Six years in, the traditional anniversary gift is iron. The modern list swaps it for wood. Both are about the same idea: something strong that lasts and gets better with age, which is a fair description of a marriage that has made it this far.
If you're buying for someone who already has enough stuff, iron and wood are good materials to work with. A well-made iron piece will outlive the two of you. Good wood darkens and softens with use. Neither ends up in a drawer.
Here are gift ideas at a few price points, from a small candleholder to a piece of furniture you'll see every day.
Iron gifts, the traditional sixth-anniversary material
Under $250: a candleholder made by hand
A sculptural candleholder is the easiest iron gift to get right. It's personal without guessing someone's taste in jewelry, and lighting it together makes the gift into a small ritual.
- Lover's Knot Candle Holder, from $210. Wrought iron worked into a knot, with a pebble-weighted base. It comes with natural beeswax taper candles, so it's ready to light the night you give it.
- One Heart Candle Holder, from $160. The most openly romantic piece here: a heart shaped in hand-forged iron.
- Friends Candle Holder, from $110. A good choice for couples who'd call each other best friends first.
All three are made by Luis Márquez Studio in a small Texas workshop. Each is made after you order, so allow about 10 days before it ships. If the anniversary is close, order early.
$500 to $1,000: iron that lights the room
- Soulmate Table Lamp, $600. The name says what it's for. A bedside or living-room lamp built from hand-bent iron.
- Nest Floor Lamp, $850. A 59-inch sculptural lamp. Something for a couple who has settled into a home and wants a piece that anchors a corner.
The once-in-a-marriage gift
The Tree of Love Canopy Bed ($5,000) is a canopy bed forged by hand in branching iron. It's an extravagant sixth-anniversary gift, but it's also the most literal one we know of. It ships by freight, and delivery is arranged with you.
Wood gifts, the modern sixth-anniversary material
Wood suits couples who want something useful. Furniture is the gift they'll notice every morning.
- Frida Bed Frame, from $355.49. Warm-toned wood with black metal legs, so it covers the traditional and modern gifts in one piece.
- Laden Nightstand, from $269.99. A mid-century nightstand. Buy one for each side of the bed.
- Carved Wood Wall Panel, $67.32. The smallest wood gift here, and a good pairing with one of the candleholders above.
Iron and wood together
The easiest way to honor both lists is to give one of each: an iron candleholder with a wood piece, or a wood nightstand with an iron lamp on top. It's also the whole idea behind our shop name.
A few practical notes
- Order handmade pieces early. Hand-forged ironwork is made to order and usually ships in about 10 days. Delivery takes another 3 to 7 business days in the US.
- Freight pieces need someone home. Beds and console tables ship by freight, and the carrier calls to set a delivery window.
- Returns are 30 days. See our refund policy for details.
Questions about a piece or a deadline? Email hello@boughandiron.com and we'll tell you honestly whether it can arrive in time.