Frugtfade

A fruit bowl is the natural gathering point for the day's fresh fruit, and at Dims Studio it's also a little work of art in its own right. Here you'll find hand-painted fruit bowls in Italian faience from Caja Company and ceramics from the Dutch brand &Klevering, shaped like lemons, oranges, grapes and other fruits. Many of the bowls are dual-purpose and work just as well as a spoon rest by the stove as a serving bowl at the table. Here you get an overview of types, materials, sizes and brands, so you can find the fruit bowl that suits your kitchen.

What is a fruit bowl?

A fruit bowl is a flat or slightly raised dish used to serve and store fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table. Unlike a deep bowl, a fruit bowl is typically wide and relatively flat, so the fruit sits visibly on display and is easy to grab. The words fruit bowl and fruit dish are often used interchangeably, but dish usually refers to the flatter version, while bowl has a bit more height. See the wider range of fruit bowls if you're after a deeper model.

At Dims Studio, the fruit bowls aren't just practical, they're also shaped and painted so they become a decorative element on the table in their own right, whether or not there's fruit in them.

A fruit bowl also has a practical function beyond the decorative: fruit such as bananas, apples and citrus fruit usually keep best at normal room temperature rather than in the fridge, which makes the bowl on the kitchen counter the most natural storage spot for the fruit eaten during the week.

Types of fruit bowls

The fruit bowls in our range can be divided by how they're shaped, and whether they're designed for one particular fruit or for fruit in general.

Figurative fruit bowls

Many of our fruit bowls are shaped after the fruit they're meant to hold. &Klevering's orange bowl is shaped like half an orange, while the grape bowls from both &Klevering and Caja Company are shaped like a bunch of grapes. The figurative shape makes the bowl an eye-catcher even when it's empty on the shelf.

Flat serving bowls with a motif

Other bowls have a more classic, oval or round shape, but are hand-painted with a motif that shows what the bowl is meant for. Caja Company's lemon bowls are a good example: an elongated or oval shape decorated with yellow and green lemons in several shades.

Dual-purpose spoon rests

Several of Caja Company's bowls are designed for dual use. During the day they function as a spoon rest by the stove, holding cooking spoons and utensils, and in the evening they become a serving bowl at the table. The strawberry, olive, pomegranate and plum bowls all belong to this category.

Flat plate-style bowls

&Klevering's fruit bowl with a vintage fruit collage is an example of a flatter, plate-like model that's low enough to also be used for cake or other flat dishes, not just fruit. The low rim makes it easy to take the fruit or cake straight from the bowl, without lifting it over a high edge as with a deeper bowl.

Type	Look	Example in the range	Best for
Figurative	Shaped like the fruit itself	&Klevering orange and grape bowl	Eye-catcher, even empty
Flat with motif	Classic shape, hand-painted	Caja Company lemon bowls	Versatile serving
Spoon rest/serving bowl	Dual purpose	Caja Company strawberry and olive bowl	Stove by day, table by night
Flat plate-style bowl	Very low, wide	&Klevering fruit collage bowl	Fruit, cake and flat dishes

Material: hand-painted ceramics and Italian faience

All our fruit bowls are ceramic, but there's a difference in how they're made and painted.

Italian faience from Caja Company

Caja Company's bowls are hand-painted in genuine Italian faience, a type of glazed ceramic with a long tradition in Italy. Because each bowl is painted by hand, no two pieces are quite alike: the colours can vary slightly in shade, and the brushstrokes give a lively, handmade look. The bowls are food-safe and ready for everyday serving.

Ceramics from &Klevering

&Klevering, a Dutch design brand, is behind the figurative bowls shaped like an orange, lemon and bunch of grapes, as well as the flat plate-style bowl with a vintage fruit collage. The surface is glazed ceramic with a colourful citrus finish that gives a fresh, graphic look.

Material	Origin	Characteristics	Brand
Italian faience	Italy, hand-painted	One-of-a-kind, lively brushstrokes, food-safe	Caja Company
Glazed ceramic	Netherlands, designed	Graphic, colourful finish	&Klevering

How to look after your fruit bowl

• Wash the bowl by hand with mild washing-up liquid to protect the hand-painted glaze as best as possible.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as pouring boiling water into a cold bowl, as this can crack the glaze.
• Dry the bowl immediately after washing to avoid limescale marks, especially on lighter glazes.
• Don't place the bowl directly on the stove burner, as it's designed for serving and storage, not cooking.

Fruit bowls in the kitchen and at the dining table

A fruit bowl often moves around the kitchen depending on whether it's an everyday moment or there are guests.

Fruit bowl as a fixed spot in the kitchen

Place the fruit bowl centrally on the kitchen counter or island so it's easy to grab a piece of fruit on the go. Caja Company's spoon-rest bowls can happily sit by the stove during everyday use and be filled with fruit when guests come over.

Fruit bowl as a centrepiece at the table

For lunch or dinner, a filled fruit bowl is a natural and colourful centrepiece on the dining table. Caja Company's larger lemon bowls, measuring up to 40 x 35 centimetres, are made for exactly that role, holding plenty of fruit for several guests.

Fruit bowl for tapas and antipasti

The oval and round bowls are also great for tapas and antipasti, where olives, cheese and dried fruit can be mixed on the same bowl. Caja Company's olive bowl is specifically designed with that use in mind.

Fruit bowl as a gift

A hand-painted fruit bowl is a warm and personal housewarming or hostess gift, because it's something that gets used again and again, and because the unique hand-painting makes each gift a little different from the last.

Fruit bowl and interior style

A fruit bowl can do just as much for the mood in the kitchen as a vase or a piece of art on the wall, because it's out on display daily and used every single day.

A colourful, playful kitchen

If you want a kitchen full of colour and personality, the figurative bowls from &Klevering and the hand-painted lemon and strawberry motifs from Caja Company are obvious choices. They work well together with other colourful kitchenware, such as ceramic mugs and colourful bowls.

A calmer, cohesive look

If you prefer a calmer kitchen, stick to one recurring motif, such as lemon, in several sizes and from the same brand. This gives a cohesive look, even though each bowl is hand-painted and therefore unique.

Seasonal styling

The fruit bowl can also be used seasonally: fill it with oranges and pomegranates in winter, or with berries and plums when they're in season in summer. The motif on the bowl can echo the fruit you're serving, for example by placing lemons in the lemon bowl.

Sizes: from small spoon rest to large centrepiece bowl

The size of the fruit bowl determines how much fruit it can hold and how much space it takes up on the table.

Size	Example	Best for
Small	Caja Company olive and pomegranate bowl	Spoon rest, smaller snacks
Medium, approx. 26.5 cm	&Klevering fruit collage bowl	Everyday fruit, cake
Medium, approx. 30 cm	Caja Company berry bowl	Centrepiece for smaller gatherings
Large, 40 x 35 cm	Caja Company large lemon bowl	Tapas, antipasti and large amounts of fruit

See the full range of lemon bowls and dishes if the lemon motif is your favourite, or browse our other serving platters and ceramic dishes for more formats.

Fruit bowls and storing fresh fruit

Where you place the fruit bowl, and which fruit you put in it, affects how long the fruit stays fresh.

Which fruit belongs in the bowl?

Bananas, apples, pears, citrus fruit and stone fruit like plums usually do well at room temperature for a few days and are therefore good candidates for the fruit bowl. Berries such as strawberries and mixed berries keep best chilled, but can easily be displayed in one of the smaller bowls if they'll be eaten the same day.

Avoid fruit ripening each other too fast

Some fruits, especially bananas and apples, release a gas that makes other fruit ripen faster. So don't put too many bananas together with berries and softer fruit in the same bowl if you want the fruit to keep as long as possible.

Fruit bowl as a fixed routine

Many households refill the fruit bowl as a fixed part of the weekly shop, with fresh fruit put out straight away instead of being tucked away in a cupboard or fridge. This makes the fruit more accessible day to day and can help it actually get eaten before it gets too ripe.

The bowl as part of cooking

Caja Company's spoon-rest bowls are designed to sit by the stove, where they're used daily for cooking spoons and utensils. This makes the fruit bowl part of the daily kitchen routine, not just something brought out when guests come over.

The brands behind our fruit bowls

Two brands share our range of fruit bowls, each with their own craft and look.

Caja Company

Caja Company is the brand that takes up the most space in our fruit bowl range. The bowls are hand-painted in Italian faience with motifs such as lemon, strawberry, grape, olive, pomegranate, plum and mixed berries. Several of the bowls are designed for dual use as a spoon rest and serving bowl, and since every piece is hand-painted, each bowl is unique. The lemon motif recurs in several sizes and shapes at Caja Company, from the small bowl a couple of hand-spans across to the large bowl at 40 x 35 centimetres, making it possible to build a whole series in the same motif but in different sizes for different uses.

&Klevering

&Klevering is the Dutch brand behind the figurative bowls shaped like half an orange or a bunch of grapes, as well as the flat fruit bowl with a vintage fruit collage. &Klevering's bowls are characterised by a graphic, colourful look that suits a kitchen with a playful, colourful style. The brand is known for working with recognisable everyday motifs that become eye-catching design objects when scaled up and rendered in ceramic.

Brand	Material	Characteristics	Best for
Caja Company	Italian faience	Hand-painted, one-of-a-kind, often dual purpose	Spoon rest and serving in one
&Klevering	Glazed ceramic	Figurative shape, graphic finish	Eye-catcher on the kitchen counter

Find your fruit bowl: decision guide

If you're not sure which fruit bowl to choose, base it on how you'll use it most.

Situation	Our recommendation
You want a bowl that can be used in two spots in the kitchen	A spoon-rest bowl from Caja Company, such as the strawberry or olive bowl
You need room for fruit for many guests	The large lemon bowl from Caja Company at 40 x 35 cm
You want a figurative eye-catcher on the kitchen counter	&Klevering's orange or grape bowl
The bowl also needs to work for cake or flat dishes	&Klevering's flat fruit collage bowl
You want to gather several motifs in the same colour theme	Several lemon bowls from Caja Company in different sizes
You're after a personal gift	A hand-painted, one-of-a-kind bowl from Caja Company

Frequently asked questions about fruit bowls

What's the difference between a fruit bowl and a fruit dish?

A fruit bowl is typically flatter and wider, while a fruit dish has a bit more height and rim. Both are used to serve and store fresh fruit, but the bowl shows the fruit off more visibly.

Can a fruit bowl be used for anything other than fruit?

Yes, several of our bowls are designed for dual use. Caja Company's bowls can be used as a spoon rest by the stove, and &Klevering's flat fruit collage bowl can also be used for cake, for example.

How do I wash my hand-painted fruit bowl?

Wash the bowl by hand with mild washing-up liquid to protect the hand-painted glaze, and avoid sudden temperature changes that can crack the surface.

Why is there a colour difference between two bowls with the same motif?

Because Caja Company's bowls are hand-painted in Italian faience, there can be natural variations in colour and brushstroke from bowl to bowl. That's part of the unique, handmade look.

What size fruit bowl should I choose?

For everyday use and smaller amounts of fruit, a bowl around 26 to 30 centimetres is suitable. If the bowl needs to work as a centrepiece for guests, the large lemon bowl at 40 x 35 centimetres from Caja Company is a good choice.

Are the fruit bowls food-safe?

Yes, Caja Company's bowls in Italian faience are food-safe and ready for everyday serving of food and fruit.

Can you place a hot dish directly on the stove?

No, the fruit bowls are designed for serving and storage, not for direct heat from the stove burner or oven.

What makes a bowl a good spoon rest?

An elongated or oval shape with a bit of height along the rim is practical for keeping cooking spoons off the table, while the bowl can still be used for serving when it's not in use by the stove.

Are fruit bowls from Dims Studio one-of-a-kind?

The bowls from Caja Company are hand-painted, meaning each individual piece has its own small variations in colour and finish. &Klevering's bowls are designed in a set series but still have a clearly handmade look.

Can several fruit bowls be used together?

Yes, that's a popular way to style them. Combine, for example, a large lemon bowl with a couple of smaller bowls in other motifs like grape or strawberry for a varied, colourful table.

Where should I place the fruit bowl to keep the fruit fresh longest?

Most fruits, such as apples, bananas and citrus fruit, keep best at normal room temperature rather than in the fridge. Place the fruit bowl somewhere with normal room temperature, ideally out of direct sunlight, so the fruit doesn't ripen too fast.

Can a fruit bowl be used as a spoon rest by the stove?

Yes, several of Caja Company's bowls are specifically designed for dual use as a spoon rest for cooking spoons during the day and a serving bowl for fruit in the evening.