Palawan, an island of the Philippines was the pattern name chosen for pics 3&4. One gets the feeling that although there are clear eastern influences in the choice of birds, flora, fauna, fans etc, the pattern name is often arbitrary. 'Tokio', 'Mandalay', 'Peking', 'Miako', 'Paragon' (pic 2) 'Mikado' (pic 1), are just a few of the pattern names used by Powell Bishop & Stonier and later partnerships for their oriental inspired wares. As the West was gripped by Aesthetic Movement fever in the 1870/80s, more and more home grown versions of Eastern designs flooded the market. The wealthy could afford the "real" thing, ie Japanese Arita porcelain and laquered furniture etc. The less well-to-do had to make-do with Staffordshire pottery versions.
If you are at all interested in the wonderful designs of the Aesthetic period you simply must try to get to London to the V&A where they have an exhibition called the Cult of Beauty. That's were i'll be heading very soon.
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