This time of year, it may look as if Hallmark has cornered the market on expressions of affection. But the iconography of love — hearts and roses, lips and cupids — has inspired some serious design by world-renowned creators. Cards, flowers and candy are sweet, but let’s look at some durable goods that communicate love far longer.
Verner Panton Cone Heart Chair
Perhaps best known for his iconic S-shaped Panton chair, Danish-born Verner Panton has been a force in design since the late 1950s, when he drew international attention with his classic Cone chair and its warm and welcoming Cone Heart chair version.
Marcantonio for Seletti Love in Bloom Vase
The anatomically correct heart-shaped vase by Marcantonio for Seletti will allow your love to display flowers either hanging from a wall or standing on a table. Love in Bloom combines the designer’s fascination with biological forms and off-beat humor.
Salvador Dalí for Limoges Coeur de Fraises Dish
Strawberries, ancient Roman symbols for Venus, the goddess of love, glisten on this editioned dish designed for Limoges by Surrealist master Salvador Dalí, who often incorporated sensual images of food in his work.
Royal Stranger Queen Heart Side Table
Designed by Royal Stranger, the Portuguese furniture brand cofounded by architects Sofia Pinho Santos and Rui Moreira Santos, this heartfelt table, available in three finishes and two heights, was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland books.
Studio 65 for Gufram Bocca Couch
The idea for this inviting sofa was sparked by Salvador Dalí‘s 1930s portrait of Mae West, in which he envisions her face as an apartment and her lips as the couch. Created in 1970 by Studio 65 architect Franco Audrito for a fitness center in Milan, the Bocca is produced by the Italian brand Gufram, famed for its Radical Design pieces and nonconformist spirit.
Love Saves the Day by Harland Miller
Contemporary writer and artist Harland Miller, who was born in Yorkshire in 1964 and lives in London, has gained numerous devotees with his witty book-cover series. In this very large silkscreen print, he puts rose-hued love front and center.
Hatsu Heart Wall Light
Let love and style illuminate your space. This heart-shaped wall-mounted fixture, designed by Hatsu, a Mumbai-based studio known for romantic, minimal and eclectic wares, will help you see your beloved in a whole new light.
Paolo Buffa Parchment Sideboard
Milan-based designer and architect Paolo Buffa, who for a time worked for the influential Italian modernist Gio Ponti, enlivened this graceful sideboard with playful cupids. Celebrated for spiking a suave mix of tradition and modernity with whimsy and even loopiness, Buffa’s creations send the heart soaring.
Fornasetti Bocca Red Lips Table
Adorning this table are the iconic lips of 19th-century opera singer Lina Cavalieri, who performed with Caruso, had an affair with a Russian prince, wrote a beauty-advice column and opened salons in New York City and Paris. Designer Piero Fornasetti often used transfer prints of the lovely Cavalieri on his striking and clever plates and other furnishings.
Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti Valentine Typewriter
Surely love notes crafted on this sweetheart of a machine will be long cherished. Its creator, Italian architect and industrial designer Ettore Sottsass, famed for his leading role in the Memphis Group, selected its sanguine color “so as not to remind anyone of monotonous working hours.” An example of the typewriter lives in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City.
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Heart Stools
One of the pioneers of modern design in the United States, Edward Wormley helmed Indiana-based Dunbar Furniture for more than three decades. His ability to translate classical and historic elements into modern design vocabulary gave his work lasting appeal. Here, Wormley’s warmth shines in wood, his preferred medium.
Ingo Maurer One for the Recession Wall Lamp
Often referred to as a poet of light, German designer Ingo Maurer founded his lighting design company in Munich in the 1960s. His iconic and collectible work, such as this radiant heart, draws from both minimalism and Pop art and has been exhibited in museums and public spaces all over the world.
Japy Frères Porcelain Clock
Designed and produced by Japy Frères, the leading French clockmaker of the 19th century, this exquisite ormolu timepiece features Cupid ready to strike with one of his fateful arrows. His quiver and bow, along with a flaming torch, adorn the base.
Scandinavian Blue Marriage Chest
A garland of graceful flowers encircles the original owner’s initials and marriage date on a dazzling background of blue. Embodying a tradition of love, this large chest could hold a range of things: blankets, a trousseau — perhaps even your heart’s desire.
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Updated January 2025.