Blue Willow is the most popular pattern that has ever appeared on a plate. For over 200 years the Blue Willow pattern has graced the world's finest dining tables and stirred the imagination of discerning collectors. And who, afterall, can resist the charming myth depicted on the plate - that of the star crossed lovers who were turned into immortal love birds?

Long ago in China, in a magnificent palace surrounded by trees, lived a Mandarin, his daughter, Koong-shee, and his secretary, Chang. Chang and Koong-shee fell in love, but Chang was a commoner and she the daughter of a noble. Still their love grew as they met beneath a willow tree in the garden. When the Mandarin discovered their secret, he banished Chang & imprisoned Koong-shee by encircling the palace with a zig-zag fence.

Then he promised her hand to another. He had a feast to celebrate and after, when all fell asleep, Chang crept into the palace and fled with Koong-shee, The Mandarin awoke and pursued them across the little bridge that spans the river.

The lovers escaped, but soon the Mandarin discovered where they were hiding and sent his men to kill the couple. They came upon Chang as he was working his fields and killed him. Koong-shee, who had seen the entire scene from afar, rushed into the pavilion and set it afire. She was determined to be with Chang in death as she had been in life.

The gods, looking down on the tragedy, took pity on the lovers and transformed their souls into a pair of immortal lovebirds to forever live in the pagoda.

We can still see Chang & Koong-shee, flying over the willow tree where they first pledged their love.  Their story lives forever on the Willow pattern.

This story was first told in poems of traveling story tellers thousands of years ago. In the early 1800’s the famous English ceramic manufacturers Spode decided to depict the pattern on some chinaware. It was an overnight sensation and over the years hundreds of firms copied the pattern. Today avid collectors will pay thousands of dollars to own the early or famous examples of the Blue Willow pattern. Through the years, manufacturers have produced Red Willow, Green Willow and I have even seen Brown Willow, but the original Cobalt Blue color has always been the most prized version to collectors.