Small Fruit Basket Hand-Painted Limoges Box

A small basket brimming with fruit makes a cheerful still life in porcelain, with the fruit painted by hand. It is a Limoges box made in Limoges, France, as fresh as a morning at the farmers market.

Market Morning Bounty

Fruit baskets have been a favorite subject of French painters and porcelain makers for centuries, a symbol of plenty and hospitality. This small version keeps that tradition alive in a size that fits easily on a crowded shelf. The hand-painting gives the fruit its color and a slight variation from basket to basket.

A Welcome on the Table

Set it on a kitchen windowsill, a breakfast nook shelf, or the center of a dining table between candlesticks. It makes a gracious housewarming present, a thank-you for a dinner host, or a token for a chef, a farmer or a friend who runs the local market stand. In autumn it fits right in with a harvest display.

Orchard Pairings

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Fits a fruit, kitchen or harvest collection
• Pairs with grape, cherry and picnic basket boxes

Porcelain has been made in Limoges since kaolin clay was found nearby in 1768, and still lifes like this one remain a classic subject.