When I was little, my grandmother's friend had a seashell-encrusted birdbath in her yard. As a child, I always thought it was such a magnificent sight and I pined for prying a shell off and holding it in my hand. Today, I still appreciate birdbaths in general, but prefer something more streamlined than the shells-glommed-onto-concrete look. Two modern options after the jump...

The top one is from Eva Solo, makers of many minimalist household and outdoor accessories. It's made of glazed porcelain and the ripples in its raindrop design allow birds to stand on the high spots while drinking from the low.

The second design is a monolith, and even more minimal than the first. This is the Obleeek Birdbath, made in solid and beautiful concrete. No seashell crust here - just a smooth white finish. See also Obleeek's planters, featured on Apartment Therapy LA.