What Is Tole?

In the world of decorative arts and historical interior design, the word "tole" is the official term for a type of painted metal. With its roots in the 18th-century French decorative traditions (from the French tôle peinte, meaning "painted sheet metal"), household items made of tin and other metals like pewter or thin steel were often embellished with folk art-style floral motifs and gold accents.

via Harp Gallery Antique and Vintage Furniture

These utilitarian objects--trays, canisters, coffee pots, sconces, even chandeliers--were transformed into works of art through the application of enamel paint and varnish. Toleware was especially popular in America during the 18th and early 19th centuries, where it often reflected the rustic charm of early colonial homes. Practicality was at the heart of toleware, but artisans elevated these everyday items with painterly elegance, making them ideal for kitchens, pantries, and dining rooms.

via The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles

via The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles

via 1st Dibs

via Giamer Antiques and Collectibles

There were even lamps with tole embellishment...a type of lamp developed during the Napoleon-helmed Empire style was the bouillote (boo-yacht) lamp which at the time held candles. In the 20th century, these antique lamps got rewired to hold bulbs but happily the metal shades remained.

via 1st Dibs

There was a toleware revival in the 1920s to the 1950s where we see chandeliers with intricate vines and flowers made from pressed tin and steel. Such lights can be a great addition to eclectic or maximalist interiors or with Chinoiserie or Regency-inspired design.

via 1st Dibs

Happy designing!

History of Furniture: Alvar Aalto's Tea Cart

For my series of posts I call "Hisotry of Furniture," I usually cover an era or time period, or style movement. But this time, I would like to focus on a specific piece of furniture from a period. When we think of iconic mid-century design, names like Eames previously seen here, and Breuer previously seen here, often surface—but in the Scandinavian design tradition, few names are as revered as Alvar Aalto. Aalto’s work seamlessly blends modernism with organic form, and few objects capture his ethos as elegantly as the Tea Trolley 901 and 900, commonly known as his bar carts.

Alvar Aalto's Tea Trolley 901

Alvar Aalto designed the Tea Trolley 900 and 901 in 1936 for the Paris World’s Fair (Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne). Working closely with his wife, Aino Aalto, who was also a significant design force, the trolleys were part of a broader vision of bringing warmth and humanism to the functional, and often cold, lines of modernism.

Crafted for their company Artek, the bar carts represented an intersection of function, form, and local material culture. Drawing inspiration from British tea culture and Japanese architecture—which Aalto deeply admired—the design combines Finnish birch wood, ceramic tiles, rattan, and linoleum with soft curves and an unmistakable Scandinavian restraint.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who leaned into the industrial aesthetic of steel and sharp lines, Aalto emphasized natural materials and flowing forms. The Tea Trolley 900 is perhaps the more decorative of the two: featuring a tiled tabletop surface and a wicker basket, it’s a functional yet graceful object, originally intended for serving tea or cocktails. The Tea Trolley 901, on the other hand, is a simpler, more utilitarian version with a slatted wooden tray and a linoleum surface.

Alvar Aalto's Tea Trolley 900

Both trolleys ride on oversized, wood-rimmed rubber wheels—a signature feature that makes them instantly recognizable. This attention to detail not only adds charm but ensures the cart can be easily maneuvered, making it as practical as it is beautiful.

The Aalto bar cart is more than a serving trolley; it’s a statement of design philosophy. At a time when modernism often meant mechanization and metal, Aalto’s use of natural materials and gentle forms introduced a more human-centered approach. His bar carts exemplify his belief in the psychological and emotional impact of design.

Moreover, the piece speaks to a deeper cultural narrative—a celebration of hospitality, simplicity, and function, all central tenets of Nordic living. In today’s interiors, whether minimalist or eclectic, the Aalto bar cart fits with quiet confidence, often acting as both a conversation piece and a functional element.

Today, the Aalto bar cart continues to be produced by Artek--you can buy the 900 here or the 901 here--and remains a staple in design-conscious homes, hotels, and museums. Its timeless appeal lies in its versatility—used as a drinks trolley, side table, or even a mobile plant stand. Its elegant lines and material warmth ensure it never feels out of place, even in contemporary interiors.

Happy designing!