American tinware, an attractive item many collectors enjoy, often adorns
their kitchens or family rooms. Some old tinware is highly decorated
while other pieces may be subdued in color and design. However, it all
has appeal to someone.
Commonly associated with Yankee peddlers, American tinware often was
distributed by them as they went from home to home around the
countryside. Frequently they were hired by the makers of tinware and
traversed the Atlantic seaboard on foot and with carts and horses. Later
they carried their goods westward.
Tinware of Many Types
This hand-painted and stenciled tinware - pots, pans, coffee pots and
urns, canisters, trays, candle sconces, cookie cutters, lamps, dippers,
cake molds and boxes of various sizes for holding anything from food
supplies to jewelry and important papers - was produced in the millions
of pieces in the 18th and 19th centuries throughout New England.
Articles of tin were made in England and on the continent in the 1600s
and 1700s where the process of "japanning" (applying and kiln-firing
lacquer imitative of Oriental work) was refined to a high degree.
Elaborate designs of classic and rococo style ornamented many of these
wares.
American Tinware
Until after the American Revolution, the colonies imported most of their
tinware. However, some was made in America as early as 1712. In 1740,
Edward and William Pattison began producing tinware that led to Berlin,
Conn. becoming an tin center.
Most early tinware was unpainted and thus often called, "poor man's
silver," and considered inferior to articles of china, glass, and silver
for the household. Piercing, punching, or crimping was the manner of
ornamentation if elaboration was desired.
Signed Tinware
After 1800, the use of tinware became more widespread and handpainting
and japanning were the usual methods of decorating. Often the tinsmiths'
families were the decorators, with wives and daughters frequently
revealing much artistic ability in their designs. Occasionally old pieces
still can be found with an artist's name or initials worked into the
design.
Tinware made by Aaron Butler often was signed by his daughters who did
most of the hand-painting. "Ann Butler" or "B" was found within a heart
wreathed by flowers, fruit, stars, birds, etc. Another daughter, Minerva,
also signed her full name or initials to many pieces she painted.
Stenciling
Stenciling, or the use of cutout paper patterns in shaping the parts of a
design for handpainting, was begun in 1817. These designs usually were in
bronze or gold against a dark or black background.
Black and brown background colors were very common for both hand-painted
and stenciled tinware. Rarer background colors were yellow, cream, blue
green and red.
As you begin your tinware collecting forays through antique shops, yard
sales, and auctions, check out these wares to see if you can find
something old and interesting.
(c)2002 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has written "Curios of Yesteryear" for publications
since the 1960s. She and her daughter find their trips into the realms of
collectibles enjoyable adventures.
Mary Emma also writes other columns, books, and travel articles. Her
book, "The Magic of Patchwork", takes you into the history of
quiltmaking. Visit her web site for
more information about her columns and books at http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea.
