With an intricate design based on a Chinese legend, Blue Willow porcelain is both beautiful and captivating. And here’s a bonus: it can be valuable too.
Whether you have inherited some Blue Willow pieces from your mother or grandmother or you are planning to start your own collection, we promise that your collection will become even more special as you learn more about this fascinating porcelain pattern.
While Blue Willow dinnerware has a lot of decorative and sentimental value (especially if it’s a family heirloom), these dishes can also be worth a lot of money. Knowing what’s most valuable will also help you know what to look for in antique shops (or in your grandmother’s china cabinet).
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Blue Willow Bowl |
Estimated value |
|---|---|
|
Tiffany & Co. Copeland Spode Blue Willow Teapot |
$700 |
|
Meissen Blue Willow gravy boat |
$450 |
|
Large Blue Willow serving dish |
$400 |
|
Tiffany & Co. Copeland Spode Blue Willow Plate |
$300 |
|
English Staffordshire Blue Willow milk jug in the shape of a cow |
$250 |
These are some of the most valuable Blue Willow pieces sold recently.
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A Tiffany & Co. Copeland Spode Blue Willow teapot in pristine condition sold for almost $700. Markings on the bottom indicate it dates to circa 1880.
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A 1940s Meissen Blue Willow gravy boat with a fixed base plate sold for about $450. It was in beautiful condition, with no chips or damage.
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A Blue Willow serving bowl with the classic design sold for just under $400. It dated from the 19th century and measured 13.75 inches by 19 inches.
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A Tiffany & Co. Copeland Spode Blue Willow plate with gilt accents sold for about $300. The plate is 9.5 inches in diameter and has a subtle octagonal shape.
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An antique English Staffordshire Blue Willow milk jug in the shape of a cow with matching lid, sold for about $250. It dated from 1840 and was in nice condition.
If you grew up eating Blue Willow dinnerware, you’re not alone. The Blue Willow pattern was developed in 1779 by Thomas Turner and eventually became a classic on many tables around the world. The pattern is actually English, although it is based on similar blue landscape designs in Chinese porcelain.
By the late 18th century, several English potteries were producing Blue Willow patterns, which immediately captured the imagination of consumers. Potteries continued to produce Blue Willow throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and it is still being produced today. Part of what makes Blue Willow so popular is the story it tells in its design.
Legend of the Blue Willow
In the Blue Willow legend, the beautiful daughter of a powerful man fell in love with her father’s secretary. When he discovered their love, the father banished the secretary and built a great fence to keep his daughter in. She could only walk along the water and the willows. She despaired until she received a message from her lover. At a banquet, he saved her, but her father noticed and chased them over a bridge. They escaped, but years later her father caught up with them. The secretary was killed and the daughter also died. Out of pity, the gods turned them both into doves so that they could fly together forever.
Motifs on the China pattern
If you’ve ever looked at it, you already know that Blue Willow porcelain is highly symbolic with many motifs from this legend in the design. If you look closely, you’ll see the fence the father built to keep his daughter in, the bridge he drove the lovers across, the willow and the stream the daughter walked along, and many more elements from the legend. At the top are two doves representing the couple.
This distinctive porcelain pattern holds an important place in the history of antique tableware. Versions of it were made by dozens of different potteries. These have subtle variations, and some are more desirable than others. Furthermore, companies have been making this pattern for over 200 years; there may be as many as 500 different manufacturers covering this long period of production.
Churchill Blue Willow and other modern takes on the classic pattern can make it difficult to determine whether you have an old or new piece. Identifying a piece of Blue Willow porcelain can be a complex process because of all the versions out there.
Look for the willow pattern
There are many Chinese-inspired motifs that resemble Blue Willow, but they may not have the characteristic pattern of the Blue Willow legend. Identifying this porcelain pattern is easy. Look for the fence, the bridge, the two doves, the willow, and the stream. If it doesn’t have this pattern, it’s not Blue Willow.
Learn to recognize transferware
Blue Willow is a transferware pattern. Transferware is made when an engraved plate is inked and pressed onto tissue. The tissue is then used to transfer the design to the piece. This process creates a delicate, repeating pattern, usually all in one color. There may be subtle lines where the tissue is wrinkled or where motifs are connected. You usually see willowware in the classic blue color, but you can also see it in colors such as pink, black, brown and green.
Related: Flow Blue Antique China: Prices and Patterns
Look for markers
Many Blue Willow pieces have a mark, but some do not. Turn the piece over and look on the back or bottom for any stamped designs. If there is a stamp, you can look it up to find the company that made the piece. After 1891, English pieces will also have a country of origin mark (useful to identify a Blue Willow scale of English companies).
Sometimes it is impossible to tell which pottery made a piece. The earliest pieces were often not marked. Sometimes pieces have a small initial on the bottom that is a potter’s mark. The potters can move from one pottery to another and use the same mark at different companies. A mark can help you with identification, but unless it clearly states the name of the pottery, you may need to use other clues.
Don’t worry if your Blue Willow china isn’t marked at all. This is common and does not mean that your piece is worth less. In fact, if it doesn’t have a brand, it could even mean it’s very old.
Look for clues about the date
There are a few clues that can help you determine whether you have antique Blue Willow china or a modern reproduction:
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Some new pieces are not marked, although they often say “Made in China” or have some other modern stamp on the back.
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Early Blue Willow pieces have a softer glaze and a lighter feel.
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Older pieces may show some signs of crazing or light cracking on the surface of the glaze.
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Some marked pieces provide clues because the mark was only used at that pottery for a certain period of time.
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American potters did not begin producing Blue Willow until after 1905, when the Buffalo Pottery Company released the pattern.
Wondering if your Blue Willow porcelain is real or fake? A modern reproduction is often heavier and the design may be less delicate.
The value of antique Blue Willow china really depends on a number of factors. Look at the piece and see what you can find out about it before you assign a value.
Look for features and markings
If the piece has a maker’s mark, make a note of it. Also try to identify the type of piece you have. If it is a plate or bowl, it may be easy to find a value. Less common pieces, such as soup tureens and specialty items, can be trickier, but if you can identify them, the rarer pieces may be worth more.
Assess condition
As with any antique, condition affects the value of a piece. Look for chips, cracks, repairs, stains, and crazing. With older pieces, these condition issues may not affect value as much, but they are still important. Items in excellent condition are worth the most.
Find similar pieces that have sold
Once you have identified your Blue Willow piece, you can look up the sales prices of similar pieces online. Always check the price of sold items, not items currently for sale. Be sure to compare your piece to something that is the same in manufacturer, size, type and condition.
If you have any doubts about the history or value of your Blue Willow china, it is a good idea to have it appraised. As with all vintage items, the values ​​of antique dishes can vary greatly. With its long and storied history, Blue Willow is a sought-after pattern that can be very valuable. Doing your research will ensure that you are getting a fair price for the pieces you are selling, or that you are paying a fair price for items you are adding to your collection.
