Fennel Flower Vegetable Limoges Box

Fennel seldom shows up in porcelain, which makes this flowering fennel box a fresh choice for a kitchen display. It is a hand-painted porcelain Limoges box, made and decorated in Limoges, France.

An Herb Garden Original

Anyone who has grown fennel knows it eventually sends up airy flower heads that the bees adore. This piece celebrates the plant in bloom, with every color and highlight painted by hand, so the tones vary a little from one box to another.

Fresh Picks for Pairing

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Joins an herb, vegetable or produce collection
• An unusual subject that sets a food shelf apart

Kitchen Counter Charm

Set it near the spice rack, on the ledge behind the stove, or in a glass cabinet with other garden vegetables. It is a thoughtful nod for a chef who cooks with fennel, a market gardener, or a friend who loves Provençal food. It also makes a pleasant thank-you after a summer supper.

The Long Road From Kaolin

Limoges became a porcelain town after deposits of white kaolin clay were found at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche in 1768. That clay still gives these small boxes their bright, hard finish once they come out of the kiln.