Worldly, exquisitely crafted, highly coveted — yes, let’s sing the praises of fake fruit. Designers and collectors scour antiques shops and eBay for specimens that can turn any home into a garden of delights. To get the juices flowing, feast your eyes on these arrangements. The pieces may be artificial, but the styles — from rustic to refined — and the indigenous materials are authentically gorgeous.
WOOD THINGS
These fruits didn’t grow on trees, but they are carved from the tropical varieties found in Mexico and Africa. “You’ll find a lot of unusual edibles rendered in wood that aren’t native to North America, like star fruit and kiwifruit,” says collecting expert Fritz Karch. While these pieces are not painted, he adds, “the artist may pick the wood for its beautiful graining, or stain it.”