The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04
THE BLUE WILLOW PLATE.
STORY OF THE FAMOUS OLD ENG
GLIsH DECORATIVE WARE.

Little of 1t Seen Nowadays, Except
in Cabinets. and on ManteIs-Nr.
Lester HubbeII's Collection of the
Ware-The Design Brought From
China to England Over IL Century
AgO-The Legend of the Mandarin's
Daughter, From Which the Design
Was Taken.
With the revival Of interest in things an
tique, bric-a-brac, furniture, china, in
fact, everything decora tive, the famous blue
willow print in table and decorative ware
has not quite been lost sight Of The rich
Old willow ware, as it was known half
and three-quarters of century ago is it
lie seen nowadays. Seventy-five years
ago it was common on many tables, but
almost all that is left of it now is seen
Ia cabinets and on mantels and walls 1t
has for years been widely sought as a ce-
Iemic decoration.
Mr.. Lester Hubbell of this city is the
possessor of probably one OF the largest
collections of willow ware in the country
Az his summer home-The Willows-at
unadilla, N. Y, in the heart of the Otse-
60 nils, forty miles from Cooperstown
the source of the Susquehanna river, on
the banks of which The Willows is built
ne has collected over 500 pieces. some of
II years ago, a part in Savannah and the
lest recently imported from the Green
ne n. ID and Greengates potteries of Tunstall,
Mr. Hubbem has made study of the
ware ana les history and through his re-
searches has brought TO light much that
Is OF interest in regard to it. The pattern
.lseiL which is followed out in every de-
aIsn Of ware, is peculiar one, not beau
illul IN the sense of beauty in art but haV-
Ius an originality that is always a study
0Ga4G In n MA for slGt tom
lNe pattern is giaZed Oil the face, and Is
surrounded by frame work of geometrlc
4eAsn To the right in the picture, is a
mandarin country seat, two stories high,
10 snow the wealth ana rank OF he pos
sl9sut. in the foreground is a pavilion, in
tae lack ground am orange 5ree, and 10 the
ilSni OF The pavilion a peach tree in fun
tearing The entire estate is enclosed with
wooden fence AZ one end of the bridge
IoSS!nS a stream or bay is the famous
Ni1oW tree, and at the other end the gar
1Nuti cottage, one story high and eX-
uSmely humble in its appearance. The
grounds around il are uncultiVated the
ohty green living thing being small fir
uee at the back. At The top of the pat
"tH or picture, on the [eft, Is an island
r'H cottage. The grovnGs around it are
n5HF cultivated. wo birds on poised
wing represent turtle doves. Three figures
Japeitt uIllIe represent the mandarin
daughter with distatf the lover with a box,
rHu nearest lie willow Tree is the manda-
,Ll himself with a whip. The scene IS al
ytgg N round setting giving frame
III 10 Inc picture
me willow design was brought to Eng
49, ~ returning missionary physician
~" mna ~ 1850 Thomas Turner, a pot
t-,r,H Shropshire where the famous
|ushiey wares were made, secured the
rll ~ ana began It's manufaeture IN 1884,
to "v niue rhyme which Is supposed 20
~ Ilt story pictured on the willow pat |
"'n china is as follows:
Two little eagles flying high.
i;llle vessels sailing by.
Sd a1nese tempe there it stands.