DIY Vintage Italian Pottery Fruit Basket: Easy Thrifted Makeover

Have you ever found a cheap replica of vintage decor and wish it were the real deal? That just happened to me when I ran across what looked like an Italian Pottery Fruit Basket. Upon closer inspection, it was made of resin, bummer! However, not to be outdone, I decided to bring my $4.00 thrifted basket home and turn it into a Vintage Italian Pottery Fruit Basket look-alike. With a two-step process, I now have a stunning centerpiece that everyone thinks is vintage as long as I don’t let them pick it up. LOL! Let me show you how easy this makeover is.

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Fruit Basket Thrift Store Find

I have to tell you it was a bummer when I realized that the fruit basket I spied at the Habitat Restore was a gorgeous but resin replica of those expensive Italian Pottery Fruit Baskets. I had rushed to grab it, and although it’s heavy, it’s not as heavy as an authentic pottery piece, so I knew immediately it wasn’t an antique. But then I saw the price was only $4.00. Well, for only $4.00, I can attempt a makeover to create the White Italian Fruit centerpiece I love. So here’s what I did.

Step 1 – Prepare Centerpiece For Makeover

Many thrift store finds need to be cleaned before styling them in your home. The fruit basket centerpiece was mostly clean, but I used a brush to dust in all the little nooks and crannies. It was dustier than I thought it was at first glance. Once all the dust was removed, I wiped the centerpiece with a damp cloth and let it dry.

Step 2 – Paint The Basket White

I love those all-white Vintage Italian Pottery Fruit Baskets, which range in price from $400 to over $1,000. The ones with color are also beautiful, but for my home, I wanted one that was white. So, I used this Classic White Chalky Finish spray paint to update the resin basket.

First, I placed the basket outside and sprayed it with a light coat of the white paint, ensuring that I didn’t get any runs. Then, I added a heavier paint coating until I was satisfied with the coverage. You want to be sure the paint gets into all angles of the intricate fruit design.

I then set the basket aside and allowed it to dry for a few hours.

Step 3 – Seal With Gloss Clear Coat

After the white paint was dry, I used Krylon’s Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating. This product doesn’t yellow with age and isn’t as shiny as some gloss finishes. I repeated the process of painting the centerpiece by adding a light coverage of the sealers and then a heavier coating. Ensure you cover all angles of the fruit and allow it to dry thoroughly.

How To Decorate With a DIY Italian Fruit Basket

Now comes the exciting part: adding the DIY Italian Fruit Basket to my decor.

The new white paint and subtle shine of the crystal clear sealer enhance the details of the fruit and vegetables in the basket.

Kitchen Island Centerpiece

My first thought was to use the basket as the centerpiece on my kitchen island.

To complete the centerpiece, I used a vintage cheese board as a riser and surrounded the basket with several vintage brass candlesticks and white candles. A couple of green plants, a bowl of small moss spheres, a copper kettle, and a kitchen towel complete the vignette.

The centerpiece looks charming when the candles are burning as evening approaches.

Other Options For Styling The Large White Fruit Basket

The updated DIY white Italian fruit basket is substantial enough to be a stand-alone decor accessory. I like how it looks next to my dining table on the chippy architectural pedestal.

It also looks great mixed with other large vintage accessories on top of my hutch. Due to the size, it’s important to balance it with large-scale accessories like the gathering basket and Italian cheese board. The antique mixing bowl is filled with vintage kitchen utensils to add more texture to the vignette.

Final Word

I know that not everyone will find a fruit basket of this nature while thrifting. However, I want you to not overlook unique finds such as this. I saw a crudely painted ceramic fruit topiary a few months ago and didn’t buy it. A few days later, I saw one painted white used for a stunning home decor vignette. By the time I went back to the shop, it was sold. Bummer! So the lesson I learned was if it catches your eye, and the price is right, buy it. Inspiration will strike when you least expect it, and you can transform it into a vintage or high-end look-alike.

What deals have you passed up, and do they still haunt you? LOL. The fruit topiary still haunts me, and I hope to find a similar one someday.

I appreciate you stopping by. Happy thrifting and have a blessed day