That metal hat rack is shaped like a tree.
It makes me think of a barren tree without its leaves, perhaps even a barren apple tree. It’s a bit of a stretch, but I wonder if it stands for the defeat of Regina. I’ve always thought that the apple tree is a symbol of Regina’s power. The apple tree is on the town emblem. Regina said in episode 2 her honeycrisp apple tree could weather any storm and survive freezing temperatures. She was clearly speaking metaphorically of herself. Then, we saw Emma cutting down the apple tree in an early episode (episode 2 I think), which was a clear indicator that Emma was challenging Regina’s power. Afterward, Emma declared, “You have no idea what I’m capable of.” When Emma cut off the branch, it was like dethroning Regina. So, a tree without laves or fruit is without its power. Perhaps the barren tree hat rack hints at Jefferson helping Emma take down Regina and her apple tree, once and for all.
"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy