Item presentation system

A system for presenting articles to a viewer, comprising:

• a floor-standing cabinet having front, back and side panels defining a height, a width, and a depth;
• a carousel disposed at a predetermined height within the cabinet, the carousel defining a continuous elongated track with an upwardly facing horizontal surface and an elongated open slot surrounded by the continuous track;
• an electric motor disposed in the cabinet operative to rotate the carousel around the open slot;
• a first water tray supported at predetermined height above the open slot, and a second water tray supported below the open slot;
• one or more openings in the first water tray causing water from the first water tray to fall from the first water tray as a vertically oriented sheet, through the open slot, and into the second water tray;
• an electric recirculating water pump disposed in the cabinet operative to pump water collected by the lower tray back up to the upper tray;
• wherein the upwardly facing horizontal surface of the carousel is adapted to receive articles placed thereon;
• and
• an opening in the front panel of the cabinet enabling an observer to view the articles as the carousel rotates, with the sheet of falling water serving as a backdrop to the articles as they move.