Blue Willow
by Wayne Mattox

"Blue Willow" is probably the most popular decoration to ever land on a European or American table. The true story of  "Willow Ware" is almost as interesting as the legends attached to it. Let's take a look at both.

In mid-18th century England, during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, businesses were looking for ways to produce economical goods by mechanical processes. Probably used first on decorated "Battersea" enamel boxes, the century old technique of "transferring" a pigmented impression from an engraved metal plate onto paper now became available for ceramics.   cont'd