Rare Brown Transferware PICKLE Platter ~ MELBOURNE 1881

MINIATURE AESTHETIC BROWN TRANSFERWARE PICKLE TRAY OR PLATTER

MELBOURNE PATTERN

Gildea and Walker Potteries

Tunstall, Staffordshire England

c. 1881

This rare to find very small sized Victorian aesthetic 8 1/2 " long x 5 1/4" wide pickle platter is transfer printed in dark brown.

The MELBOURNE pattern features delightful Japanesque geometric designs mixed with exotic palms, bamboo and other tropicals. A shoreline with sailing vessels set to the horizon while a large flock of birds fly by.

The morning sun rises over the landscape with a cartouche of an Aesops Fable, the Fox and the Stork.

At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began.

"I am sorry," said the Fox, "the soup is not to your liking." "Pray do not apologize," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon."

So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar. 

"I will not apologize for the dinner," said the Stork. "One bad turn deserves another."

Never Used. Condition is great. No chips, no cracks, no hairlines and no repairs. This pattern has everything going for it.