Chalkware, Anthropomorphic Fruit Set of 7, Hand Painted, Smiling Faces, Kitchen Wall Decor, Kitsch, Vintage, 1960s-1970s

Meet the gang. An apple, a banana, an orange, a peach, a pineapple, an absolutely delighted Mr. Pear — and Ms. Pear, who has clearly heard it all before.

Seven hand-painted chalkware fruits, each with a face, each with a personality, each ready to bring an entirely unreasonable amount of joy to whatever wall they occupy. This is American kitsch at its most lovable — the kind of thing that makes people stop, look twice, and then immediately tell someone else about it. The colors are bright and cheerful, the expressions are genuinely funny, and the set has that wonderful mid-century folk art quality that has made anthropomorphic fruit one of the most collected categories in vintage kitchen decor.

All seven have pre-drilled holes for hanging. They range from 6.5 inches (the banana, naturally) to 4.0 inches (the orange). A few minor paint nicks consistent with sixty-plus years of brightening kitchens — photographed for your review.

Equally at home in a farmhouse kitchen, a cottagecore dining room, a retro diner-style space, a farm stand, or any kitchen that takes its personality as seriously as its cooking.

Chalkware — also called plaster of Paris ware — was one of the most popular forms of American decorative folk art from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century, used to produce everything from carnival prizes to kitchen wall decor. The anthropomorphic fruit craze of the 1950s and 1960s produced some of the most beloved pieces in the genre, and complete sets of seven like this one are increasingly difficult to find intact.

• Vintage: 1960s–1970s (estimated)
• Pieces: 7 — Apple, Banana, Orange, Peach, Pineapple, Mr. Pear, Ms. Pear
• Dimensions: 6.5" (banana) to 4.0" (orange)
• Material: Chalkware / plaster, hand-painted
• Hanging: Pre-drilled holes on back of each piece
• Condition: Very good vintage condition. Minor paint nicks on some pieces — photographed. Please review all photos carefully — we cannot accept returns.