Diwali gifting 2026: Unique handcrafted finds from Indian design studios

This Diwali, there is a cornucopia of handcrafted gift options across a range of materials and makers, be it drinkware, dining or décor. We have scoured Indian studios across India, across a spectrum of price points, processes and provenance, to pick the most unique objects that go beyond the usual suspects on overcrowded festival must-have lists. Dining Marble Inlay PlattersKaunteya, IndoreThe Byah marble inlay cheese platter is crafted using the centuries-old art of intarsia (where multi-hued materials are cut and fitted together to form a picture) adorned with intricate Phad wedding motifs, in black, white, red and gold. Details: kaunteya.in Price:₹11,580Heavenly Bodies Oval PlatterKhanoom, JaipurEach piece is hand-painted by artists specialising in miniatures. Then 24-carat gold lustre is applied and fired to give that extra bit of celestial sparkle. Details: @khanoom.jaipur on Instagram Price: ₹12,500 upwardsDancing Doll PlattersArttd’inox, GurugramThe Dancing Doll collection brings thoughtfully designed crockery, using the motif of the dancing girl. The range includes chip-and-dip serveware and a two-tier platter for serving sweets, savouries or flowers. Details: arttdinox.com Price: ₹3,990 Decor DigitShed, SuratThis year-agnostic calendar is built in wood marquetry (teakwood, shirish wood, shisham, sevan wood, maple wood, badaami wood, purpleheart wood) so light hits each surface with one bright, one in half-shade, one in shadow. Each stone triangle (crafted from green Kesariyaji marble, white Makrana marble, red sandstone, yellow sandstone, black Kadappa stone, pink Makrana marble, Katni stone, lapis lazuli, green jade, Ghazni stone, grey Kota stone, yellow jasper) is a sandwich: a magnet set between two slices of colourful stone. This collectible is a slow-living calendar where the names of the months and days are printed on the amber-hued stone triangles, while each green-and-white stone triangle denotes a day when placed on the magnetic grid. Details: outoftheshed.shop Price: ₹36,000Deepa Candle StandCollektKlove, New DelhiThe candle stand mirrors the gopuram of South Indian temples, imagined in tinted blown glass with metal accents. This piece boasts a contemporary silhouette, harmonising simplicity with symbolism. Details: collektklove.com Price: ₹30,000Cheshire II VaseChorus, MumbaiCrafted in bamboo, organic cotton thread and raffia, this is part of a series of collectible vases celebrating tactile sculptural forms that reinterpret traditional matting and basketry, using raffia (Raphia farinifera) and bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) as media. These materials embrace organic fluidity as a counterpoint to forced uniformity. Details: chorusworld.com Price: ₹1,25,500Chettinad Rice SiftersHB Studio, ChennaiTraditionally used in Chettinad homes, these leaf-shaped wooden paddles (sothuppalakai) were used to strain cooked rice. With the option of having the teakwood paddles hand-painted, they make charming wall accents or platters. Details: 7010655300 Price: ₹7,875Brass Urli and Tealight SetNestasia, KolkataThe set features a silver-coated urli with embossed detailing and curved handles, paired with two tealight holders adorned with floral-patterned rims. A 20g packet of fragrant potpourri completes the set. Details: nestasia.in Price: ₹4,390Elephant Decor SculptureThe Elephant People, Nilgiri Biosphere ReserveThe group transforms invasive plants such as Lantana and Senna spectabilis into handcrafted wooden objects, supporting local livelihoods. Shankar’s sculpture is hand-carved and painted in the Nilgiris using invasive Senna spectabilis wood. Shankar is a tusker who grew up in the forests around Cherambadi. His likeness is part of the Elephant Portrait Series, inspired by elephants who share our landscapes and reminding us that coexisting is complex and beautiful. Details: theelephantpeople.com Price: ₹2,500 Drink Mapcha Key Bottle OpenerMapcha Studio, New DelhiMapcha means ‘peacock’ in Tibetan, and this creative studio reimagines Himalayan visual heritage into minimalist design. The bottle opener, conceptualised in solid brass, is modelled on the antique Tibetan demig (key). The front features the shou, the symbol for longevity, with a magnet on the back. Details: mapcha.co Price: ₹950Sutara Leather TrayAtelier Bobby Aggarwal, New DelhiInspired by the traditional Kolhapuri leather chappal, the Sutara tray features its distinctive perforations, hand-stitched details and textures, translating them into an object for the contemporary home. Details: nilayaanthology.com Price: ₹1,80,900Twilight Decanter & Wine GlassesGlass Forest, New DelhiWith a simple silhouette in shades of grey, the Borosillicate handblown decanter is sleek and sophisticated for evening soirees, with an ebony-ivory glass stopper. The minimalist handblown wine glasses in white, grey, and black swap the delicate wine stem for a pyramid base enabling a comfortable grip. Details: glassforest.com Price: ₹3,250