Blue and White Willow Pattern Dinner Plate

This item is a round ceramic plate featuring the iconic blue and white 'Willow Pattern' design. The design, executed in underglaze cobalt blue on a white or cream-colored ground, depicts a stylized romanticized Chinese landscape. Key elements visible in the pattern include: a large Pagoda or Tea House structure on an island, a bridge with three figures crossing it, a small boat with a figure, a pair of doves or birds flying above, and a profusion of trees, including weeping willow trees. The border of the plate features a geometric pattern, often referred to as a 'fretwork' or 'cellular' border, interspersed with cartouches containing floral or decorative motifs. The plate appears to be of standard dinner plate size. The overall condition suggests that it is a used item; while no obvious chips or cracks are discernible from the image, there may be some surface wear, crazing, or utensil marks consistent with its age and use. The specific shade of blue and the crispness of the transfer print indicate good quality, although without a clear view of the reverse, manufacturing marks are not discernible. The Willow Pattern was originally developed in England in the late 18th century as an imitation of hand-painted Chinese porcelain and became incredibly popular, being produced by countless potteries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. This particular piece appears to be a common domestic dinner plate from the mid-20th century, though it could date earlier depending on the specific manufacturer.