Toleware Bread Tray c. 1940

This is Mildred Ford’s rendering of a Toleware Bread Tray. The watercolor’s immediate visual impact comes from the contrast between the tray’s bold primary red against the clean white background, effectively highlighting the object's geometry. Ford's meticulous attention to the tray's ornamentation and texture invites us to consider the complex interplay between form and function. The flat, frontal presentation of the tray emphasizes its two-dimensional qualities. The stylized birds and foliage painted inside the tray, along with the decorative rim, seem to evoke a pastoral world contained within the domestic space. Despite its utilitarian purpose, the tray is elevated to a decorative object through both the original craftsmanship and Ford's careful representation. This artwork suggests a dialogue between utility and aesthetics. This tension between form and decoration invites viewers to reflect on the cultural significance of everyday objects.