Painted Tin

The names given to painted tin are confusing, but the confusion will clear when you realize that toleware, japanned ware, painted tin, and Pontypool all mean practically the same thing. Toleware is painted tinware, usually with a black varnished background and designs painted on by hand or stenciled. Pontypool was painted tinware made in Pontypool, England, or in the style of the tinware made in that city. Toleware made before the nineteenth century was often called japanned ware. The designs were sometimes inspired by Japanese lacquer ware and the varnishing process was called japanning.