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    The story of the Willow Pattern

    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    The story of the Willow Pattern Empty The story of the Willow Pattern

    Post by Kitkat Mon 09 Dec 2013, 14:40

    The term "Willow" is applied in a general way to many of the copies of the blue-and-white porcelain imported into England from China during the last half of the eighteenth century,  Since the improvement of British pottery the trade with China naturally ceased.

       For a century and a half the "Willow Pattern" has been the stock-pattern of nearly every British Pottery manufacturer, and although at times its popularity has waned, it has eventually returned to favour, and now is again at the apex of its popularity.

       Thomas Minton was famous for Minton ware - a cream-coloured and blue-printed earthenware maiolica, bone china, and Parian porcelain; his factory was outstanding in the Victorian period for its "art" porcelains. He also popularized the famous so-called Willow pattern.

       Engraved by Thomas Minton for Thomas Turner of Caughley, Shropshire, in the year 1780, it was closely followed by Royal Worcester, Spode, Adams, Wedgwood, Davenport, Clews, Leeds and Swansea.

    The story of the Willow Pattern Willow_plate

    Of the modern "Willow" the Burleigh (Burgess and Leigh, Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent) reproduction of Enoch Wood's plate is unequalled. The Blue is attractive and pleasing and the engraving has been executed by the finest artists of the day and has been in continual production since 1922.

    Changes to the "Willow Pattern":

       The original did not have the "Apple-tree" or the two Doves these being added later.  Otherwise the differences are slight and mainly in the treatment or the fretted border, either a lattice work or conventional butterfly being used, and details of the fence in the foreground differing.

       The original Chinese Willow, Minton copied, had no bridge with people crossing over, and it is not sure whether the stories connected with it originated in China or England.  (Probably England, because the main components of the story were not included on the original plate.)

    The story of the Willow Pattern Blueline

    The story of the Willow Pattern Juniper

    The Willow Legend

    There was once a Mandarin who had a beautiful daughter, Koong-se. He employed a secretary, Chang who, while he was attending to his master's accounts, fell in love with Koong-se, much to the anger of the Mandarin, who regarded the secretary as unworthy of his daughter.


    The secretary was banished and a fence constructed around the gardens of the Mandarin's estate so that Chang could not see his daughter and Koong-se could only walk in the gardens and to the water's edge.

    One day a shell fitted with sails containing a poem, and a bead which Koong-se had given to Chang, floated
    to the water's edge. Koong-se knew that her lover was not far away.
    The story of the Willow Pattern Fence


    She was soon dismayed to learn that she had been betrothed to Ta-jin, a noble warrior Duke. She was full of despair when it was announced that her future husband, the noble Duke, was arriving, bearing a gift of jewels to celebrate his betrothal.
    The story of the Willow Pattern Boat



    The story of the Willow Pattern Feast
    However, after the banquet, borrowing the robes of a servant, Chang passed through the guests unseen and came to Koong-se's room. They embraced and vowed to run away together. The Mandarin, the Duke, the guests, and all the servants had drunk so much wine that the couple almost got away without detection, but Koong-se's father saw her at the last minute and gave chase across the bridge.
    The story of the Willow Pattern Bridge


    The couple escaped and stayed with the maid that Koong-se's father had dismissed for conspiring with the lovers. Koong-se had given the casket of jewels to Chang and the Mandarin, who was also a magistrate, swore that he would use the jewels as a pretext to execute Chang when he caught him.

    One night the Mandarin's spies reported that a man was hiding in a house by the river and the Mandarin's guards raided the house. But Chang had jumped into the ragging torrent and Koong-se thought that he had drowned.

    Some days later the guards returned to search the house again. While Koong-se's maid talked to them, Chang came by boat to the window and took Koong-se away to safety.
    The story of the Willow Pattern Hide


    They settled on a distant island, and over the years Chang became famous for his writings. This was to prove his undoing. The Mandarin heard about him and sent guards to destroy him. Chang was put to the sword and Koong-se set fire to the house while she was still inside.
    The story of the Willow Pattern House


    Thus they both perished and the gods, touched by their love, immortalised them as two doves, eternally flying together in the sky.
    The story of the Willow Pattern Birds


    The story of the Willow Pattern Blueline


    Source:  http://www.thepotteries.org/patterns/willow.html
    Pixie
    Pixie

    The story of the Willow Pattern Empty Re: The story of the Willow Pattern

    Post by Pixie Mon 09 Dec 2013, 20:13

    As a Stokie and a former potbank worker, I really enjoyed this post. :thumb: 
    lar-lar
    lar-lar

    The story of the Willow Pattern Empty Re: The story of the Willow Pattern

    Post by lar-lar Mon 17 Feb 2014, 12:32

    My dad used to collect Goss...rather attractive I remember too.
    Stardust
    Stardust

    Location : City of Light

    The story of the Willow Pattern Empty Re: The story of the Willow Pattern

    Post by Stardust Fri 28 Oct 2016, 10:57

    I thought this was a new post till I noticed the date. Shocked

    It was very interesting to read about this pottery and its history.

    Such a sad legend given as the origin of the Chinese Willow pattern.

      Current date/time is Thu 28 Mar 2024, 12:06