any of them?

A full view of the parrot, sold for $. It is on a swing and is — A full view of the 7 1/2-foot parrot, sold for $175.

Rattan lounge chair, sold for $. The top cushion raises up to form the back. — Rattan lounge chair, at left, sold for $300. The top cushion raises up to form the back. At right is a foot stool that closely resembled the chair. The two were sold separately and apparently were not a pair.

Mexican egg sculptures, artist signed, sold for $20. — Egg sculptures, signed R. Miranda, Mexico, sold for $20.

Genuine dolphin skull, mounted on a stand, sold for $325.

Adult-size rocking chair with natural llama fur, sold for $. — Adult-size rocking horse with natural llama fur, sold for $425.

Ceramic vessel vase, sold for $xx. It looks like a human heart. — Ceramic vessel vase, sold for $60. It looks like a human heart.

Metal sculpture of guitar player, sold for $ — Guitar player sculpture made of a fender and other car parts. It is nearly 5 1/2 feet tall. It did not sell, but can be purchased outright for $200.

French style vanity chair, sold for $... — French style vanity chair, which was part of a pair, sold for $60. It reminded me of the lyrics: “Blue, blue, my world is blue” from the Dells’ “I Can Sing a Rainbow.”

BUY MY NEW BOOK

“ART WITH HEART: How I Built a Sweet Collection by Buying Cheap at Auction”

I collect art, but I’m not someone who has the means to pay $500,000 for a Charles White or $12 million for a Rembrandt. I’m one of the “rest of us” who want beautiful artwork in our homes but can’t afford to pay big bucks for it.

I found a novel way to build my collection – by buying art for very little money at mom-and-pop auction houses near where I live. I started out buying African American artists whose works spoke to me and were ignored by the mainstream art world. Then I discovered some other neglected artists who called out just as loud.

My book “ART WITH HEART” Is a selection of stories of how I found art that I loved, how I lost out on some, won others, learned some lessons that I share with you – and enjoyed every minute of it.

So, grab a seat next to me as I take you through the moments I spent building a collection that stirred my heart.

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