[LittleOldLady]

In practice a white elephant is a decorative item that you would just as soon see decorating someone else's house or a gadget that does something you don't need done. I would go for any doo-dad made by Thomas Kinkade (or indeed any sort of figurine or vase) or useless kitchen gadget like a salad spinner. Think of some household item your mother would donate to a church or school rummage sale that someone else would actually buy.