Toleware Tea Caddy c. 1940

Mildred Ford made this Toleware Tea Caddy drawing, and the warm, earthy colors—reds, yellows, and browns—give it a grounded, handmade feel, don't they? It's like she's inviting us into her creative process. Looking closely, you see how the paint is applied, kind of thin and washy, letting the paper peek through in places. It's not about hiding the process, but revealing it. The decorative motifs of the tea caddy—those swirling leaves and geometric shapes—feel almost like a dance. Notice the way Ford renders those central circular motifs, each one different. It reminds me a little of some folk art traditions, where the focus is on storytelling and personal expression rather than technical perfection. Ford's drawing feels like a snapshot of a moment, an intimate conversation between the artist and her subject. It's this sense of spontaneity and authenticity that makes the work so appealing.