Tuesday Trend: Tommy Mitchell's exquisite painted tole flowers

Today we are featuring the beautiful tole flowers by artist Tommy Mitchell. 

detail of Primula

White Agapanthus

Tole flowers are generally made of metal or tin. The french word tole literally means enameled or lacquered metal ware, painted and usually gilded, but not necessarily.  Tole flowers became popular with the wealthy of the18th century.

Tommy at work in his studio

 Each of these treasures are handmade and signed by the artist, who creates his tole botanicals with a whimsy and an enthusiasm rooted in his childhood.

We are so excited to be able to exhibit a few of these masterpieces.  For our May shop window we matched them with Jane Churchill's Willowbrook and the combination was outstanding

"I have been an artist, sculptor and creator my entire life.

My childhood was filled with flower gardens displayed against houses, fences, bird baths, or took up the extra garden row. There was not a lot of planning to it, but an ordered chaos sort of beauty, a design aesthetic I still appreciate. I am inspired by and interested in passionate people, other artists and creators. "

-Tommy Mitchell