History of Blue Willow China
The Blue Willow pattern is one of the most recognizable tableware patterns ever produced. First introduced in the late 18th century, it is still popular today. The pattern, based on a fanciful English interpretation of an old Chinese pattern, contains multiple elements: a mandarin's pagoda and garden, the mandarin and his hunting party on a bridge, a fisherman who rescues the lovers, the lovers' hideaway, two birds representing the lovers and, of course, the willow.
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Chinoiserie
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From the late 17th to the early 18th century, England imported inexpensive Chinese dinnerware, including a blue-and-white pattern called "Two Birds," the "parent" of the Blue and Nankin Willow patterns.
Royal Worcester 1751-1790
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Worcester pioneered domestic blue-and-white painted ware in 1751, perfecting a printing process that made English blue-and-white "transferware" competitive with Chinoiserie.
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Minton and Turner
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Thomas Minton, original engraver of the pattern, and Thomas Turner produced the first transfer-printed pottery at the Caughley Pottery Works in 1780 (Minton later merged with Royal Doulton).
Spode and Copeland
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Spode and William Copeland, now part of now Royal Worcester, produced popular blue-and-white transferware including Willow Nankin and Blue Willow from 1784 until the 1960s.
Willow's Decline
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Designs trended toward English, classical, Indian and other themes after the Napoleonic wars (c. 1815), but Japanese-produced Blue Willow transferware reintroduced the pattern later in the century.
Johnson Brothers
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Alfred and Frederick Johnson began producing Blue Willow in 1883 and continue production today (Johnson Brothers is now part of the Wedgewood group).
Other Potteries
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Many other potteries have produced Blue Willow, each with unique elements worked into borders, garden fence or arbors. Some even used a scalloped rim.
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Resources
- Photo Credit DRW & Associates Inc, Transcollectors Club, thepotteries.org
