An earthenware plate with transfer-printed decoration in brown, highlighted with orange luster washes, and with blue, green, yellow and red enamel painting. The reverse of the plate has six marks; a printed diamond registration mark for 27th August 1879; an impressed month and date numeral for April 1884; the impressed name GILDEA & WALKER; the impressed name IVORY for the name of the earthenware body; a red enamel painted pattern number, 8104; and the printed name of the French retailer for whom it was made MONTANT ET FRANCELET GENÈVE. Together, the marks indicate that the pattern was registered by Bates Gildea & Walker in 1879 and was made subsequently in April 1884 after Bates had left the company. It must have been made between 1884-1885, as in the latter year Walker left the partnership and Gildea continued alone.The design of the plate is in a style called Japonisme, and it has a border which includes panels of peach and plum blossoms and bamboo alternating with a fretwork overlaid with small florets.  The central design has sprays of cherry blossom with a Japanese mon (circular symbol) to the left and a fan-shaped panel with birds among flowering branches.Japonisme reflects the taste for the arts and culture of Japan that flowered after Japanese ports reopened to trade with the West in 1853. The inclusion of Japanese wares in world fairs from 1867 offered inspiration to designers and a tidal wave of foreign imports from Asia flooded European shores fueling a demand which stores like Liberty’s of London (founded 1875) tried to supply.

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