Italian Fruit Basket

Italian Fruit Basket — a sculptural centerpiece that turns ceramic craftsmanship into a visual illusion of abundance. With its glossy, hand-painted apples, grapes, and citrus overflowing from a twisted white ceramic base, this mid-century piece captures the trompe-l’œil (“fool the eye”) style popular in Italian ceramics, particularly those inspired by the Capodimonte tradition.

Often exported to American households in the 1950s–70s, such fruit baskets served as dining room accents or kitchen table showpieces. They celebrate natural form through ornamental excess — every leaf, berry, and stem modeled and painted with detail and charm