Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about how we make our pieces, how to care for them, and how shipping works.
What makes The Museum Gift Store different from a regular museum shop?
Most museum merch stops at the picture. Every piece in our store is printed on both sides: the painting on the front, and its curatorial wall plaque on the back. You get the story behind the artwork (how the artist mixed the pigments, structured the composition, and broke the rules of their era) right alongside the piece itself.
Where do you source the artwork files?
We work directly from high-resolution open-access digital files released by the museums that house the originals, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Rijksmuseum, the Mauritshuis, and the J. Paul Getty Museum.
Which formats are available for each painting?
Every painting in our main gallery comes in five formats: a 15" × 16" Heavyweight Cotton Canvas Tote Bag ($35), an 11oz Glazed Ceramic Mug ($22), a 16" × 16" Woven Poly-Canvas Throw Pillow with insert ($38), a 5.75" × 8" Matte Hardcover Ruled Journal ($28), and a 3" Round Glazed Porcelain Ornament ($18).
Can I request a painting that isn’t in your collection yet?
Yes. Through our Custom Artwork Request page (/custom-request), you can ask us to make any archival painting on any of our five formats. Custom requests cost twice the standard catalog price because we research and write a bespoke wall plaque from scratch and prepare a one-off print file. You pay 50% upfront as a deposit, we email you the full mockup to review, and you pay the remaining 50% once you approve it for printing.
How should I wash my Canvas Tote Bag?
Our tote bags are sewn from 100% natural cotton canvas with reinforced shoulder straps. Because natural cotton can shrink in high heat, we recommend spot-cleaning with mild soap and cold water or hand washing gently, then hanging it to air dry.
Can the Ceramic Mug go in the dishwasher and microwave?
Yes. Our 11oz white ceramic mugs are lead-free, BPA-free, and safe for both the microwave and the top or bottom rack of your dishwasher without fading.
Does the Throw Pillow come with the pillow insert?
It does. Every pillow ships with both the double-sided woven canvas zippered cover and a soft, shape-retaining polyester insert already inside, ready for your sofa or reading chair right out of the box.
What kind of paper is inside the Hardcover Journal?
Each 5.75" × 8" hardcover notebook has a smooth matte laminated cover and 150 lined pages (75 sheets of 90gsm cream-white paper) with micro-perforated edges in case you ever need to tear out a page cleanly.
How much is shipping?
Standard shipping is free on all orders within the United States, with no minimum spend. The price you see on the product page is the price at checkout.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Because we print each piece to order rather than pulling from a dusty warehouse shelf, production takes 2 to 4 business days. Standard US shipping takes another 3 to 7 business days, putting most orders at your door in 5 to 11 business days.
What is your return and replacement policy?
Because every item is made to order, we cannot take returns if you simply change your mind. However, if anything arrives damaged in the mail or has a printing flaw, we will make it right immediately: email us a quick photo within 30 days of delivery and we will send a free replacement or give you a full refund. You never have to pack up or mail back a damaged item.
Which payment methods do you accept?
All payments run securely through Stripe. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major debit cards.
Have a Question Not Listed Here?
Our concierge team is available to help with order tracking, custom requests, or curatorial information.