• In 1878 James Gildea joined the partnership of Bates and Walker, in 1881 Bates left the partnership and Gildea & Walker continued together, in 1885 James Gildea continued the business alone. 

The asymmetrical layout of this pattern is influenced by Japanese woodblock prints. The decorative border with a gilt geometric out and floral inner draws from the influence of Chinese porcelain.

Gildea & Walker’s Chinoiserie patterns are distinguished by their artistic blending of Eastern-inspired imagery with Western decorative tastes. While heavily influenced by Japanese art (Japonisme), many of their patterns also reflect fantasy-driven Chinese themes—part of a broader Victorian fascination with the Orient.

This Japanesque pattern features an eclectic, asymmetrical design incorporating elements such as a seascape, horizon line, sparrows, bamboo, blossoms, and a stylised bird in the moonlight. 

It is in the aesthetic style - polychrome, transfer printed and hand coloured in mustard yellow, French blue and brown  a Ivory body.

Lidded gravy/sauce tureen in a brown transfer Melbourne pattern 
some ware features sections of the main pattern

"Brown Melbourne on Ivory, by Gildea & Walker. The best seller ever placed on the market" 
- 1883 advert by Geo. F. Bassett & Co., "Importers of English Plain and Printed Earthenware", 49 Barclay St. and 52 & 54 Park Place, New York. 

MELBOURNE is the pattern name.
the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 27 Aug 1881  

set of marks on the base of a gravy tureen in the Melbourne pattern

Both the printed and impressed registration diamonds give a registration date of 27th August 1881. 
The printed registration mark is for the pattern and the impressed on for the shape. Gildea & Walker had four registrations approved on the same date.

• Gildea & Walker (late Mayers)

• IVORY

• 6 / 83  (month/year of manufacture)

• M (this is probably a workman's' mark) 

• printed registration diamond and circular name/makers mark

• impressed registration diamond mark and circular patent mark
  

plate in a blue transfer Kathleen pattern 

The wide border consists of a band of spirals under stems of lily blossoms which alternate  with half-circles filled with geometric patterns.

The central panel depicts a shepherdess wearing a floral bonnet and carrying a shepherd's crook. She is crossing a river using stepping stones. There are lambs in the background.

The central figure is enclosed in a dramatic burst of oversized lilies or calla-like flowers, with highly stylized and dense spiral motifs in the background. The flowers are rendered with naturalistic shading, contrasting the geometric background circles, echoing the Aesthetic Movement's blend of organic and abstract design.

The impressed month/year of manufacture is September 1888 - this means that the plate was actually made by the successor company James Gildea (1885-88) - it is known that James Gildea used marks of the earlier companies: Bates, Gildea & Walker (1877-81) and Gildea & Walker (1881-85)

The impressed registration diamond gives a registration date of 27th August 1881 - this is for the shape of the ware - the shape was used for a number of different patterns. 

The printed diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 21st November 1882.

photos courtesy: Emmanuelle Moukhine-Fortier 

• Gildea & Walker (late Mayers)

• IVORY

• month/year of manufacture

• a workman's' mark

• printed registration diamond and circular name/makers mark

• impressed registration diamond mark

• circular patent mark

JAPAN is the 
pattern name.
the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 
20 Feb 1883 

A radically different aesthetic style pattern - the plate features an artistic depiction of lotus flowers and leaves in the style of a traditional East Asian ink and wash painting.

The central design includes three prominent lotus flowers in various stages of bloom. Large lotus leaves in soft green and teal tones spread across the lower half of the plate.

Wavy blue lines at the bottom represent water, giving the impression that the lotus plants are growing in a pond.

Several stylized clouds float across the top and sides of the plate. They are coloured in light blue, orange, and white.

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is a street in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, France. 
Frederic Léfevre appears to have been a retailer specialising in earthenware & ironstone ware 

Gildea & Walker
Ivory

[impressed mark]

IVORY is the name of the body.

above the name is the month/year of manufacture which appears to be 6/83 - giving June 1883   

GILDEA & WALKER
(impressed) 

3/82 is the date of manufacture: March 1882

JAPAN is the 
pattern name.
the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 
20 Feb 1883 

Bates & Elliot first introduced this kneeling nude potter
mark and it was used by successive owners of the Dale Hall potworks

 - click for more on this mark -