Manufacturer: McNicol China
Pattern: Blue Willow
Distributor: James M. Shaw and Company
Date of flip-top sugar bowl: 1928-1936

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Notes: The traditional willow design, found in cobalt blue as well as pink as well as several other colors, always features a large beautiful Chinese home with a willow tree, small bridge with 3 figures, the teahouse at the foot of the bridge, a small Chinese boat and of the famous love birds above the willow tree. The romantic lore of the design could have added to its popularity over the years.

There is some discrepancy as to who actually designed the pattern first. Some say Thomas Turner introduced the famous design around 1780. The original copper plate for his design was engraved by Thomas Minton and is still preserved at Coalport China. Others say the willow design was the creation of Josiah Spode, a derivation of an original Chinese pattern called Mandarin. Spode developed his willow pattern sometime around 1790.

The pattern can be found as household china as well as restaurant ware by such manufacturers as Buffalo, Carr, McNicol, Bailey-Walker and Shenango.

For related info:
Blue Willow by Jackson China
Blue Willow 3 by Bailey-Walker China
Blue Willow 4 by Shenango China
Blue Willow 5 by Scammell China
Blue Willow 6 by Carr China
Blue Willow 7 by Sterling China
Blue Willow 8 by Warwick China

Other links:
http://www.foodhistory.com/foodnotes/leftovers/willow/01/
https://ezinearticles.com/?Collecting-and-History-of-Blue-Willow-China-List-of-Companies-That-Produce&id=517968

Photo of Blue Willow flip-top sugar bowl contributed by Susan Phillips