Leaf Tray by Arthur Court

A single palm frond, cast in metal and curved up at both ends like a cradle.

This leaf tray is by Arthur Court, made around 1977, in cast aluminum. Cast aluminum serving pieces in natural forms became widely popular in American homes in the later 20th century, prized for being light, sturdy and easy to clean. Here the frond bends into a long, shallow arc, its central rib running the full length. Dozens of slender leaflets fan out from it, each with a raised vein and a rounded tip. The finish is a soft, satiny silver with darker shading in the recesses. It is 17 inches wide, 8 deep and 10.5 high.

Tropical, and needing no water at all.