Willow pattern dishes have been made in England since 1789. The pattern usually appears in blue and white but it can also be found in pink and multicolor. It features design elements that are based on a Chinese love story. It typically shows a Chinese landscape with garden fence, a bridge, lovers being chased by the woman’s father, birds representing the lovers after death, and willow trees that look more like apple trees. The pattern has been copied by factories in many countries, including China, Germany, Japan, and the United States. It’s still being made and is possibly the china pattern with the longest continual production in history.

How do you determine if your Willow dish is authentic? The real manufacturer’s mark will tell if it’s new or old. You can find many of these marks on Kovels.com. The piece featured here has all the features of an authentic piece of Willow, but it has a sticker on the back that reads “A.A. IMPORTING CO. ST. LOUIS MO. MADE IN JAPAN.” It also has a fake blue mark with a lion that looks nothing like real English marks. The very large 18-inch platter is too white and smooth to be an old piece of china. And a real English platter this size would cost thousands of dollars. So buyer beware.

 

 

Fake mark on bottom of reproduction