Alkota

Country Painted Tin

Donna Prestridge CDA©

History:

Country Painted Tin is not the earliest form of decorative painting. It is, however, an early American art form that was used on household tin ware shortly before 1800. Almost any piece of decorated tinware, antique or reproduction is referred to as toleware. Tole is a French word meaning sheet iron. Tole peinte (painted iron) refers to early French decorated metal articles. One of the earliest producers of household tinware was Edward Pattison, a Scottish ( Wales ) emigrant, who moved to Ireland and then Berlin , Connecticut in 1740.

Decorative painting provided interesting work for the girls and women of Berlin who liked to paint. They basecoated and clear varnished the tin. This process was called japanning. Black was the background basecoat and the clear varnish was the medium for painting the design and the final coat. Varnish was the substitute for Oriental lacquer and was introduced into America ’s tin shops at the end of the 18^th century. The formulas were brought from England and Pontypool, Wales by the emigrant artisans. In 1815 red and blue backgrounds were occurring. Japanning continued through the 19^th century but changes were being made due to the demand for faster work.

When decorating became popular, many of the Berlin women were pressed into service and according to record they were paid $2 a week. Labor came cheap but materials were not. Brushes cost $1 and the best varnish sold for $10 a quart. The girls were given 6 weeks to learn painting while continuing japanning the tinware. Painting was called flowering, an 18^th century term used in English pottery where the painters were called flowerers. Brush control was more important than artistic ability. The designs were made up of light, quick brush strokes of great variety.

Country painted tin is found on different types of articles such as trays, boxes, tea and coffee pots, and candleholders. The treatment of the basic design varied according to the area. This means that it may be possible to determine the local of the painter. It can sometimes also be determined by the decoration, as some designs became familiar and are associated with a specific area or shop because of an unusual leaf, flower, or border.

Some of the famous tin shop owners associated with decorated tinware along with their distinguishing principle colors and painted elements are:

Zachariah Stephens (1772 - 1856) of Main . He was the great, great grandfather of Ester Stephens Brazer the founder of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. She revived interest in Tole from the early 1900s until her death in 1945.

Background colors: Black and sometimes white, red, or yellow.

Flowers: crosshatched.

Leaves: pointed, oval leaves in tints of olive-green and yellow.

Oliver Filley (1784 - 1846) of Connecticut :

Background: asphaltum, black, or red (known as red ware).

Flowers: red balls and black detailing.

Leaves: black veins and tendrils.

Crosshatching and finishing touches in yellow.

Fruit: peaches, pears, and nuts (acorns).

Borders: bright vermillion and yellow stroked simply across the border.

Ann Butler (1813 - 1887) of Connecticut , the daughter of tin shop owner Aaron Butler:

Background: black.

Flowers: full bloom roses, buds, and 3 or 4 stroke elongated tulips.

Blossom: star shape in blue.

Stroke flowers: red.

Dot clusters: suggested a gathering of blooms

Leaves: oval or scalloped edges in yellow-green to an emerald hue.

Borders: yellow rick-rack or rope design.

Overall busy work.

Harvey Filly (1820 - 1850) of Philadelphia , PA

Background: red and conventional dark shades.

Fruit: grey fruit overstoked with white and black.

Borders: simple stroke work believed to be red and green.

These artists worked with limited palettes and rarely were their tin pieces signed.

The following are a few of the excellent books on these early American techniques:

Devoe, Shirley Spaulding: The Tinsmiths of Connecticut , Wesleyn University Press (1968).

Martin, Gina and Lois Tucker: American Painted Tinware, A Guide to its Identification, Vols. 1-2, Historical Society of Early American Decoration, Inc.

Slayton, Mariette Paine: Early American Decorating Techniques, Dover Publications (1972).

Wilson, Nadine Cox: A Guide to Decorators in the Early American Manner, Charles E. Tuttle Company (1965).