The magical Gilbert and Sullivan world of Gildea & Walker's Melbourne pattern is enhanced here with ...

The magical Gilbert and Sullivan world of Gildea & Walker's Melbourne pattern is enhanced here with teal blue and blood red enamels and ochre lustre over brown transfer on a creamy ivory body. Like an operetta for the breakfast table, the "Melbourne" pattern seems to peel away a wonderful patchwork stage curtain revealing a magical land of sunshine and happiness. In the scene, a flock of little birds fly out toward the horizon oblivious to a pair of sailboats idly floating on the water. At the bottom, the patchwork reserves feature a crane flying against a crescent moon as well as three different aesthetic ground patterns.

Judging by registration dates, Gildea & Walker's "Melbourne" pattern obviously inspired a group of simila...

Judging by registration dates, Gildea & Walker's "Melbourne" pattern obviously inspired a group of similar aesthetic transfer patterns including Edge-Malkin's "Tonquin", Furnival's "Burmah", and Mayer's "Crusoe." The number of polychrome variants that turn up of "Melbourne" itself testifies to the pattern's success with the Victorian consumer.