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Despite its humble reputation as “blue collar china,” some Blue Willow is worth thousands. It’s considered better quality than mass-produced versions made later in China, Japan and the U.S. Unique pieces such as covered dishes and coffee pots are also more valuable than dishes and cups.
How can you tell if a Blue Willow is real?
Look for Clues About the Date Some new pieces are unmarked, although they will often say “Made in China” or have another modern backstamp. Early Blue Willow pieces have a softer glaze and a lighter overall feel. Older pieces may have some signs of crazing or light cracking on the surface of the glaze.
How Much Is Blue Willow worth?
Prices on Blue Willow vary from high to low ($10 to $1000+), with older English pieces bringing the highest values and newer American or Japanese pieces bringing the lowest. As a result these lower value pieces have no value if damaged in any way.
Is Willow Ware by Royal china worth anything?
The great production of Blue Willow in the past 2½ centuries means a great deal of variety in values. Eighteenth and 19th century porcelain examples can command prices into the thousands, and even some 20th century transferware pieces are highly collectible.
How old is the Blue Willow pattern?
The original Willow pattern was created in 1780 when British potter Thomas Turner and engraver Thomas Minton combined a number of popular Chinese pottery patterns. By the early 19th Century, more than 200 potteries were producing variations of the design.
Does Blue Willow contain lead?
Question: Are Blue Willow Dishes Lead Free? Answer: Um, no. In fact most of them have incredibly high levels of lead (in a range that I would consider as not safe to eat off of.) Please read on for more information about lead found in examples of Blue Willow dishes.
What is the story behind Blue Willow china?
The Legend of the Blue Willow Tso Ling was the father of a beautiful girl, Kwang-se, who was the promised bride of an old but wealthy merchant. The girl, however, fell in love with Chang, her father’s clerk. The lovers eloped across the sea to the cottage on the island.
What is the most valuable blue and white china?
The Most Expensive Porcelain In 12 July, 2005, an exceptionally rare and specially-themed blue and white Yuan era jar was sold for £15.7 million at Christie’s in London. It became the most expensive Asian work of art.
How do I know if my old dishes are worth anything?
Dishes usually have a “back stamp” on the back which identifies the name of the manufacturer. This same marking may reveal the name of the city or the country where the plate was made, and some even reveal a pattern name or the date when it was produced. Do an Internet search to determine an appoximate value.
Are old plates worth anything?
However, instead of increasing in value, most plates turned out to be worth much less than their original price. According to an interview with antiques expert Harry Rinker in the Allentown Morning Call, most collector plates are now worth about 15% to 25% of their original purchase price.
What is the blue and white china pattern called?
“Blue and white pottery” (Chinese: 青花; pinyin: qīng-huā; lit. ‘Blue flowers/patterns’) covers a wide range of white pottery and porcelain decorated under the glaze with a blue pigment, generally cobalt oxide.Blue and white pottery. Blue and white porcelain Literal meaning “blue and white porcelain” showTranscriptions.
How Much Is Blue Danube worth?
The estimated market value is $30.46. Mavin found 883 sold results, ranging in value from $1.04 to $2,200.00.
How do you display Blue Willow china?
Mount Blue Willow serving pieces on plate hangers and group them into a rectangular arrangement. Install a huge wall frame around the collection so it appears as though your china is in a bas-relief still life. Hang a mirror across the room from the framed Blue Willow statement to reflect the collection.
What is the original willow pattern?
The Willow pattern is a distinctive and elaborate chinoiserie pattern used on ceramic kitchen/housewares. Many different Chinese-inspired landscape patterns were at first produced in this way, both on bone china or porcellanous wares, and on white earthenware or pearlware.
What is the Willow Pattern story?
The Willow Pattern was a blue and white transfer-printed composite design which brought together Buddhist imagery, pagodas, landscapes, birds and trees from Chinese porcelain. The pattern is said to be woven around a romantic story of star-crossed lovers eloping together.
What is the willow pattern rhyme?
‘Two birds flying high, A Chinese vessel, sailing by. A bridge with three men, sometimes four, A willow tree, hanging o’er. A Chinese temple, there it stands, Built upon the river sands.
Can you put blue willow in the dishwasher?
Blue Willow by Churchill China Blue Willow has since become a timeless classic, collected all over the world. Microwave and dishwasher safe.
Do old dishes have Lead in them?
Many of the old glazes used on antique or vintage china contain some level of lead. And those pieces of china with decorations atop the glaze rather than beneath the glaze may contain lead.
How can you tell if ceramic is Lead free?
Look for a warning label. If the pottery was manufactured for use only as a decorative item, it may have a warning stamped onto the clay bottom such as “Not for Food Use—May Poison Food.” Do not use items with this type of warning for cooking, serving, or storing food or drinks.
Who makes Blue Willow china?
Churchill China of England has been producing their Willow Pattern China for over 200 years.
What is Blue Onion china?
Blue Onion (German: Zwiebelmuster) is a porcelain tableware pattern for dishware originally manufactured by Meissen porcelain since the 18th century, and since the last 19th Century has been copied by other companies.
Can you dishwash Noritake china?
China: Yes Lennox, Noritake and Mikasa all suggest washing fine china in the dishwasher as long as the “light” or “china” setting is selected. These cycles use cooler water and lower water pressure. By its very nature, fine china is actually more durable than everyday dinnerware.
