{HISTORY}

A beauty in all its shabby chic perfection, this antique tole tray features hand-painted birds and flowers at the center and golden bronze-colored flourishes and swirls around the edge. 

Just like vintage and antique embroidery, it's a shame that tole painters did not generally sign their trays once completed, especially given the amount of effort, design and color arrangement each unique tray often details. 

Such is the case with this heavy tray and its beautiful arrangement of hand-painted birds and botanicals.  Containing a muted color palette of quiet yet vibrant shades of green, gold, teal, mustard, cream, and brick red, at first glance you might think you have the whole scene figured out.  But on closer inspection, you'll notice that each subject in the painting is intricately detailed highlighting veins in the leaves, feather arrangements in the birds, and the outlines of petals in all the flowers. 

Adding to the overall imagery is the lovely shabby chic aesthetic of chippy paint areas. Not unlike an ancient alfresco or the cracks and chips of age-old-stucco walls, these signs of authentic age and wear add so much character and one of a kind charm that its  impossible to replicate them in modern ways, therefore adding much more interesting storytelling to a room than a tray that has been perfectly preserved for a century. 

Classified as folk art, tole painting dates all the way back to Europe and Scandinavia in the 1700s and served as a popular form of storytelling while also enhancing the appearance of common everyday wares. Cabinets and chests were painted with family scenes and symbolism. Wooden objects for the kitchen were decorated with paintings of flowers from the garden. Metal boxes and bins were painted with food and fruit, birds and blossoms. Each piece was unique to the artist who painted it and divulged a little bit about their own personality, heritage or love for the subject that they painted. With entrance to America by way of New England in the 1800s, this decorative art form became popular with collectors stateside, serving as sentimental reminders of their European heritage and culture. 

A piece of art just as much as its is a useful server in the kitchen, this tray is lovely for both wall display and table service. We included it amongst a vignette of vintage and antique heirlooms in the final photo to show how complimentary the palette and theme are to a wide variety of colors and textures. Hope that  sparks some inspiration when considering where and how to display this tray in your home. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Unique design
• Large size
• Colors include brick, cream, spring green, blush, black, gold, midnight blue, mustard, pale grey, teal, pale yellow and olive green 

{CONDITION}

In lovely shabby chic antique condition, this tray is beautifully painted and strong and sturdy in shape. Chippy area along around the tray lend an authentic aged aesthetic. The back of the tray contains age appropriate scratches. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 22.5" inches (length) x 16.5" inches (width0 x .75" inches (depth) and weighs 3.7 lbs.