For Whom the Bell Tolls

This week, our bell tolls for toleware. We treasure these beauties for the detail in their artistry and quality of each piece. They are loved by collectors and museums around the world for their decorative art form. 

Tole comes from the French, Tole peinte du lac which refers to painted tin. Tole began in Europe and was initially produced on tin and later on other metals, papier mache and  wood. These items were mean’t to be quite utilitarian. 

Paula uses this child's tole bed warmer to keep some of her favorite pearls safe and sound.

Tole trays were enameled and beautifully painted. These decorative trays were known to rust, so a way to combat that problem was to use a coating that was a mixture of asphalt and shellac. This created a surface that looked like the lacquer on beautiful Japanese trays. The term was then coined Japanning. 

We seem to have a preference for the classic tole tray that has a matted black background with beautiful colorful designs painted on the front. However, toleware comes in a variety of background colors which include, green, yellow, red, white and cream. The paintings always standout beautifully on toleware. Generally they are brightly colored still lifes such as flowers, animals or people hand painted with oil paints. 

These beautiful geishas are the reason Paula fell in love with this beautiful tray.

You can see the brush work that shows every detail of the actual painting, especially in flowers.  Some of the older tole trays have gorgeous inlaid mother of pearl or trimmed in gold leaf. Paula is forever on the lookout for a tole tray with a nautical scene of a sailing ship on an ocean. In the mean time she highlights the beautiful flowers in the picture by hanging tole trays around it, creating a garden of floral paintings.

In the late 1700s to early 1800s tole pieces were also gilded. During this time the fine folks from Scandinavia introduced tole painting to the New England area. Paula placed this adorable child's lunch pail on top of the refrigerator creating a diverse vignette. The colors of this toleware are a dark green background with yellow and gold flowers painted around it. 

This coal scuttle toleware with the beautifully painted rooster sits in Paula's guest bathroom. 

Toleware is very functional for everyday use. Paula fills this coal scuttle with soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions she collects from various hotels when traveling.

Toleware trays can also function as snack or breakfast trays, hung as wall art in any room, or set up on legs as tables. 

Paula placed this tole tray on top of a small table from Ghana to hold her bath oil and salts which are in easy reach in preparation for a luxurious bath.

Patti loves that this tray is pretty enough to display but sturdy enough to serve tea.

She also had not thought much about tole trays for the bedroom, but this one seemed to be the right compliment to this wall vignette.

While traveling down to the Florida Keys, Patti found this beautiful magazine rack. This was a cool find from a cute little shop in Key Largo called the Pink Junktique.  

Patti almost forgot about this little table. It's so handy with lovely fitted tray, it goes just about anywhere, in a living room, a bedside, or impromptu tea. The floral stand has the most amazing painted flowers. She loves it!!!


We hope that toleware has captivated your hearts as it has captivated ours and collectors around the world for decades.


Do you have any toleware? Tell us how you display yours.


Stop by next week as we "Air our Dirty Laundry".


Hugs,


Patti & Paula


This week we are partying with the following fabulous folks:

Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Glitter Link Party @ Running With Glitter

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Pink Hippo Party @ Pinkapotamus
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Creative Blogger's Party @ Homemaker on a Dime
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Making The World Cuter Monday @ Making The World Cuter
Making Monday Marvelous @ C.R.A.F.T.
Show Off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses
Thrifty Treasures @ Southern Hospitality
Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Debbiedoos Newbie Party @ Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Craft Link Party @ Polly Want A Crafter?

Tuesday's Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Twice Owned Party @ Creating a House of Grace

Club G.W. @ Charm Bracelet Diva

Time to Shine @ A Diamond in the Stuff

Anything Goes @ Type A
Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time Interiors

Tuesday Time Out @ Reasons to Skip the Housework
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp

Wednesday Link Party @ Very Merry Vintage Style
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Market Your Biz & Giveaways Blog Party @ Homemaker on a Dime

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Thrifty Thursday @ Tales from Bloggeritaville
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
Vintage Thingie Thursday @ The Coloradolady
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace, and Crafts
Potpourri Friday @ 2805
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Farmhouse Friday @ LaurieAnna's Vintage Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence
@2nd Time Around @ A Picture is Worth 1000 Words 

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Weekend Wrap-Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Sister Sunday Link Party @ Sisters of the Wild West
Newbie Party @ Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing