56 
House & Garden 
In spite of the rarity and cost of old tole here in 
America, such pieces as are available have become a 
great inspiration to the student and artist working 
along more or less practical lines, in creating clever 
reproductions and adapting tole to articles of present 
usage as well as ornament. Strictly speaking, what 
might be now mistaken for real tole, is usually but 
a high grade of tin. But when one considers the 
difficulty and expense of importing genuine tole from 
Europe the substitution is perhaps pardonable. 
Modern Reproductions 
While the new, so-called tole lacks the soft coloring 
of the old, and in the oily “feeling” of the metal shows 
a marked contrast, its possibilities in the way of 
bringing many attractive articles within the resources 
of the ordinary household have made it a welcome 
innovation in the field of decoration. 
Among the numerous articles now produced by the 
workers in tole, are desk appointments such as those 
illustrated—a complete equipment done in white with 
old French blue stripings and floral decoration. This 
is also carried out in the door plates so suitable for 
the white painted country house door. Equally at¬ 
tractive are the waste baskets with Chinese decora¬ 
tions. These are also seen in other charming shapes 
such as the oval, with a gray surface decorated with 
garlands of flowers and other French motifs. 
The flower pot covers open at both ends are par¬ 
ticularly effective; so are the many types and sizes of 
boxes, that can be placed here and there about a room 
for a variety of uses, and the jardinieres and book 
ends. Even tole baskets, in soft grays and blues with 
delicately painted flowers scattered throughout the 
decoration can be found for garden and porch use, and 
an infinite number of other articles, which lend charm 
and distinctiveness to a house. 
The desire to convert the many homely yet indis¬ 
pensable articles of utility which we have about us 
into attractive bits of color accounts, perhaps, for the 
more general use of floral decoration, because of its 
adaptability to almost any article and the varied de¬ 
signs possible in this treatment. 
For example, the commonplace watering pot, with 
its familiar surface of green or red, offers a tempting 
opportunity for floral decoration. So do the many 
practical utensils of the pantry and kitchen which can 
be disguised and made to serve their purpose on the 
tea table, by the application of a solid groundwork 
of paint and an added floral decoration in brilliant 
and variegated colors. 
The Utility of Tole 
The common clay flower-pot likewise lends itself 
appropriately to this decoration, although, if given a 
foundation coat of red or black and then ornamented 
with gold Chinese motifs, it has quite the appearance 
of lacquer and as such appeals to the growing demand 
for things Oriental. This also applies to the common 
tin tea tray. Plain one-toned surface decoration with 
contrasting colored bands or stripes is now also used 
for the decoration of vases and lamp bases. In fact, 
the classical outlines of many of these articles have 
called for this more conventional treatment. 
Tin flowers, which, no doubt, were inspired by 
those of Chinese porcelain, are really lovely and quite 
natural in their coloring, form and size. They are 
especially effective when used in a vase of plain deco¬ 
ration and simple colors. 
Tin wood boxes are still another attractive feature 
and can be painted to harmonize with any scheme of 
decoration; likewise the fireplace set of dust pan and 
hearth broom. The problem of the umbrella stand is 
solved, as well, in the use of painted tin. They are 
either round or oval in shape and of the usual height, 
ornamented with a suitable decoration for either in¬ 
side or porch use. The large old English tavern trays 
with a hunting or pastoral scene as their center deco¬ 
ration are also most desirable as tea trays, especially 
on the lawn or porch. 
Its Decorative Uses 
The decorative value of tole lies in the fact that 
it presents opportunities for a variety of color spots 
and a novelty of fabric. We are accustomed to think¬ 
ing of mantel garniture, for example, as being of brass 
or pottery or crystal. The presence of painted tin 
on the mantel shelf gives the air of innovation. If 
the object is a tole vase with a bunch of painted tin 
flowers, the appearance is both interesting and very 
smart. Even the presence of the more utilitarian 
objects lends an atmosphere of novelty that is not 
displeasing in a modern room, the other decorations 
being in keeping, of course. 
The opportunity for color spots is as wide and 
varied as the spectrum. A room may be done in a 
combination of mauve and sage green, for example. 
The furniture may be painted sage green with mauve 
stripings, and the same color combination may be 
found on the lighting fixtures. There is a desk in 
the corner. To carry on the scheme, it would be 
harmonious to have a desk set of tole painted in 
mauve with little green decorations. The mantel shelf 
may also have a tole vase in the same colors. Or, 
the room may be drab and require the lightening touch 
of some contrasting color spots. A gray room, for 
instance, that needs enlivening can well stand a lamp 
bowl of lemon yellow tole with a silk shade to match. 
And in one corner by the fireside could be placed a 
tole hearth set, at once decorative and of practical, 
serviceable value. 
These are just a few of the possible color combina¬ 
tions into which tole could be successfully introduced. 
There are dozens of others, the choice depending on 
the room and the owner’s preference. 
The first flowers are 
well out by December 
10, showing their char¬ 
acteristic narcissus 
form and color 
On November 15, six 
weeks after planting, the 
leaves have expanded 
noticeably in prepara¬ 
tion for blooming 
The cycle is complete 
by late December, in 
time for decking the 
Christmas table with 
springtime blossoms 
After three weeks in the 
house the leaves are 
well developed, though 
the flower stalks have 
not appeared 
Photographed by Dr. E. Bade 
A bowl, some water and 
pebbles, and a rounded 
bulb — Narcissus T az- 
etta in futuro 
