Colorful Worm Porcelain Limoges Box

Not every garden creature gets its moment in porcelain, but this bright worm earns its place with bands of lively color. It is a hand-painted porcelain Limoges box made in Limoges, France, and it turns the humble earthworm into a cheerful little character.

The Early Bird's Envy

Worms do the quiet work of every flower bed, and this one finally gets some credit. The colors are applied by hand, one band at a time, so each worm wears its own stripes. Its friendly look softens a shelf of more formal porcelain.

Who Will Grin at It

• A gardener who tends a compost pile with pride
• A fishing buddy who knows the value of good bait
• A dedicated bookworm or a librarian with a sense of humor

Down in the Garden Bed

Group it with ladybugs, snails, butterflies and frogs for a lively garden critter shelf, or place it on a potting bench windowsill. It is also a fun desk piece in a library or study, where the bookworm joke lands well. This is hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France, and it shows how even the smallest garden resident can become a collectible. Plenty of collectors keep it as the oddball favorite of their shelf.