Old Fruit

If you have ever longed for one of the fun, old hats from the forties - chances are it had some lovely old bit of celluloid fruit garnishing it. Bunches or clusters of old fruit are found at the bottom of the box usually - these are the delicate bits and pieces that were used to trim a springtime hat.
Old fruit was made out of all different materials - celluloid (a very thin plastic - which can become quite soft if it gets wet), felt, paper mache and silk. My favorite pieces are the old celluloid cherries - the colors are vibrant and you know they won't last forever - they are slowly disintegrating and will be gone forever...and ever.