A new publication explores Stoke-on-Trent's global ceramics heritage and its historic connections with China

Legacy and Continuity: Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of 'Other' was produced by Stoke-on-Trent City Council following an international ceramics symposium held during the city's Centenary celebrations in 2025.

The volume, edited by Professor Neil Brownsword of the University of Staffordshire, presents contributions from leading scholars examining the origins, evolution and continuing relevance of the Willow Pattern - one of Stoke-on-Trent's most recognisable ceramic designs.

Councillor Lyn Sharpe, culture and heritage champion at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "This places Stoke-on-Trent firmly where it belongs - at the heart of global ceramics research - and celebrates the skills, innovation and creativity that define city I'm proud to call home.

"The Willow Pattern is one of the most recognisable ceramic designs ever created and remains closely associated with our pottery industry.

"This publication reveals the remarkable international story behind the pattern, highlighting centuries of artistic exchange between Stoke-on-Trent and Jingdezhen and the important role ceramics have played in connecting communities, cultures and industries around the world.

"Making it freely available means more people can discover and explore this fascinating shared heritage."

Although closely associated with Staffordshire's pottery industry, the Willow Pattern was inspired by Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.

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The publication traces how the design was adapted by British manufacturers, transformed through industrial innovation and ultimately returned to China as global patterns of ceramic production shifted during the late twentieth century.

Professor Neil Brownsword, Professor of Ceramics at University of Staffordshire, said: "The essays in this volume encourage a more critical understanding of the Willow Pattern by examining the processes of translation, adaptation and reinterpretation that have shaped its development over three centuries.

"By bringing together scholarship and contemporary artistic practice, the publication opens new perspectives on questions of authorship, material culture and the complex histories that continue to inform ceramic production today."

The city council said the publication also reflects the growing partnership between Stoke-on-Trent and Jingdezhen, China's historic porcelain capital.

The relationship was formalised through a Cultural Concordat signed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Jingdezhen City Government, Jingdezhen Ceramic University and the University of Staffordshire to support future cultural activity, research collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The publication accompanies the exhibition Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of 'Other', which is on display at the Spode Museum, Stoke, until 30 August 2026.

Legacy and Continuity: Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of 'Other' is available to download for free here.