Marcus Chen
Tole painting and rosemaling are both decorative folk art painting styles. Tole painting involves decorating household objects and furniture, especially those made of tin and, to a lesser extent, steel. Rosemaling, on the other hand, is a Scandinavian folk art style that flourished in Norway from the 1700s to the mid-1800s and was used to decorate church walls and ceilings, as well as wooden items like ale bowls, stools, and chairs. While tole painting uses inexpensive acrylic paints, rosemaling utilizes various techniques like glazing, spattering, and marbleizing, and is characterized by its use of C- and S-shaped brushstrokes, scroll and flowing lines, and floral designs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Rosemaling originated in Norway in the early 1700s. Tole painting has a longer history in Europe, but it began in 18th-century New England, USA. |
| Materials | Rosemaling is typically done on wooden items. Tole painting is traditionally done on tin or metal items, but can also be done on wood. |
| Style | Rosemaling features C- and S-shaped brushstrokes with scroll and flowing lines, floral designs, and both subtle and vibrant colours. Tole painting can feature various patterns, colours, flowers, humorous themes, family in-jokes, or illustrations of favourite or family stories. |
| Subjects | Rosemaling is often used to decorate household items, furniture, and church walls and ceilings. Tole painting is used to decorate household utensils, objects, and furniture. |
| Artists | Rosemaling artists often came from poorer classes in the countryside. Tole painting was brought to the US by European immigrants and was popular among German immigrants in Pennsylvania. |
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What You'll Learn
- Rosemaling is a type of folk art that flourished in Scandinavia, particularly Norway, from the 1700s to the mid-1800s
- Tole painting is a folk art style that involves decorating household objects and furniture
- Tole painting experienced a resurgence in the 1960s when teachers began opening studios across the United States
- Rosemaling uses C- and S-shaped brushstrokes, scroll and flowing lines, and both subtle and vibrant colours
- Rosemaling is often more detailed than tole painting, with more elements in the same space
Rosemaling is a type of folk art that flourished in Scandinavia, particularly Norway, from the 1700s to the mid-1800s
Rosemaling, or rose-painting, is a type of folk art that flourished in Scandinavia, particularly Norway, from the 1700s to the mid-1800s. The term 'rosemaling' comes from the Norwegian word for 'rose painting'. Rosemaling was used to decorate church walls and ceilings, and later spread to wooden items used in daily life, such as ale bowls, stools, chairs, cupboards, boxes, and trunks. It is characterised by C- and S-shaped brushstrokes, scroll and flowing line work, floral designs, and both subtle and vibrant colours. It may also include script lettering, scenes, and animal and human figures.
Rosemaling originated in the lowland and rural areas of eastern Norway, particularly in the valleys of Telemark, Valdres, Hallingdal, Numedal, Setesdal, Gudbrandsdalen, Vest-Agder, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, and Rogaland. It came into existence in the early 1700s when Baroque and Rococo artistic styles of the upper class were introduced into Norway's rural culture. Rosemaling styles evolved and spread as amateur artists in rural areas often imitated this folk art, and soon strong regional styles developed. Today, the three main styles are Telemark, Hallingdal, and Rogaland, named after the regions in which they originated.
Rosemaling is often considered a type of tole painting, which is a broader category of folk art that involves decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects, and furniture. Rosemaling specifically refers to a style of tole painting that originated in Norway and uses distinctive C and S curves, floral patterns, and vibrant colours. Tole painting has a longer history in Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries and immigrants, including Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes. German tole painting tends to focus on metal and tin objects, while Scandinavian and Netherlander traditions concentrate more on wooden objects and furniture.
While tole painting typically involves freehand decoration with patterns, colours, flowers, humorous themes, family in-jokes, or illustrations of favourite or family stories, rosemaling has a more specific and consistent set of stylistic elements. Rosemaling is also more likely to be found on wooden objects, while tole painting can be done on a wider variety of materials. However, the distinction between the two is not always clear, and some sources consider rosemaling to be a type of tole painting.
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Tole painting is a folk art style that involves decorating household objects and furniture
The practice of tole painting has a long history in Europe, especially in Scandinavian countries and among German immigrants in America. In the 18th century, it became popular in New England, where artisans created impressive pieces on tin coffee pots, jewellery boxes, wooden chests, trays, and more. These pieces often featured floral patterns, rural scenes, family mottos, and quotes, making them cherished items passed down through generations.
Today, tole painting has experienced a resurgence, with studios and teachers promoting the craft worldwide. Modern tole painters use inexpensive, long-lasting acrylic paints, making it an accessible hobby for anyone who wants to decorate and personalise their belongings. Tole painting allows for mistakes too, as a bad painting can be sanded off and repainted.
While tole painting is often associated with decorating household objects, it is worth noting that the term folk art encompasses a broader range of decorative and utilitarian art forms. This includes not only metalwork but also other handmade or recycled components. As such, tole painting may not always be considered folk art in the strictest sense, but its roots in traditional decorative painting remain integral to its charm.
In comparison to Rosemaling, a Scandinavian decorative folk art that flourished from the 1700s to the mid-1800s, tole painting may seem more accessible and less detailed. Rosemaling, which means "rose painting", features intricate C- and S-shaped brushstrokes, scroll and flowing lines, and both subtle and vibrant colours. It was commonly used to decorate church walls and ceilings before spreading to wooden items such as ale bowls, stools, chairs, and cupboards. While tole painting is primarily focused on household objects, Rosemaling showcases a unique style that flourished in a specific historical context, making it a distinct form of folk art with its own set of techniques and aesthetics.
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Tole painting experienced a resurgence in the 1960s when teachers began opening studios across the United States
Tole painting is the folk art of decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects and furniture. The term originates from the French "tole peinte", meaning "painted sheet metal". In the United States, the practice began in 18th-century New England, but it was also extensively practised by German immigrants in Pennsylvania. In the 1960s, tole painting experienced a resurgence as teachers began opening studios across the country. One notable teacher was Priscilla Hauser, who, after opening her studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1968, began to organise teachers and studios in the Midwest, trained students to become teachers, and founded the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters in 1972, which later became the Society of Decorative Painters. The society has now been running for 50 years and has helped spread the practice worldwide.
Tole painting is often compared to Rosemaling, a Scandinavian decorative folk art that flourished from the 1700s to the mid-1800s, particularly in Norway. Rosemaling, which means "rose painting", was used to decorate church walls and ceilings, as well as wooden items like ale bowls, stools, chairs, and cupboards. While tole painting involves decorating household objects and furniture, Rosemaling is characterised by more intricate ornamentation, including fantasy flowers, scrollwork, fine line work, flowing patterns, and sometimes geometric elements. Rosemaling also utilises glazing, spattering, marbleising, and finger painting techniques.
Despite their differences, there is some overlap between the two art forms, and some have encouraged combining the two by trying out tole painting designs and techniques on wooden items, which is more commonly associated with Rosemaling. This blurring of boundaries has been further facilitated by the increasing difficulty of finding tin items for home décor.
While Rosemaling declined in popularity by the mid-19th century, tole painting remains a popular pastime today, with practitioners decorating their homes by painting on modern products using old-fashioned designs.
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Rosemaling uses C- and S-shaped brushstrokes, scroll and flowing lines, and both subtle and vibrant colours
Rosemaling is a Scandinavian decorative folk art form that flourished in Norway from the 1700s to the mid-1800s. It is characterised by C- and S-shaped brushstrokes, scroll and flowing lines, and both subtle and vibrant colours. The C and S curves in rosemaling were inspired by the acanthus carvings of Baroque and Rococo art. These carvings were often gilded in urban areas, but in rural areas, where gold leaf was less accessible, the same bright colours used in rosemaling were applied instead.
Rosemaling was originally used to decorate church walls and ceilings, before spreading to wooden items such as ale bowls, stools, chairs, cupboards, boxes, and trunks. These items were commonly used in daily life and the decorative paintings added a unique and personalised touch. Rosemaling designs often feature floral motifs, fantasy flowers, scrollwork, fine line work, flowing patterns, and sometimes geometric elements, giving this art form its distinctive style.
In addition to the visual elements, rosemaling may also incorporate script lettering, scenes, and animal or human figures. For example, during the Danish rule of Norway, artists would sometimes create paintings of the Danish King and Queen or Danish warriors. Rosemaling artists often belonged to the poorer classes in the countryside, travelling from county to county to offer their services in churches, homes, and furnishings.
Rosemaling is specifically associated with painting on wood, while tole painting is associated with painting on tin or metal objects. However, there is some overlap and flexibility between the two art forms, and the terms can be used interchangeably by some. Tole painting, also known as toleware, is a folk art tradition of decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects, and furniture. It has a longer history in Europe, especially in countries like Germany, France and Scandinavia, and was introduced to America in the 18th century by immigrants.
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Rosemaling is often more detailed than tole painting, with more elements in the same space
Rosemaling and tole painting are both decorative folk art forms. Rosemaling, or rose-painting, is a Scandinavian art form that flourished from the 1700s to the mid-1800s, particularly in Norway. It involves using C- and S-shaped brushstrokes to create scroll and flowing line work, floral designs, and both subtle and vibrant colours. Script lettering, scenes, and animal and human figures may also be included. Rosemaling was traditionally used to decorate church walls and ceilings, and then spread to wooden items such as ale bowls, stools, chairs, cupboards, boxes, and trunks.
Tole painting, on the other hand, is a style of folk art that involves decorating household objects and pieces of furniture, typically made of tin and wood. It originated in Europe and was later brought to America by immigrants in the 18th century, where it became popular in New England. Tole painting often features patterns, colours, flowers, humorous themes, family in-jokes, or illustrations of favourite or family stories.
While there are some similarities between the two art forms, Rosemaling is often more detailed than tole painting, with more elements in the same space. This is evident in the intricate ornamentation of Rosemaling, which includes fantasy flowers, scrollwork, fine line work, flowing patterns, and sometimes geometric elements. The use of C- and S-shaped brushstrokes creates a sense of movement and elegance in Rosemaling designs. Additionally, Rosemaling may include landscapes and architectural elements, further enhancing the level of detail in the artwork.
The difference in detail between Rosemaling and tole painting can be attributed to their historical contexts and intended purposes. Rosemaling, with its intricate details and decorative elements, was influenced by the Baroque and Rococo artistic styles of the upper class, which were introduced into Norway's rural culture during the 1700s. Tole painting, on the other hand, was often used to personalise and decorate household items, and while it could include intricate patterns and designs, it may not have always aimed for the same level of intricate detail as Rosemaling.
It is worth noting that the distinction between Rosemaling and tole painting can sometimes be blurred, as both art forms have evolved over time and incorporated new materials and techniques. Some sources suggest that Rosemaling specifically refers to painting on wood, while tole painting refers to painting on tin or metal. However, others encourage a more flexible approach to terminology, allowing for creativity and experimentation with different materials and techniques. Ultimately, both Rosemaling and tole painting offer unique and beautiful ways to express creativity and add character to everyday objects and spaces.
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Frequently asked questions
Rosemaling is a type of painting done on wood, while tole painting is done on tin.
Tole painting is the folk art of decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects and furniture. It is believed to have originated in Europe and later spread to America in the 18th century.
Rosemaling, or rose-painting, is a Scandinavian decorative folk painting that flourished from the 1700s to the mid-1800s, particularly in Norway. It was used to decorate church walls and ceilings, and later spread to wooden items like ale bowls, stools, chairs, and boxes.
Tole painting involves decorating household objects and furniture with patterns, colours, flowers, humorous themes, family in-jokes, or illustrations of favourite or family stories. It is often done freehand and can be sanded off and repainted if desired.
Rosemaling features stylized ornamentation made up of fantasy flowers, scrollwork, fine line work, flowing patterns, and sometimes geometric elements. It may also include landscapes, architectural elements, script lettering, scenes, and animal or human figures. Rosemaling designs use C- and S-shaped brushstrokes and both subtle and vibrant colours.
