History and Fable of The Famous English Willow Pattern

This beautiful Willow Pattern bowl belonged to my Grandmother ...I don't know when she bought it but I am suspecting it was from a very long time ago ..it was made by Johnson Bros. England ..I love the big border around the rim of the bowl 

The Romantic Fable: Once there was a wealthy Mandarin, who had a beautiful daughter (Koong-se). She had fallen in love with her father's humble accounting assistant (Chang), angering her father. (It was inappropriate for them to marry due to their difference in social class.) He dismissed the young man and built a high fence around his house to keep the lovers apart. The Mandarin was planning for his daughter to marry a powerful Duke. The Duke arrived by boat to claim his bride, bearing a box of jewels as a gift. The wedding was to take place on the day the blossom fell from the willow tree.
On the eve of the daughter's wedding to the Duke, the young accountant, disguised as a servant, slipped into the palace unnoticed. As the lovers escaped with the jewels, the alarm was raised. They ran over a bridge, chased by the Mandarin, whip in hand. They eventually escaped on the Duke's ship to the safety of a secluded island, where they lived happily for years. But one day, the Duke learned of their refuge. Hungry for revenge, he sent soldiers, who captured the lovers and put them to death. The gods, moved by their plight, transformed the lovers into a pair of doves (possibly a later addition to the tale, since the birds do not appear on the earliest willow pattern plates).

​The Willow pattern plate is a distinctive and elaborate pattern used on ceramic kitchen/housewares.
The Willow pattern was popular in 18th century England, e.g., porcelain designed by Thomas Minton around 1790 and has been in use for over 200 years.
The design was inspired by the china England imported from China during the late 18th century. Other references give alternative origins, such as Thomas Turner of Caughley porcelain, with a design date of 1780.
Willow refers to the pattern, a specific treatment, either applied transfer, or stamp, known as transferware. Background colour is always white, while foreground colour depends on the maker; blue the most common, followed by pink, green, and brown. Assortment, shape and dates of production vary..

You can find the Willow pattern still these days on so many items for sale 

The pattern seems to be just as popular today as it did over 200 years ago 

Here I am showing you just a few of the items you can find it on 

You can find embroidery squares with it on 

These cute Napkin rings shaped like a teapot and the lovely throw and pillows shown above 

Even stunning Wedding cakes are made with the Willow pattern painted on ...isn't it lovely 

I LOVE this shaker and you can go and find mis- matching Willow Pattern pieces at the thrift store and make a lovely cake stand ..be sure to use the right drill bit for drilling china and you can buy the metal pieces on the internet 

I LOVE these socks ..I need to go and find some on the internet ...they are so pretty to wear with my pajama's 

Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.

I have an entire dinner service of this classic Willow Pattern 

Finally isn't this toaster just gorgeous ...it would make me smile in the morning just making toast on it

I hope you enjoyed my little trip around the history and fable's of the Willow Pattern and 
I hope it will inspire you to go and look for some Willow Pattern of your own to enjoy 

Happy Hunting

Happy Days 
​
Janet