FLIGHTS OF FANCY

From practical household objects to flamboyant embellishment and imaginative designs inspired by flowers, fruit and even hot air balloons, it's no wonder toleware's popularity is soaring

- ELLIE TENNANT

A skilfully painted nesting bird in jewel colours perches daintily on a tree, surrounded by dark purple bellshaped flowers that glitter with inlaid mother-of-pearl shards. This beautiful design adorns a 19th-century oval toleware tray, just one of several that Rachel Hobson of Hobson May Collection currently has in stock.

Toleware started off in the 1700s when a sheet metalworker in Pontypool called John Hanbury produced practical metal wares that were rust-proof,' explains Rachel. Initially trays and jugs were made from iron and later tin practical objects for the home that you could wipe down for kitchen and dining use. They soon started to emulate the popular lacquered pieces that were arriving from East Asia and a method of 'Japanning' was developed, which involved painting tin, applying decoration, then lacquering, lacquering, lacquering to give it a robust base for domestic use.'

The word 'toleware' is derived from the French term tôle peinte du lac ('taule' was an early French word for table) which means painted and lacquered sheet metal. Traditionally, British toleware tends to be painted black, emulating Japanese and Chinese designs.

'In the 18th century, a lot of black and red toleware was produced in America, too,' reveals Rachel. French toleware is often green, blue or yellow, whereas in Italy more gilding and gold were used.'