THE HISTORY OF BLUE WILLOW
One would be credited given for the willow china pattern given to at least two different people. The original copper plate for his design was engraved by Thomas Minton and is still preserved at Coalport China. The most reported story says that the will design was the creation of Josiah Spode, a derivation of an original Chinese pattern called Mandarin. Spode developed his willow pattern sometime around 1790.
The traditional willow design always features a large beautiful Chinese home with a willow tree, small bridge with 3 figures, a humble servants house at the foot of the bridge, a small Chinese boat & of course the famous love birds above the willow tree. romantic lore of the design may be added to it & # 39; s popularity over the years.
The story goes something like this .......
Long ago, in the days when China was ruled by emperors, a Chinese mandarin, Tso Ling, lived in the magnificent pagoda under the branches of the apple tree on the right of the bridge, over which droops the famous willow tree, and in front Tso Ling was the father of a beautiful girl, Kwang-se, who was the promised bride of an old but wealthy merchant. The girl, however, fell in love with Chang, her father & # 39; s clerk. The love eloped across the sea to the cottage on the island. These are seen gazing into the gods transformed them into a pair of turtle doves. Each other 's lengthy and old Staffordshire poem of the pattern concludes with the verse: "In the oft quoted plate two birds are perceivable, High in the heaven above: These are the spirits of Chang and Kwang-se, A twin pair of ever in love ".
Companies That Produce Willow China Due to Spode 's obvious success with the Blue Willow design, many, many pottery & china companies went on to produce some version of it. Blue Willow with I am familiar with that produced or still produce .
Adams Adderly Alfred Meakin Allerton Barratt Booths Buffalo (restaurantware & hotelware) Burslem Churchill Coalport Cuthbertson Homer Laughlin John Maddox & Sons Johnson Brothers McCoy Pottery Myott Made in China Made in Holland Made in Japan Maruta Moriyama Pottery (Japan) Norcrest Ridgeway Royal China Royal Doulton Royal Wessex Scio Pottery (Ohio) Spode Staffordshire Syracuse China (Restaurantware & Hotelware) Wedgewood Wood & Sons
VARIETY OF WILLOW ITEMS You can find just about anything in Blue Willow including but not limited to: glassware, wallpaper, linens, tablecloths & towels, flatware & cutlery, picture frames, piggy banks, cookware, enamelware, fabric, tins, needlepoint pillows & candles, switchplates, items for bed & bath, soap dishes, even paper products including paper plated & napkins !
Beside numerous price guides written to aid collectors, there is a child & # 39; s story book entitled BLUE WILLOW by Doris Gates. You can enjoy recipes from The Blue Willow Inn Bible of Southern Cooking.
In 2005 there was even an animated short movie made in New Zealand that tells Blue Willow & # 39; s story of love & family betrayal.
The willow design is also made in red (sometimes called red transferware, or pink willow), green, brown & multicolored.
There are sellers but there are times to try and pass these newly produced items off as vintage or antique. I have seen Flow Blue, Blue Onion, Blue Calico & other Blue Transferware advertised as Blue Willow.
The most valuable Blue Willow items are the early English, Staffordshire & Spode pieces. The Mid Century Made in Japan pieces are growing in popularity as well & can command a good price on unusual styles. There are quite a few restaurantware collectors out there too, so the heavy restaurant weight china happ does well.
I hope this has given you a little insight into collecting Blue Willow China ~ Have Fun!
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