So, you have a lot of expensive paintings. You even have a gadget that'll tell you whether they're good or not. You probably have all sorts of alarms and surveillance as well, to make sure that nobody can get at the art when you're away. But how will you know that someone's pinching or pilfering during, say, a cocktail party?

Enter the Art Guard alarm. These little alarms screw into the wall, and the painting's wire is balanced on top of the device (which also doubles as a wall mounting). If the painting moves at all, the alarm lets out a "piercing, almost excruciating sound" — sort of like the SofaGuard, but for humans instead of dogs. Only a key can deactivate it, which seems like a failing to us: if the alarm really is loud as advertised, why should the owner have to go near it to turn it off?

The Art Guard was designed for galleries and small museums, but at $400 for 10, why not use them to hang every piece of art in the house? — S.E. Kramer

Via The New York Times