Nothing is more quintessentially English than a good old fashioned afternoon tea - a custom said to be introduced by the wife of the 7th
Duke of Bedford and kept very much alive by upmarket hotels throughout the country. Depending on where one enjoys this gastronomic
tradition, the crockery can sometimes be as eye catching as the treats
served upon them. And, If you’re lucky enough to be served your cucumber sanga on a ‘Melody Rose’ then you'll certainly be in for a treat, regardless of what's on the menu.
MTFS recently caught up with Melanie Roseveare, the genius behind
the Melody Rose brand. Here’s what she
had to say:
What
first inspired you to work with vintage china as opposed to other
materials?
I have
always had a passion for vintage and antique china. When I began
experimenting with 'printing' onto ceramics I decided to try out ideas on my
collection of ceramics. I love the way a piece can be completely
transformed with just a small intervention.
What
is your favourite Melody Rose piece?
It might
sound mad but I often find it incredibly difficult to part with pieces and have
been known to hide things away rather than chance them being bought by someone.
My current favourite pieces are the teapots with the 'Models' design on
them.
Which
designers and artists do you draw your inspiration from?
I love Grayson
Perry's work. I was very inspired by his Turner Prize winner show, which
spurred me onto to learning everything I could about 'printing' onto ceramics.
Vivienne Westwood is a favourite designer of mine. Her clothes have
a wonderful drama to them.
Does
your upcycling extend to your home furnishings?
Yes, I
love upcycling! My favourite piece of furniture is a huge old wooden post
office cubby hole that takes up the wall space in our living room and is filled
with books, ceramics, music and wine.
What's
the most unusual commission you’ve had?
I
recently made a series of plates which were to be smashed in a film called
'Swandown'. They will be on display as part of an exhibition which will
preview at the same time as the film.
Would
you consider extending the Melody Rose range to textiles?
I love
the idea of designing a small wallpaper collection and I would definitely
consider a range of textiles.
Birds
feature highly in your designs - are you a bird lover/ watcher?
I do
like birds. My birds, though, were first inspired by the view from my studio
that I moved into last winter. It looks over a series of very large and
woody gardens, whose owners had feeders out. In the snow, I watched a
huge range of birds come for their dinner including 16 parakeets at one point.
Which
Independent London shops do you rely on?
I do
most of my shopping in and around Portobello Market, where I have a stall on
Fridays. It's been my favourite place in London since moving here from
Canada over 15 years ago. I love
looking for vintage clothes and handbags there.
If the
Queen popped in for tea which ‘Melody Rose’ would you serve her cuppa in?
I think
the upcycled gold skull design teacup and saucer is fit for the queen!
Melody Rose
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