W.T. Copeland | Antique | Willow Mandarin | Serving Plate c. 1887

This amazing pink serving plate is one of my favourite willow pieces, and is by W.T. Copeland & Sons. Yet look closely, because although it looks like the willow pattern it isn't (why, you may ask, is it called willow... well I'll tell you - if you don't already know!)

This pattern is the Mandarin pattern which was developed from the Chinese original two birds pattern which also gave rise to the willow so it's part the Willow pattern history and (let's face it), looks very similar to the standard 3 man willow pattern.

The border - known as the dagger border, or the fitzhugh border from the pattern of the same name - as well as this mandarin pattern, was picked up by Gustavsberg here in Sweden and used in their willow ware (and they called it willow :) 

The backstamp on this piece dates it to between 1867 and 1890. How fabulous is that! if you look very closely at the indented imprint (which is tricky to catch on camera) it says Y87...which indicates 1887.

There is a chip on the left rim, but the piece is in amazing condition other than that.