Every year we scour the catalogs for the wacky, the whimsical and the just plain weird for your Christmas shopping amusement. Of course, the big thing this year is anything related to Harry Potter — but there’s enough of that out there that you’re on your own. Following are a few oddball items we’ve discovered, all of which can be yours on Christmas Day (if you order soon, of course).
Bicycle Belles, $20. A standard bicycle bell, painted and jazzed up to add personality to your bicycle. You can get a Ladybug or a Frog or even a stylized Bee. Flax Art & Design. 888-352-9278 or flaxart.com.
Armor from the Castle of Churburg, $3,900. Just the thing for your warrior, the suit is fully articulated and wearable; it comes with chain mail shirt, gloves, mail shoe coverings — the works. Museum Replicas Limited. 800-883-8838 or www.museumreplicas.com.
Thor’s Hammer, $230. A full-size replica from the Marvel Universe Collection, the hammer is over 17 inches in length — however, since the head is made of solid aluminum and weighs 8 pounds, guess you wouldn’t have to be quite so Thor-like to wield it. Museum Replicas Limited. 800-883-8838 or www.museumreplicas.com.
Kaleidoscope Doll House, $175. Created by an artist and an architect, this doll house is almost too modern in design — it looks like it was created in the 50s as the ideal of what houses would be like in 2001. And it’s all plastic! You can order additional sets of furniture and dolls that fit, too. Chiasso. 800-654-3570 or www.chiasso.com.
RoboCub, $39.95 or i-Cybie, $199.95. RoboCub looks like a more oblong tabletop-size R2D2 and is pre-programmed to say certain lines. On the other hand, i-Cybie is a dogbot with 16 motors offering full range of motion, and voice recognition programming helps him learn his master’s voice. Both bots have remote controls. The Sharper Image. 800-344-4444 or www.sharperimage.com.
Beatles Cookbook, $17.98. This seems a bit of a stretch since the Fab Four weren’t particularly famous for food or food associations, jelly babies excepted. Nevertheless, here’s where you can find dishes like “Can’t Buy Me Fudge” and “I am the Eggplant.” Oh well. Betty’s Attic. 800-294-4068 or www.bettys-attic.com.
Frank Sinatra 1938 Mugshot, $89 (framed); $25 (unframed). Apparently, the then 22-year-old Chairman of the Board was arrested for “‘seduction’ under the false promise of marriage to a female of good repute.” It’s not a bad photo, considering. Wireless. 800-669-9999 or GiftCatalog.com.
Bodytalk Temporary Word Tattoos, $16. This kit includes more than 800 words letters and symbols, applicator sponge and remover pads. No more trying to read that smeared grocery list you wrote on your hand. Signals. 800-669-9696 or GiftCatalog.com.
Dale Earnhardt Collector’s Edition Monopoly Game, $36.98. These days you can even get a personal Monopoly game, we think. Play it like a standard Monopoly game but use eight pewter NASCAR related tokens. Things You Never Knew Existed. 800-843-0762 or www.johnson-smith.com.
The morbid find of the year: Die cast JFK Presidential Limo, $69.98. “Our die cast replica is not intended to sensationalize the tragedy but rather to commemorate an event that we hope will never be repeated.” So why not just make the car (a 1961 Lincoln Continental)? Why put little figures representing JFK, Jackie, Governor & Mrs. Connally and the Secret Service agents in it? With Jackie wearing that .famous pink suit and hat? Things You Never Knew Existed. 800-843-0762 or www.johnson-smith.com.
Briefcase Theremin, $1099.95. Remember the otherworldly music from the classic sci-fi film, The Day The Earth Stood Still? This music was produced on a Theremin, an odd instrument “played” by moving your hands near the two antennas. This one is self-contained in a briefcase with tuning and playing instructions. Hammacher Schlemmer. 800-543-3366 or www.hammacher.com.
Jesus Action Figure, $6.95. This five inch tall figure has poseable arms and wheels in his base “for smooth gliding action.” The catalog says, “Wherever your theological compass points, you will agree that this is the coolest action figure since G.I. Joe.” Archie McPhee. 4425-349-3099 or call www.mcphee.com.
Happy shopping, and may all your credit cards remain magnetized. *
This article appears in Dec 8-14, 2001.
