Blue Willow Dishes - How to Distinguish the Original From Later Versions

Blue Willow dishes are known all over the world and have been in great demand since 1780. The Blue Willow dishes sport a pattern that originated in England but is especially popular in the states. In fact, the popularity has recently gained momentum for those who love to collect the more traditional type of dishes for use in their modern kitchens.

What is the Blue Willow dishes design? The original design created by Thomas Turner back in 1780 was inspired by a Chinese legend and was done in a blue glaze only. The first images were engraved on copper plates and sold the McCaughey Company. Later other companies began selling the pattern like Davenport, Adams and Clews and continue to sell it to this day.


What is the legend of the Blue Willow dishes? The legend depicts two young lovers in China. The story is about how the secretary of the young girl's well to do father fell in love with his daughter. The girl's father did not approve of the lovers and banished the young woman to palace. She escaped from the palace and the two lovers sailed away in a small boat. Unfortunately they were caught in a horrific storm and both drowned. According the legend the spirits of the two young lovers appeared in the sky as two lovebirds. The famous dishes are designed to show the escape boat as it gets carried out to sea and the two spirits that become lovebirds after the storm ends.

The Blue Willow dishes are now being manufactured by Churchill China with a rippled effect instead of the original smooth finish. This version now has a bumpy type of texture which gives the dishes even more interest.

How else has the modern version of the Blue Willow dishes changed? The dishes are now done in a wide variety of dinnerware other than the traditional dishes including saucers, fruit plates, footed cereal bowls, square salad plates, scalloped dishes, teacups and teapots.
To create a collection of authentic Blue Willow dishes you will first need to know the story behind the design. There are many varieties to consider with different brand names, patterns, manufacturing dates and legends all falling under the category of Blue Willow china. To spot the antique versus the current adaptations you will need to know what features to look for in the dishes and you can eliminate the posers by the absence or addition of the design features.

What kind of variations will indicate the Blue Willow dishes are not originals? You will find that there are many versions of design including the original lovebirds that circle overhead but there are dishes that have an apple tree, a pagoda, willow tree, a bridge with three people, a latticework type fence, and butterflies around the border or a boat with just one person inside. The original design did not include bridges, apple trees, birds, butterfly borders, etc.

Remember, the dishes are called Blue Willow because the theme is focused around a blue willow tree, not an apple tree. One good guideline is to look at the master potters online and see the original design. This will be in auction sites or antiques stores where the photos and the descriptions offer greater details upon request. It is always good to ask about the maker's marks if they are not visible in the photos or discussed in the descriptions.