To janey larkin, the blue willow plate was the most beautiful thing in her life, a symbol of the home she could only dimly remember. A lengthy and old staffordshire poem of the pattern concludes with the verse. I had to go to 3 different stores, but i was able to find 12 plates and 12 salad plates. The first willow design may be attributed to thomas turner of caughley porcelain in 1780. Arts, visual and performing education childrens art curricula plates tableware decoration and finishing. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Blue willow porcelain was first imported to england from china in the 18th century. Blue willow dishes were front row for both the creation of. William spode and thomas minton both copied his pattern in 1790.
Ridgway semi china blue willow platter transfer plate 14 x 11 antique blue willow semi vit buffalo pottery 1916 serving platter plate 9. Larger serving pieces carry obviously modern words such as dishwasher safe but smaller pieces are simply marked churchillengland willow. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Mar 01, 2010 a beautiful princess an evil suitor, and the hapless palace guard all feature in this charming retelling of the classic story, depicted on willow pattern china across the world. The blue willow pattern comes to represent janeys dream of a permanent home. Blue willow bookshop serves west houston as well as the greater houston area with opinionated advice and our favorite books, games and gifts. In fact, the term blue plate special comes from the blue willow plates commonly used in restaurants and diners back in the 1920s thru the 1950s. See more ideas about blue and white china, blue china and blue and white. Turner made a specialty of chinese designs in blue underglaze. After they flee, the young couple are transformed into two beautiful white doves. Doris gates was a librarian and writer of childrens fiction.
Gaye chapmans illustrations are as intricate as the willow plates themselvesthe endpapers of the book are my favourites. A beautiful blue and white pattern, willow blue is both elegant and charismatic. Larger serving pieces carry obviously modern words such as dishwasher safe but smaller pieces are simply marked churchillenglandwillow. The design usually includes a bridge with people on it, a boat with a person in it, a willow tree, an orange or an apple tree, a fence, two birds and a tea. See more ideas about blue willow, blue willow china, blue. Identification and value guide, to learn about what the markings indicate. The design usually includes a bridge with people on it, a. Doris gates is also known for her collections of greek mythology, including a fair wind for troy. The first thing janey shows lupe is her one important possession a blue willow plate. Blue willow see history and lore and overall blue willow index, first made in england over 200 years ago, is said to be americas favorite patterned ware. The first willow transfer was produced by british manufacturers around 1790 and continues to be made. Long ago, in the days when china was ruled by emperors, a chinese manderin,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. Blue willow china, in its present form originated in the united kingdom england in 1790 by thomas turner at caughley pottery works in shropshire. Dishes with the fewest scratches and indications of wear sell the best.
A plate s condition, rarity and desirability deeply affect its value. Churchill blue willow dinner plates 10, set of 4 5. I then told the children about the legend which the pattern illustrates. Blue willow tells a charming chinese tale of an angry father pursuing his daughter who is eloping with a commoner. Listen now to this story of the little world on the willow plate, by an author unknown. In 1759, josiah wedgwood established himself as an independent potter at the ivy house works in burslem, england. After, that many other american pottery companies started to produce blue willow items. Blue willow was groundbreaking in its use of realistic storytelling for children. Located on the edges of the energy corridor and memorial neighborhoods, we have staffers and loyal readers from katy, spring branch, memorial. Janey loves her blue willow plate because it is the only beautiful thing she owns actually the only object she owns at all but also because it represents home and permanence. Wedgwood is one of the oldest and most respected companies producing china today.
At times the pattern seems difficult to find from local retail sources, and now is one of those difficult times. Blue willow is a realistic childrens fiction book by doris gates, published in 1940. Blue willow china originated in england even though the blue willow pattern has a chinese look and story more on that later, it was actually created in england in 1780 by engraver thomas minton. Search online for author events, books to order, recommendations or the newest book club pick.
To determine the value of antique blue willow dishes, examine their backs for markings that identify them as genuine blue williow items. Thanks so very much for your time and for the information that you so freely shared with. Originally created in 1780 in england, the blue willow pattern has become one of the most popular patterns in the world, gracing the tables of everyone from british aristocrats to everyday americans. Dating blue willow and collecting blue willow are discussed, and all known marks are illustrated. They were old fashioned when your grandparents were children and are as beautiful now as they were 200 years ago. The trade inbalance caused by demand for goods like this plate led to the english flooding chinese trade ports with opium. Japan, blue willow childs set,made in japan page 1. A grocery chain in the midwest offered new blue willow china with a confusing backstamp. How to start collecting blue willow china dinnerware on ebay. Her most prized possession is a beautiful, blue andwhite chinese pagoda plate, with a blue willow design, given to. Blue willow bookshop west houstons neighborhood book shop. The history of chinas willow pattern by design abc.
A little girl, who wants most of all to have a real home and to go to a regular school, hopes that the valley her family has come to, which so resembles the pattern on her treasured blue willow plate, will be their permanent home 920 newbery honor book, 1941. Rather than a solid blue disposable plate, however, there is even more evidence to suggest that the plates the blue plate special derived its name from were plates made in the popular blue willow china pattern, a pseudochinese pattern widely produced by porcelain firms of the time and used extensively by restaurants all over the country. Blue willow is an important fictional account of the dust bowl and the great depression, and has been called the grapes of wrath for children. Sep 27, 2010 i remember my mothers blue willow china. Blue willow by doris gates 1940 is an awardwinning childrens novel, a realist fictional account of the dust bowl and the great depression years that has been called, the grapes of wrath for children. Willow pattern china collectors guide, know your willow china blue willow.
Wedgwoods crowning achievement was jasperware, nonglazed porcelain featuring classical figures in basrelief, now virtually synonymous with the. Great characters and descriptions of agricultural life in 1930s a touching story set in 1930s california about the young daughter of a migrant farm worker. Someday, janey promised the willow plate, with its picture of a real house, her family would once again be able to set down roots in a community. He, or she wove a tail that is not a tranquil one, but touches on the familiar human story of unrequited. Janey had to move a lot and she had a plate that reminded her about her greatgreat grand father. A history of the blue willow pattern begins the book with descriptions of the many border and center patterns of this china. Her most prized possession is a beautiful, blue andwhite chinese pagoda plate, with a blue willow design, given to her by her greatgrandmother. We looked at a piece of blue willow china and discussed what images we saw on the plate. And then to read your story about blue willow well, my plate life is made today. In the oft quoted plate two birds are perceived, high in the heaven above. The first willow transfer was produced by british manufacturers around 1790 and continues to be made today.
As the family moves from place to place to earn a less than meager living, janey and her family experience hardships that are common to itinerant farm laborers. These elements are a willow tree, an orange or apple tree, two birds, people on a bridge, a fence, a boat and a teahouse, which some collectors call a pagoda. The titular blue willow plate, a gift from her greatgrandmother, is the prized possession of janey larkin, the young daughter of a migrant worker family. Hic yk316 blue willow dinner plates, fine white porcelain, set of 4, 10.
Written by a librarian who worked with migrant children in fresno, california, this story of a migrant girl who longs for a permanent home was considered groundbreaking in its portrayal of contemporary workingclass life in america. Blue willow china is delicate, classic and tells a mythical love story. A well written history of blue willow possibly the most popular single pattern of ceramic dishes is willow ware and this new book tells its complete story. By 1780, porcelain manufacturer thomas minton had reproduced the pattern on a line of his dishware. Japan blue willow childs set,made in japan at replacements, ltd. Though lupe doesnt understand the importance that the plate represents janeys life prior to the familys. Whose fortunes told in blue upon the willow pattern plate. Jun 10, 2016 in my last blog about transferprinting i mentioned the willow pattern. Delftware from the netherlands has a longer history and a similar. Jul 20, 2011 blue willow porcelain was first imported to england from china in the 18th century. Janey tells lupe the story of the plate as its been told to her. An apple tree, with apples on, a crooked fence to end my song. Every time you look at the blue willow pattern, you will see the young lovers flying high above the willow tree where they. Over 650 color photographs of bowls, ashtrays, plates, pitchers, vases, platters, sugar bowls, and much more are included.
The design was printed on a transfer which was applied to the plate before firing. The blue willow pattern is a blue andwhite transfer design that features a collection of engraved drawings that illustrate a chinese fable about two lovers from different stations in life. Rare mintons english blue willow china 3 crescent salad plates bone dishes. The lovers, overtaken on the bridge by her father, are transformed by the gods into birds and flutter beyond his reach.
I grew up taking my meals from, and watching that familiar, yet mysterious oriental scene of the lake, the three figures crossing the bridge near the big. The most popular colour was blue, followed by pink, green and brown. Apr 23, 2012 the story behind blue willow china several of my readers have commented on the blue willow dish i served my perfect poached egg on. The prominent sheffield england firm of saw makers 18371957 used the willow pattern as one of their brands. My willow ware plate has a story, pictorial, painted in blue from the land of the tea and the tea plant and the little brown man with a queue. The scene with its willow tree covers the central part of plate, dish or bowl, with a border of butterflies, daggers, a fret or other motif. The original copper plate, worn to the thinness of paper, the first and earliest rendering of this celebrated deisgn, is preserved at coalport, a treasured relic. A chinese temple, there it stands, built upon the river sands. A 1931 newbery honor book, it is quite refreshing to read this tale of a young girl tired and weary of moving with her father and mother from job to job, place to place, with no roots.
Called the juvenile grapes of wrath, 1 it was named a newbery honor book in 1941. By erica delia assistant lab director in my last blog about transferprinting i mentioned the willow pattern. Janey has one prized possession, a blue willow plate given to her a long time ago. Made of fine earthenware, the casual collection consists of a full range of dinnerware and accessories which are freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe. Exploring the blue willow pattern what does british. I couldnt believe how much i enjoyed the look of them, the color, the design. I would also like to offer thanks to sharon who sent me a very interesting history on blue willow, part of which i plan to add to my web site in the near future. Small cracks or lines on dishes typically indicate that someone has repaired them. The plate pictures a stand of willow trees, a river, a bridge and three people. Consult a blue willow book, such as mary frank gastons gastons blue willow. I have the book the willow pattern story on my desk at school and a new package of heavy white paper plates in my closet, and am just trying to. The willow pattern is an oriental pattern, most often seen in blue and white, that features common elements from manufacturer to manufacturer. Thomas turner, who went from worcester in 1772 to caughley in shropshire, brought his factory into prominence. Buffalo pottery company of buffalo, ny was the first in the united states to produce the blue willow pattern, in 1905.
A plate of willow ware, the familiar household pattern, is the subject of one of the intalgiogravure pictures illustrating china and pottery of our forefathers. Willow pattern may very well be the most recognizable and beloved pattern in vintage china. Around the time this book was published i was at a childrens book council conference in melbourne and the publisher, little hare had a stand with posters of little blue and gorgeous postcards. Now that her father was an itinerant worker, janey didnt have a home she could call her own or any real friends, as her family had to keep moving, following the crops from farm to farm. We are pleased to offer these rare mintons english blue willow china 3 crescent salad plates or bone dishes 8. I think that the book is trying to tell you about hard work. Willow, willow ware, or blue willow is one of the most recognizable patterns produced on ceramics. By the late 1700s, the popularity of tea sets imported from china spurred british potters to copy their style of decoration. Blue willow dishes manufactured by spode or wedgewood have a higher value. Although the plate was not a major cause of the war.