Tole Ware

At a glance

• Family: Utensils, Molds & Grinders
• Periods most often found: 18th- and early 19th-century tole is rare; most pieces on the market date from 1900 to 1970, many Italian.
• Typical price: about $180; range $40 to $1,500 and more for exceptional pieces
• What drives value: Painting, size

What it is

Tole (tôle peinte) is painted sheet metal, usually tinplate, decorated with lacquer, gilding and painted flowers or scenes. French tole was fashionable from the late 18th century for trays, planters (cachepots), lamps, chandeliers and coffee urns, and was revived in Italy and France in the 20th century with painted flowers and green, cream or black grounds.

How to identify and date it

Look for hand-painted decoration with brushstrokes, gilt borders and old lacquer with fine crazing. Rust under the paint, especially on rims and bases, is the main problem; overpainting and repainting reduce value. Stencilled or printed decoration points to later production.

Periods and styles

18th- and early 19th-century tole is rare; most pieces on the market date from 1900 to 1970, many Italian.

How much is it worth?

On the US retail market, most tole ware examples ask around $180. Simple or worn pieces start near $40, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $1,500. The main value drivers are: painting, size. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.

Before you buy

• Check for rust
• Inspect paint and gilding
• Look for repainting

Living with it

A tole tray on an ottoman or a tole planter on a windowsill brings color.