OCCUPIED JAPAN REAL OLD WILLOW VINTAGE CUP & SAUCER C. 1945-52

This High Quality Blue Willow Cup & Saucer was manufactured by a Japanese Factory during the Occupied Japan Period which was 1945-1952.

This is Blue & White Transfer Print on a medium of pottery known as “earthenware”, which is generally referred to as semi porcelain which is not “true porcelain”, but rather a sales term stamped on the back of many pieces of this pottery type as a sales gimmick by many factories…See our Media section located at top of Home Page: “Semi Porcelain”.

These pieces of Occupied Japan blue willow ware are copies of such factories as the early Booths and Royal Doulton of England. This Occupied Japan Cup & Saucer Cup & Saucer is an exact copy of the English version except the density of clay ingredients vary greatly.

All Booth’s “Real Old Willow” pieces are distinguishable by having a lavish 24Kt. gold gilded lattice detail in the border of each of its pieces that pronounce the Willow Story. Of all willow patterns produced, only Booth’s “Real Old Willow” uses this honey gold trim and lattice work on the border of each of its creations. However there are the more current issues of Booth’s Real Old Willow that looks exactly the same and is produced by Royal Doulton.

COMMENT: This rendition of Booth’s “Real Old Willow” definitely has made a “stately presence” for itself in the realm of Willow Ware. Booth’s Willow is renowned for its quality of pottery… namely a “silicon body”, quality of lavish gilded decoration; it is cherished by some of the best collectors as some of the best willow ware ever produced in England. 

Willow Ware, as a category of “Blue & White” Transfer Ware, is still one of the most attainable and affordable of all blue & white Transfer Wares in today’s marketplace and is a very good investment providing it is in great condition and has a good factory reputation.

CONDITION: Excellent! There is no chipping, no staining nor restoration and all gold gilding is in tact.

WHAT IS THE WILLOW STORY?

If you enjoy Willow Ware collecting, we are certain that you are aware of the many variations of the “Willow Story”. It is a beautiful love story that originated as a fable of both romance and sadness at the same time that ends up in eternal happiness for the two lovers in question.

The scene is depicting the famous "Willow" story that Caugley factories first transferred to a "pearlware" medium as early as 1780-1790 in England. Many other early competitors began transfer printing of this fable to share with the world. Over the years many variations of this story have occurred as well as many variations of transfer print onto earthenware and porcelain. No one knows the origins of this story. It was told in China 2000 years ago and brought over to our country from Eastern lands by the Crusaders.

The willow pattern picture was first designed about 1770 by Thomas Minton for the Coalport Pottery Works in Staffordshire, a factory that has only lately closed down. At that time the craze for Chinese things was at its height and this dainty blue and white Chinese pattern instantly became popular. It was copied, with certain variations, by other Staffordshire potters and, though at first sight all willow patterns look alike, the different makes can be distinguished by various small details, such as the number of apples, the figures on the bridge, and the design of the crooked fence.

For almost two centuries, the willow pattern has been the most popular design in pottery and generation of children have delighted in the quaint little figures, as they listened to the familiar old jingle -

 
THE WILLOW LEGEND
There was once a Mandarin who had a beautiful daughter, Koong-se. He employed a secretary, Chang who, while he was attending to his master's accounts, fell in love with Koong-se, much to the anger of the Mandarin, who regarded the secretary as unworthy of his daughter.

The secretary was banished and a fence constructed around the gardens of the Mandarin's estate so that Chang could not see his daughter and Koong-se could only walk in the gardens and to the water's edge. One day a shell fitted with sails containing a poem, and a bead which Koong-se had given to Chang, floated to the water's edge. Koong-se knew that her lover was not far away.

She was soon dismayed to learn that she had been betrothed to Ta-jin, a noble warrior Duke. She was full of despair when it was announced that her future husband, the noble Duke, was arriving, bearing a gift of jewels to celebrate his betrothal.

However, after the banquet, borrowing the robes of a servant, Chang passed through the guests unseen and came to Koong-se's room. They embraced and vowed to run away together. The Mandarin, the Duke, the guests, and all the servants had drunk so much wine that the couple almost got away without detection, but Koong-se's father saw her at the last minute and gave chase across the bridge.

The couple escaped and stayed with the maid that Koong-se's father had dismissed for conspiring with the lovers. Koong-se had given the casket of jewels to Chang and the Mandarin, who was also a magistrate, swore that he would use the jewels as a pretext to execute Chang when he caught him.

One night the Mandarin's spies reported that a man was hiding in a house by the river and the Mandarin's guards raided the house. But Chang had jumped into the ragging torrent and Koong-se thought that he had drowned. Some days later the guards returned to search the house again. While Koong-se's maid talked to them, Chang came by boat to the window and took Koong-se away to safety.

They settled on a distant island, and over the years Chang became famous for his writings. This was to prove his undoing. The Mandarin heard about him and sent guards to destroy him. Chang was put to the sword and Koong-se set fire to the house while she was still inside.

Thus they both perished and the gods, touched by their love, immortalized them as two doves, eternally flying together in the sky.

OCCUPIED JAPAN PERIOD IN HISTORY
“MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN”… The American Export Act required that the Japanese stamp this on any exported items from 1945-1952.

At the end of WW II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers that was led by the United States. This was the first time since the unification of Japan that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power. The San Francisco Peace Treaty, signed on Sept. 8, 1951 marked the end of the Allied occupation. It went into effect April 28, 1952. Japan was once again an independent state.

Japan surrendered to the Allies on Aug. 15, 1945 when Emperor Hirohito accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. The following day, Hirohito announced Japan's surrender. It was V-J Day, the end of WW II and the beginning of a long road to recovery for a shattered Japan.