The most romantic story ever told on a dish...

{HISTORY}

One of the best loved and most collected china patterns of all time, Blue Willow was first introduced in England in the 1780's.  Romantic, detailed and bright in color, the pattern tells the tale of a centuries-old fable called the Legend of the Willow. There a few different versions of the legend but all feature star-crossed lovers and forbidden romance. Our favorite version here in the Vintage Kitchen, and the one most universally known, is the story of a wealthy girl who falls deeply in love with her father's humble accountant. Her father forbids the romance and arranges a marriage to another man more suited to his daughter's social standing. But romance wins and the accountant and the girl run away together and live happily ever after for many years. until the other suitor finds out where they the couple is living and kills them both. After death, the young lovers are reunited in the form of birds flying high above the landscape. 

Because it was such a popular pattern, many different companies produced their own versions of Blue Willow, each adding their own stylish mark on the design, which makes it especially fun for collectors. Mostly these differences appear in the border, the birds or the placement of the images within the image which helped identify which patterns belonged to which companies. 

This set of four antique grill plates (also known as divided plates) was made by Romarco Ware in the early 1900s in England. They have a wonderful authentic, aged spirit about them which can be seen in the delicate crazing marks and light stains, giving each plate its own unique character. Definitely, these four have seen some adventures in their 120 years of life. We like to imagine the entire journey has been nothing short of romantic.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Hard to find divided plate style

- Stamped on back with the Made in England mark as well the registered design number

- Two of the plates also carry an impressed number 3 on the back

- Matching set of 4

{CONDITION}

All of the plates contain crazing. Two of the plates contain light stains on both the front and the back of the dishes. Two of the dishes contain chips on the underside of the rim (one dish as two chips, one has one chip). Please see photos.

{SIZE} 

Each plate measures 11" inches in diameter.

{STYLE IDEA}

Willow ware looks especially pretty paired with bright white antique ironstone. Divided plates also make especially great party platters for hors d'oeuvres, thanks to their small snack-size friendly compartments.