Gifts for Dad

Dad has a drawer full of novelty ties and a garage full of tools he got for Father's Day. Break the cycle. A hand-painted porcelain golf ball or cigar is the gift he did not know he wanted, and it will outlast every tie he owns. It is hinged, painted by hand in France and arrives gift-boxed, so even the kids can hand it over without wrapping paper chaos. It also fits perfectly in a carry-on for that golf trip he keeps planning.

Fore! And a Few Cigars

Golf is the star here. You will see balls in classic white, lime green and sunny yellow, some with the Stars and Stripes, and many with a flagstick painted on the inside so the hole-in-one lives under the lid. Cigar fans can spot porcelain stogies, a pipe, a cigar box and an ashtray, plus a lighter guarded by a faithful dog. All painted by hand, all tiny enough for a pocket.

The Den Display

Dads tend to collect quietly, then suddenly own a full shelf. Golf balls look terrific lined up in a shadow box or lounging in a bowl on the desk. Cigars belong next to a humidor, real or imagined. Start with one for his birthday, add another each Father's Day, and soon the den looks like a museum of his favorite hobbies. Many families pick a theme and stick with it, so every holiday has an obvious answer. Others mix golf with cigars and a pocket watch, which suits the dad who is a little bit of everything. Either way, he will pretend it is no big deal and then show every visitor.

Find more for the guy who taught you to ride a bike: Father's Day Gifts, Gifts for Him and Golfers & Sports Fans.