This Harmsworth Atlas and Gazetteer was inherited by one of the donors, a gift from her father who was Tasmanian.Large hard covered book with maps, charts and tables. The cover is green linen with green leather, gilt trimmed corners and decorative spine, It includes 500 maps and diagrams in colour, with commercial statistics and gazetteer index of 105,000 names. Jan 1908. Also inserted between the pages of the book were 2 folded sheets of waxed paper, each with carefully placed flowers pressed between them; native orchids and wattle. Published at Carmelite House, Carmelite Road, London flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, harmsworth atlas and gazetteer, atlas 1908, maps 1908, gazetteer 1908, book 1908, pressed australian native flowers, pressed wattle, pressed orchid

This gilt plate is from an era where master crockery manufacturers where either located in Britain or Europe.The cost of transportation and the time taken to receive items limited the availability of first class goods. This was an era that was "British is best" in all manufactured goods. With the slow influx of European immigrants European manufactured goods also became of high value. This social requirement was more of a prerequisite for the more affluent rural population, especially at a time when Australia "rode on the sheep's back". Fine British and European goods were a "status symbol", even in rural Australia. After World War II, the invasion of American and Japanese merchandise opened up the market place for cheaper "throw away" items. Longevity and quality of goods fell away as the "throw away" society rolled on.This item demonstrates the time when the rural sector was at its most affluent and influential in dictating the strong ties between Australia, Britain and Europe. The very influential "Country Party" ensured that the protection of the rural sector was well entrenched. The ability of the "well off" rural sector, in this period, were not only able to travel abroad but also to purchase expensive items "overseas" cutlery and crockery. The significance of this item is that it highlights a period in time when the "rural" affluence was at its peak.This hand painted floral gilt plate is a cream fluted china plate decorated with pink and yellow orchid flower arrangement. It is in the "Art Nouveau" period 1880-1920.underneath and within the circular base and in gold freehand script "4" underneath "1562". Pressed into the base is the manufacturer's monogram.Circled around the FAM mark is "* FRANZ ANT. MEHLEM*BONN A/RHEIN*"hand painted china, floral gilt plate, decorative china