In the collectibles and antique industry, toleware refers to kitchen-related objects created from metal, typically tin or thin steel, and are usually in the country primitive or Pennsylvania Dutch

Pennsylvania Dutch

Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...

 motif. Decorative painting on these items is common but not necessary. This style of decorative art spread from Europe (where it was referred to as japanning

Japanning

Japanning describes the European imitation of Asian lacquerwork, originally used on furniture. The word originated in the 17th century.- Japanned :Japanned is most often a heavy black lacquer, almost like enamel paint...

) to the United States in the 18th century , and was popular in US kitchens in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The term is derived from the French name for tole painting

Tole painting

Tole painting is the folk art of decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects and furniture. Typical metal objects include utensils, coffee pots, and similar household items...

, tôle peinte.