Forget garden gnomes or gazing balls, your terrace needs a touch of class and technology with the Porter Garden Telescope. Designed in the 1920s by Russell Porter — the brains behind the 200-inch Hale Telescope at Mount Palomar Observatory, this 70-inch tall bronze sculpture includes a working sun dial and telescope for gazing at the stars, or spying on your neighbors.

If you drop $60,000 on this faithful reproduction of the original, you'll be in good company with the Smithsonian that has the original on display. The eyepiece can be removed and stored in a mahogany case, or leave the entire thing out and let it age naturally in the elements. While other telescopes look cold and impersonal, it's good to know the classics never grow old. Forget about ordering one for the holidays, the Porter Garden Telescope takes five months to build. — Stephen Schleicher

Telescopes of Vermont via Born Rich