Ellis Rowan was a renowned Australian botanical artist. This porcelain tea cup and saucer form part of a rare, complete set acquired by the Ipswich Art Gallery. The acquisition of this hand-painted tea service (c.1912) is a significant addition to the Gallery’s Heritage Collection as tableware sets, featuring designs by Ellis Rowan, are highly sought after by collectors.

This rare and unique bread plate by James Gilson is the only known Australian example which features the Lord’s Prayer in a foreign language. The German phrase embossed on the plate translates to ‘Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread’. The plate was produced for the communities of German immigrants living in south-east Queensland – in townships such as Marburg, Fernvale, Kalbar and Fassifern. James Gilson settled at Dinmore, Queensland, in 1884. He established a small pottery in Potters Road which he expanded the following year in partnership with James Rumble. Together they won several awards and Gilson’s reputation for quality glazes became widely known. In 1907, Gilson left the partnership and established ‘Pioneer Pottery’ in Kleinton, north of Toowoomba, where this particular plate was produced. He operated in Kleinton for several years before relocating back to the Ipswich region.