Think of sterling bowls, candlesticks, cups, vases—all the pieces that jewelers call “hollowware”—and you may think, “not for me, I don’t live on Park Avenue” or “forget it, I’m not looking for a baby gift.” Not so fast! Today’s creative shoppers are seeing hollowware in a whole new—and inspired—light. Hollowware can be a treasure trove of out-of-the-ordinary, sure-to-get-the-wows gift and commemoration ideas.

A hard race, a personal best, a new skill—you can recognize a job well done with a sterling plate or dish. Engrave a name, a date, or simply a heart-felt congratulation and show an appreciation that survives as long as memories linger. A small bowl reading “First Piano Recital” will find a place of honor among a little girl’s treasures. An octagonal plate etched with “Freshman Makes Varsity” will make a prized addition to a young man’s trophy shelf. A tall, graceful champagne flute commemorates a new start in life with the reminder “A New Door Opens.” A beer stein proclaiming “Programmer Extraordinaire, 2003” acknowledges the long hours and self-sacrifice that brought about that sought-after promotion.

A baby cup, engraved with name and date: standard, run-of-the-mill gift (read b-o-r-i-n-g), right? Not necessarily! Put a bit more thought into the inscription and you have a true keepsake, destined for heirloom status. When my niece was born, her uncle (a career sailor) sent her a sterling cup he had bought in Morocco. It had her name and birth date, all right, but he had also included a phrase from a poem: “Laugh and the world laughs with you.” Over time, the cup was packed away and forgotten—until the day she packed up her things to move into her first apartment. She sat, holding the cup, and laughed. A little polish rubbed away the years and put her move into perspective. Today, it is a treasured reminder and shines from a shelf over the fireplace.