Retro Recipe Box Appraisal

Mid-Century Ohio Art Tin Recipe Box

This is a vintage lithographed tin recipe box, likely manufactured by the Ohio Art Company around the 1950s to 1960s. The box features a cream-colored background adorned with a colorful Pennsylvania Dutch-style floral motif on the front, consisting of a central red and pink rose flanked by two blue bellflowers and green leaf accents. The word 'Recipes' is printed in a red cursive font across the top lid. The decorative border features blue and yellow scalloped undulating lines that frame the main designs on both the base and the lid. It is constructed from thin sheet metal with a hinged lid. Regarding condition, the box shows moderate signs of age and wear appropriate for kitchen use, including visible surface scratches, small areas of paint loss particularly along the edges and hinges, and scattered dark oxidation spots (patina) consistent with older tinware. The colors remain relatively vibrant but show a slight yellowing of the cream base coat. This item represents a classic piece of mid-century Americana kitchenware, valued for its nostalgic graphic design and functional durability. Similar pieces were staples in post-war American households for organizing handwritten recipe cards.