Toleware Document Box c. 1938

"Toleware Document Box" is a watercolor painting on paper by J. Howard Iams, created circa 1938. The artwork depicts a small, rectangular tin box with a hinged lid, adorned with hand-painted floral motifs in red, pink, yellow, and green. The box is rendered in a realistic style, showcasing the artist's skill in capturing the details of the object's texture and form. This artwork exemplifies the tradition of Tole painting, a decorative art form that utilizes painted tinware as a medium, and serves as a visual documentation of a craft that has a long and rich history in American folk art.