In it's traditional form, the design shows three figures (usually interpreted as two being pursued by a third) on a bridge, a pagoda, a boat with an additional figure and, most importantly, the two love bird doves. Also prominent are several fruit trees, a fence and the notable "Willow" tree.

This bitter sweet story, so dear to the hearts of collectors around the world, is apocryphal. Blue Willow was not a Chinese legend but a romantic reaction that grew up around the pattern itself, created in England in the 1700s.

Origins of the Legend

Creation of the original pattern is various claimed for Thomas Minton of the Coalport Pottery Works in Staffordshire (1770), Thomas Turner at Caughley Pottery Works in Shropshire (1790) and Josiah Spode (1790), founder of the legendary Spode. All this was before the creation of copyright laws and at a time of considerable pattern "sharing". The answer will never be certain. What is known is that the birth place of this Chinese style blue and white transfer printed pattern was England. There is apparently no Chinese pattern which contains all the features of the standard Willow pattern.

There are many popular patterns but those featuring cobalt blue has always been a favorite. Blue Italian and Tower Blue, along with the venerable Blue Willow, were all begun in the same 1790 to 1820 period are still produced by Spode today.

Blue in the New World

As the Europeans came to America, these designs were a young woman's cherished keepsakes. Crossing oceans in ships and the continent in covered wagons, they have been kept and displayed in homes and passed down for generations.

In the early days of gas station give-aways (remember coupons?). Blue Willow plates were used as an inducement to purchase everything from gasoline to cigarettes. From plates to platters to candlesticks, the pattern has been applied to an extraordinary range of subjects. Noteworthy stretches for it have been ceramic bread toasters, rugs and even shoes.

Today's Collecting

On any given day, the online auction site eBay (www.ebay.com), will have over a thousand "Blue Willow" items for sale, ranging from a modest few dollars to four hundred dollars. Over a fifteen day period not too long ago, four thousand pieces were up for auction.

One recent eBay auction offered the brief description, "Several complete sets of Blue Willow China and many accessories." with asked a starting price of $25,000. It received no bids.

Most valuable today are early English pieces from makers such as Stratfordsire, Spode and Royal Worcester. Mid-century Japan contributed to popularizing the pattern with less expensive, higher volume production and these, too, have become highly collectable.

For the budding collector, these early antiques from the eighteen hundreds are a bit pricey. However, even pieces from the 1960's becoming collectable. Alternatively, the pattern continues to be produced all over the world today so a simple way to start is to buy new. But keep on the look out for it. There is no substitute for finding a garage sale piece with the patina of age and love on it. Cubby Derby observes "The real joy of Blue Willow is using and loving it every day."