One of my passions is collecting Blue Willow China. My favorites are the items with JAPAN stamped on the bottom in black letters. Here are just a few of the items I have in my collection.
 
 

Long ago, in the days when China was ruled by Emperors, a Chinese Mandarin, Tso Ling, lived in the magnificent pagoda under the branches of the apple tree on the right side of the bridge, over which droops the famous willow tree, and in front of which is seen the graceful lines of the fence. 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. The mandarin pursued and caught the lovers and was about to have them killed when the gods transformed them into a pair of turtle doves. These are seen gazing into each other's eyes at the top of the design.
 
 

Once upon a time there lived a wealthy mandarin who had a beautiful daughter named Hong Shee. There was also a boy named Chang who loved Hong Shee. To keep them apart, the mandarin imprisoned his daughter in the palace.

One day she escaped and the two lovers raced over the bridge to a waiting boat, her father in hot pursuit. They managed to elude the mandarin, reach the boat and sail away.

A storm developed, the boat foundered, and the couple were lost at sea. It is said two lovebirds appeared immediately thereafter--the spirits of Hong Shee and Chang.

Blue Willow Facts...

Blue Willow China did not originate in China as many believe due to the Oriental Design. It was originally made in England. The Blue Willow Story, or Legend was told after the design was created. The origins of those tales being English and American.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________