A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting the Blue Willow Pattern

I love the Blue Willow pattern. My kitchen theme revolves around my Blue Willow canister set. The set is most probably from the 1940’s or 1950’s and from Japan, though it is not marked. My everyday dishes are a supermarket premium Blue Willow pattern, most probably made in China within the last 15 years.

The Blue Willow pattern has been a household favorite for over 200 years (Reference #1). It was created in England around 1780 but its Oriental origins are even older (Reference #2). Blue Willow is actually the oldest china pattern to still be reproduced today. How does one distinguish between Blue Willow and other patterns? Let’s start at the beginning.

Thomas Turner created the first Blue Willow design. He was inspired by the beloved blue and white Oriental china being exported to Europe at the time. Thomas Minton is known to have made the first copper engraving of the pattern for Turner in 1780. Minton later apprenticed under Josiah Spode, among other English potters. It was Spode that first mass produced the Blue Willow pattern on earthenware dishes around 1790. (Reference #2).

Beginning in the 15^th century, the Chinese started a booming business making export china for the European market. By the 18^th century, this market expanded to America, as well. The Chinese produced extremely popular and desirable china for the western world with blue and white patterns. (Though this china had Oriental themes, it was for export only. Chinese citizens were not enamored with it). Dutch masters of the 17th century often included this china in their masterpiece paintings. Through extensive trade with the Dutch East India Company, this popular blue and white china became a favorite of the western world by the 18th century. It was prized for its durability and beauty. Most of the export china came in the form of tea services and dinnerware. (Reference #1).

The classic features of the Blue Willow pattern are as follows: It is a distinctly Oriental themed pattern, always including a teahouse or pagoda, an Oriental bridge with three people crossing it, a willow tree, a zigzagging, latticework fence, and two birds in flight in the sky.

There are several romantic story versions being told about the plate’s theme. In all versions, the birds symbolize two lovers who were forbidden to see each other by the girl’s father. In my favorite version, to escape together, mythical Gods change the lovers into birds and they fly away before the father can harm them. In many versions, he succeeds in killing them and they are transformed into birds in the afterlife by the Gods. (References #3, and #4).

There is no parallel legend in China of two such lovers, so the story origins are most likely as English as those of the pattern itself. No matter which version of the story is historically correct, it is not known for sure whether or not the story evolved after the pattern or vice versa. (Reference #4).

The Victorians loved the pattern and several well-known potters both in England and here in America began to reproduce versions of Blue Willow of their own (Reference #1). Today, many manufacturers worldwide still produce Blue Willow. The most familiar pieces of Blue Willow china are done in two colors- what I call royal blue, and white. The Blue Willow pattern has been produced in every other shade of blue and in every other two color combination, as well. Red and white is the combination most frequently found in addition to the classic blue and white styles. This all means that there is plenty of Blue Willow out there to collect!

If you decide to collect Blue Willow china, keep in mind the following:

• Try to stay away from damaged or repaired pieces, regardless of age. Collectors will always pay more for pieces in good condition and these pieces will retain their value and be worth far more in the future than damaged pieces.

• Harder to find pieces are the more valuable regardless of the maker. This category includes bowls of any size, large platters, pitchers, teapots, egg cups and spoons.

• Children’s Blue Willow play dish sets are extremely collectible and among the highest priced.

As you begin to collect Blue Willow, read as many books on the subject as you can. You will then learn to judge, fairly accurately, the origin of a piece of Blue Willow regardless of whether or not it is marked on the back. Judging the age of a Blue Willow piece can be a bit trickier because so many manufacturers are still producing it today. Willowcollectors.org has a great list of books for collectors of every level.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to display and use your collection. It is o.k. to collect older, unique pieces of Blue Willow just for show. But allow yourself to enjoy the pattern everyday, as well! With so many modern manufacturers producing it, you are sure to run across some dish washer safe, everyday Blue Willow to round out your collection. After all, the everyday use of a collection is the best way to enjoy it!

Sources:

1. International Willow Collectors Website, willowcollectors.org/faq.
2. “Blue Willow China: History and Lore”, foodhistory.com/foodnotes/leftovers/willow.
3. “Blue Willow Notes”, seniors2.com/cookbook/blue_willow_notes.
4. “Blue Willow”, danderby.com/bluewillow.