Metal Fruit Stand

In a grocer's shop the fruit had to sell itself, piled high where everyone passing could see it, and a stand like this was built to show it off. Originally from a grocer in Lille and dating to the 20th century, it climbs in a wrought-iron spiral, three wire baskets staggered up a curving column above a splayed foot. The spiral was the clever part, each basket set out past the one below so every apple stayed in view and within reach, and because shop fixtures like this were used hard and rarely kept, it is a rare find now. Sylvie sets it on the kitchen counter by the window, heaped with apples and lemons, a little of the market brought home.