To address the Blank Canvas theme, the Melody Rose Decorex display incorporates two newly designed bespoke tableware collections. The first is The Swing created in homage to the 16th century painting of the same name by Jean-Honoré Fragonard and created for the Wallace Collection. The second has recently been created for The Hepworth Wakefield and is entitled Lee Miller, inspired by a Vogue image taken by the photographer. The bespoke Swing and Lee Miller collections launched in summer 2018 and demonstrate the flexibility and customisation processes that Melody make are possible: in terms of imagery used; new shapes such as a coupe plate and a ‘signature’ Art-Deco style teapot and teacup used for the Hepworth Collection; and specialist finishes such as platinum gilding and burnished gold edges.
Alongside these, Melody Rose also presents the Acts of Daring collection, taking its theme from the romance and danger of life in the circus, and featuring burnished gold-edged tableware (dinner plates, side plates, bowls, tea cups, mugs, teapot and cream jug).
The display also includes velvet cushions from The Models and Acts of Daring collections in gorgeous muted colours such as Lush Meadow Green, Vintage Rose and Burnished Orange.
Melody Rose tableware and textiles are designed to be mixed and matched, so the collections work well with each other. Shown together, The Swing and Acts of Daring tableware collections demonstrate this beautifully. The Lee Miller collection, while offering a different look in terms of style, shows the possibilities for bespoke design, yet still works well with the other collections through its vintage imagery.
Lead designer Melanie Roseveare says, “My early work focused on using the emerging technology of digital transfers to marry the unexpected with the traditional; vintage Victoriana china up-cycled with found imagery. Each piece was re-imagined and re-fired in the kiln, creating pieces of art beautiful to display but entirely functional.
“I now produce my own screen printed bone china range with a third generation pottery in Stoke-on-Trent. Each piece, gilded by hand, keeps at its heart the quality that has made Britain renowned for its ceramic heritage, while adding a 21st century artist-led sensibility to the design process. The close partnership with the pottery, attending to the details of high quality production has proven critical, ensuring a strong reception in overseas markets including South Korea, China, Australia, Germany and the USA. There are five current collections, a bespoke service and ranges for restaurants and museum shops, as well as a range of velvet cushions.”