Willow Pattern & Stamp Guide
cup form & stamps 1940s – 1990s
Collection Owner & Guide author: Rachael Linton – rachael5009@gmail.com
With grateful assistance from Brittas Bay Antiques – www.brittasbayantiques.com
BACKSTAMP
DECADE
SHAPE
RIM COLOUR
notes
1940s blue stamp ‘Willow’ ‘Arklow’ ‘D’
22ct gold rim – hand painted round handle with gold painted sides
‘D’ stamp refers to the master ceramicist responsible for pattern placement & gilding
1940s blue stamp ‘Willow’ ‘Arklow
22ct gold rim – hand painted round handle with gold painted sides
larger sized teacup introduced – known as ‘breakfast cup’
1940s blue stamp ‘Willow’ ‘Arklow’
blue rim – no gold large angular handle
large coffee mug size rare form
1949
blue stamp ‘Willow’ ‘Arklow’ & silver stamp ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
22ct gold rim – hand painted round handle with gold painted sides
rare – partial new silver gilt stamp added to Willow stamp for new status as Republic of Ireland 1949
1950s
green stamp AP logo ‘Arklow Pottery’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
22ct gold rim -hand painted moderate angular handle with gold painted sides
new stamp to recognize change of state to Republic of Ireland in April 1949
1950s
green stamp AP logo ‘Arklow’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
22ct gold rim – hand painted moderate angular handle with gold painted sides
the iconic AP stamp now enhanced with a rope/chain surround celebrating Arklow’s maritime history
1950s
blue stamp AP logo ‘Arklow’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
22ct gold rim – hand painted round handle with gold painted sides
the Pottery was at its most prolific & successful, producing the largest variety of Willow pattern dinner & coffee pieces under this stamp
1950s
blue stamp AP logo ‘Arklow’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
plain white rim – no gold scissor shape handle with Willow pattern strip & white sides
rare – this small ‘expresso’ coffee can form was not produced for long in the Willow pattern
1960s
blue stamp ‘Arklow’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’ note the 2 gold dots – ceramicist ID
22ct gold rim – applied strip
change to the format of the stamp, no longer using the iconic AP and rope/chain symbols
1960s
green stamp ‘Arklow’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
22ct gold rim – applied strip moderate angular handle with gold painted sides
the 1960s saw the end of the Arklow’s monopoly in the Irish market – and increasing EU competition results in production & materials cuts
1960s
embossed stamp ‘Arklow’ ‘Republic of Ireland’
22ct gold rim – applied strip moderate angular handle with gold painted sides
rare – this embossed version of the 1960s circular Republic stamp proved difficult to read and not used for long
1960s
green stamp ‘Arklow’ ‘made in Republic of Ireland’
plain white rim -no gold
thicker ceramic body
a different clay mix was used, possibly to meet daily use china demand
1960s – 1970s
green stamp ‘brendan’ ‘Erin Stone’ ‘made in Arklow Ireland’
22ct gold rim cup – applied strip
round handle plain no transfer strip just single gold line
a change in the Willow pattern design used since the 1940s – new decorative edge for the plates and increased white area in cup body
1970s
blue stamp (also in green) ‘Arklow’ logo ‘made in Republic of Ireland’ ‘Ironstone’
22ct gold rim – applied strip moderate
angular handle with gold painted sides
Ironstone (a new mix of clay) was created to answer market demand for more robust daily use kitchenware
1970s
blue stamp ‘Arklow’ ‘Studio Kraft’ ‘Made in Ireland’ note letter X – ceramicist ID
plain white rim – no gold
thicker ceramic body
rounded oval handle plain white
Studio Kraft carried on the Arklow Studio Pottery line of Art Pottery designs.
A-Z Letters used to ID ceramicists
1980s
blue stamp ‘Arklow Classics’ ‘Made in Ireland’ & other stamp colours – red, green, black
22ct gold rim – applied strip moderate
angular handle with gold painted sides
the Classics line was produced by Noritake to celebrate the successful patterns from Arklow Pottery’s past
1980s
blue stamp ‘Arklow Classics’ ‘Made in Ireland’ note letter G – ceramicist ID
22ct gold rim – applied strip
round handle small mug shape
thick ceramic body
the Classics line introduced a change to the traditional tea cup form with this square mug shape
1980s
blue stamp ‘Arklow Classics’ ‘Made in Ireland’ note letter S – ceramicist ID
plain white rim – no gold
round handle small mug shape
thick ceramic body
the Classics stamp also used A-Z Letters to ID the ceramists responsible for the pattern and gold transfers
1980s-1990s
blue stamp shield logo ‘Arklow’ ‘Willow’ ‘Ireland’
blue rim – no gold
plain white oval & round handles
another change to the tea cup form – note the ‘footed’ & ‘flat’ cup – and simple blue rim & line instead of pattern on plate edge
1980s-1990s
blue stamp shield logo ‘Arklow’ ‘Willow’ ‘Ireland’
blue rim – no gold
plain white rectangular
handle thick ceramic body
tall coffee mug form
ARKLOW POTTERY, FOUNDED IN 1934 AND UNDER OWNERSHIP OF NORITAKE LTD FROM 1977, CEASED PRODUCTION IN 1998
*please do not copy or distribute without permission photos & content copyright rachael5009@gmail.com
Disclaimer:
This guide is the property of the creator Rachael LInton and should not be copied or reproduced without permission.
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