It was fifty years ago today that Chicago newlyweds Gordon and Carole Segal channeled a love for contemporary, affordable housewares (discovered on their European honeymoon) into a retail venture named for the bare-bones fixtures they used to display imported merch in a former elevator factory. Today Crate&Barrel has more than 100 stores, and is celebrating the big 5-0 with a series of creative takes on its Arzberg teapot. Artists and illustrators including Paola Navone, Elvis Swift, and Nomoco were invited to customize the Bauhaus-inspired classic, and each month, a new teapot design will go on sale in a limited edition of 200. The “50th&Forever” collection debuts with this whimsical version by Janine Rewell, a Helsinki-based illustrator and graphic designer who mixes Scandinavian design with Slavic folk art.

This is part of a series of elegantly wrapped December posts about desirable goods that we suggest you purchase with the laudable yet vague intent of giving to others and then keep for yourself. Got a “nifty, gifty” idea? Tell the UnBeige elves: unbeige (at) mediabistro.com

Previously on UnBeige:
• Nifty, Gifty: Rodarte’s Out-of-This-World Ornament