Vintage Set of 4 Blue Willow Ware 6.5" Plates Royal China Blue & White

Description

Vintage Set of 4 Blue Willow Ware 6.5" Plates Royal China Blue & White
Bread and butter plates, set of 4
or
Dessert plates, set of 4
Vintage
Lot of 4
Set of 4
Four Plates
Plates are smaller than dinner plates and can be used for bread & butter, dessert, or as saucers
plates gently curve up all around
rim is higher than center
6.5 inches wide
center medallion is 3.75 inches
fully encircled in pattern
blue and white
transferware
2 of the plates are unmarked
on back
2 of the plates are marked on back, "Willow Are by Royal China, Underglaze" with graphic of tree, fruit, leaves, and water
glazed on both sides
some imperfections or bubbles in the glaze, mostly on back, but poss on front
transfer work is imperfect: I can see transfer marks in spots, one plate is a bit less crisp in the transfer than the others
Blue Willow design
A classic snack set or bread plates
English pattern based on designs in Chinese porcelain
features:
the fence built by the father to keep the daughter inside
the willow and the stream by which the daughter walked
the bridge the father chased the 2 lovers across
the 2 doves representing the 2 lovers, the couple
3 pagodas or tea houses
Chinese
pine trees, sometimes called apple or orange trees
an Asian style boat in the water
The earliest pieces of this pattern were unmarked. this set has 2 unmarked plates and 2 marked plates.
From an estate sale in the rich horse and farm country of Northern Virginia.
glossy, fully glazed.  The glaze is also imperfect with some bubbling and imperfections in spots.
this is not the typical or "standard" blue willow you often find today. This appears to be an older set.
an important pattern in dinnerware history.
Blue willow is transferware and is cited as one of the first examples of such.
the pattern is transferred from a copper plate onto the porcelain, or onto paper and then onto the china.
there are a few tiny spots of evidence of the handmade authenticity of this transferware process onto the curved plates and of the glazing process.
No chips or cracks, but there are spots where you can feel a bit of roughness which is evidence of the handmade, handcrafted nature of these plates.
Artemis Teal is a woman-owned, US Veteran Owned, Small business. We use recycled shipping supplies that we scavenge from others so that we don't add more waste to the planet. We work out of our home and offer items that are curated, unique, and unusually beautiful. Artemis is the name of the company because we are led by a Goddess who hunts for treasures. It takes us takes time to find these gems, time to clean and research them, and time to list them for sale. We work hard to make a living, to make life worth living, and to help make your home a beautiful place. Because where you live should be as beautiful as you are. Thank you for your purchase and your support.