Secret Life of Antiques : Tole Trays

We love Toleware Trays for their beautiful florals in stunning colors, they are really too beautiful not to display. In this post I'm sharing a brief history of tole trays and what to look for when buying one for your collection.

From the French Tole Pente du Lac, tole painting refers to applying paint and lacquer to tin, it began as a way to prevent common household objects from rusting. Tole refers to decorated tin and iron wares from 1700-1900; but most people also use the term to refer to various painted metalware from the late 19th to mid 20th Century. The trays we most often associate with tole trace back to Welshman John Hanbury who had a metalware business in the late 1600's, he made tin trays that were very much wanted and sought after. Eventually, he shipped them to the US, and the style was copied by colonial tinsmiths, including Paul Revere. These antique trays had rolled over edges and soldered corners, and were very light. The old Italian trays are made of wood, and beautifully handpainted and gilded by the artisans of Florence, like the tray below. Newer trays, are, unfortunately, made of plastic these days, so be sure to check when buying one of these lovelies! American Toleware features fruits, florals and symbols. Mostly these pieces were painted by amateur artists using the "one stroke" technique with the paintbrush loaded with several colors at once. In the 1950's and 1960's, American companies like Plymouth, Nashco, and Fine Arts Studio produced trays that were hand painted in assembly line manner. These "studio trays" were beautiful, and painted by accomplished artists. They were, and still are, very popular. Lots of trays were made, and in varying shapes and quality. Tray prices can range from 35.00 to thousands, depending on age, condition, subject matter and how well painted the tray is. Collectors look for unusual colors, some collect only Roses, only black trays, or only trays with a reticulated edge, like the one shown above, for instance. We generally purchase trays that speak to our hearts, with florals that mimic what we grow in our own garden, such as roses, hydrangeas, and violets or pansies.

Collectors look for pieces that don't have damage on the painted bouquets, these will always be more collectible and worth more than trays where part of the hand painted embellishment is peeling or chipped. Some collectors prefer the soft, shabby colors and only collect those trays. Other collectors prefer bold color, such as this old jardiniere with the beautiful red and gold painting.

The items made mid-century range from trays, to trash cans, tissue boxes, to planters. Pretty much anything made of metal was a good candidate for tole painting.

Of all the tole tables, this tilt~top one is one of my current favorites. Made of wood, the top "tray" portion has a gesso layer, and a breathtaking hand painted design. No matter what kind of tole you love, or collect, there are still some gorgeous examples available, although the trays and pieces without damage are slightly dwindling down and getting hard to find. Look for a piece that steals your heart, is well painted, if you are really lucky it will have a signature {although most don't} and display it with love! *Buy a tray with no or almost no damage to the floral painting. *Buy a tray that is well painted. If you look at enough trays, you will come to recognize those that were done by an accomplished artist, and those that are just "so~so". * Buy a tray that is not too bent. A little wear and bending is to be expected, especially for the older pieces, but the tray should not wobble. * Buy a tray from a dealer you trust. There are plenty of accomplished artists who are painting beautiful trays today. * Buy the best trays you can afford. Buy quality, these are the pieces that will only appreciate in value! If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.