The Travelling Willow
Blue Willow plates don’t need much introduction. They were created in 1779 in England by Thomas Turner and soon made their way to other parts of the world, appearing on tables across Europe, the Americas and, yes, South Africa.
They took pride of place on the tables of ordinary people and were highly fashionable in eateries in the US between the 1920s and 1950s – hence the American phrase “Blue Plate Special”. The blue doves were even presented with pride in British palaces.
They remain sought-after items today. Collectors pay handsomely for the
