Willow Pattern {Blue and White China}
The Blue Willow pattern has been a household favorite for over 200 years. It was first created in England about 1780 but the patterns origins are even older than that. The Chinese had produced and exported blue and white china for the western world. It was wildly popular with the Europeans. The Blue Willow pattern adapted these themes and became one of the most beloved patterns of all time. Spode was the first company that mass produced the Blue Willow pattern on earthenware dishes around 1790.
I had the opportunity to live with these dishes at my mother’s house while we were in Michigan. She happened upon a set when a friend of hers was giving away his mother’s china. Can you imagine giving up an entire perfect set of this pretty china?! I can not. Anyway, I especially like the way food looks when placed upon it. My favorite is eggs with whole wheat toast – there is just something about the combination of blue, white, yellow and tan… But I must admit, my Chicken Caccitore didn’t look so shabby on it either! {winkwink.}
When I was researching for more information on this china, I came upon a blog post that included a poem about the Blue Willow Pattern. A china pattern so lovely it inspires a poem. Enough said.
My Willow ware plate has a story,
Pictorial, painted in blue
From the land of tea and the tea plant
And the little brown man with a queue.
Whatever the food you serve, daughter
Romance enters into the feast,
If you only pay heed to the legend,
On the old china plate from the East.
Koong Shee was a mandarin’s daughter
And Chang was her lover, ah me,
or surely her father’s accountant
Might never wed pretty Koong Shee.
So Chang was expelled from the compound,
The lover’s alliance to break,
And pretty Koong Shee was imprisoned
In a little blue house by the lake.
The Doughty old mandarin reasoned
It was time that his daughter should wed,
And the groom of his choosing should banish,
That silly romance from her head.
In symbols the dress she should wear,
Her headband of scarlet lay waiting,
She should ride in a gold wedding chair.
He was busily plotting and planning,
When a message was brought him one day,
Young Chang had invaded the palace,
And taken his sweetheart away.
They were over the bridge when he saw them,
They were passing the big willow tree,
And a boat at the edge of the water,
Stood waiting for Chang and Koong Shee.
The furious mandarin followed,
The groom with revenge in his eyes,
But the little boat danced on the water
And travelled away with the prize.
But vengeance pursued to their shelter
And burned the pagoda, they say
From out of the flames rose the lovers
A pair of doves winging away.
They flew toward the western heaven
The pretty Koong Shee and her Chang
Or so says the famous old legend
From the land of the Yangtze Kiang.
I wouldn’t be one to deny it,
For the little blue dove and her mate
Forever are flying together
Across my Willow ware plate.
Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / Collections and Color Palette and I love this and Nesting and Uncategorized
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Jenny on 10 Dec 2009 at 10:10 am
Twitter: @SpryOnTheWall
LOVE Blue Willow. I have that pattern mixed with other blue and white patterns for my everyday dishes. Something so lovely about that blue and white! Great post!
Lydia, Clueless Crafter on 16 Dec 2009 at 1:47 pm
Twitter: @Art_Style
No I cannot imagine giving up a whole set! But, your cacciatore (did you use Bucatini pasta?) looks delish on them.
I’m a sucker for cobalt. I collect Imari porcelain partly for that reason.
Kari on 20 Feb 2010 at 10:31 am
Twitter: @EuropeanTablewr
Love blue and white! I cannot imagine having/getting an entire set. I would definitely use them if at all possible. Thank you for the great post!
Jean Wethmar on 15 Sep 2011 at 7:09 pm
Twitter: @jeanwethmar1
Hello ABCD .. I’m a regular subscriber.. I loved your post today, about the textiles.. I LOVE fabrics, even if I never get around to doing anything with them!…
I then discovered your old post about the famous Willow pattern, and WE connected!!! I purchased a set of Spode b/white.. to go with my red/white hunting scene, ..My dinner table looks just pure delight set with alternative settings..
May I please, use, sometime in the future, pieces/pictures of this great article on my blog post.. my blog post details given above?.. I’d so appreciate it.. with thanks..
Jean Wethmar.. indeed, life is too short not to eat off of good china.. Visit Vietnam with me?….
ABCDragoo on 16 Sep 2011 at 8:41 am
Twitter: @abcddesigns
Vietnam?! Sounds good Jean-HA! I have never gotten an invitation to travel from blog comments before…Now I see it’s your blog. I’d be happy to pop by. Thanks for the invite.
Thanks for the compliments on my blog/the posts. You’re more than welcome to use pics – most of the time I have that black boarder on my pictures, so if you don’t know know to make a screen shot of just the image, let me know and I can email you photos of whatever you like.
Thanks, and take good care.
ABCD
Jean Wethmar on 16 Sep 2011 at 5:47 pm
Twitter: @jeanwethmar1
Greetings again, Thanks so much for coming back.. Much appreciated for your ‘permission to use’..
Here’s the link.. http://vietnam-hiddenrichesofacolonialpast.blogspot.com/2011/09/may-blue-bird-of-happines.html?spref=tw – of my blogspot today..
Oh, and by the way.. you’re more than welcome to gather a small group of girlfriends/mom’s granny’s etc, and join us in Vietnam in March, July or October 2012.. email me for copy of the Itinerary/Tour Brochure.. (I’ll offer you a deal you simply CANNOT refuse)..
thanks heaps once again for being in touch, – enjoy your weekend.. I LOVE your new partner desk.. wowoie.. can’t wait for the final pic in situ.. – regards.. Jean