Hi Deborah,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Blue Willow porcelain originated in England around 1780, inspired by Chinese export porcelain designs that were highly popular in Europe. Its characteristic blue-and-white pattern tells a romanticized story of two lovers, often set against bridges, pagodas, and willow trees, blending Chinese motifs with Western narrative storytelling. Produced initially by potters like Thomas Minton and later Spode, it became widely accessible through mass production. Its cultural significance lies in bringing Asian aesthetics into everyday European life, influencing tableware design for centuries, and symbolizing the fusion of Eastern artistry with Western domestic culture, enduring as a collectible and nostalgic design.

Churchill China (often simply called Churchill China) is a long‑established English ceramics manufacturer based in Stoke‑on‑Trent — the historic heart of the UK pottery industry. The company traces its roots back to the 18th century and has developed over time through various mergers and name changes to become one of Britain’s largest makers of ceramic tableware and hospitality ware.

You have part of a dinner service that would almost certainly have originally included soup plates, bread and butter plates and salad or dessert plates, as well as serving platters, large bowls, gravy or sauce boats and covered tureens and probably even tea and coffee pots with covered sugar bowls, cream pitchers and open bowls where used tea leaves would have been deposited. Unless they are fully complete, such services are referred to as 'part dinner services".

Most collectors like dinner services to be as complete as possible and will pay a premium for ones above and beyond the average "per piece" value of $2-$4 that smaller part services bring when sold on the secondary market (at auction). You may see individual prices for such pieces on websites like Replacements; those are retail prices and representative of the primary market.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage 43-piece Churchill China pottery part dinner service
In the Blue Willow pattern, various dates, mid 20th Century
Comprising:
9 dinner plates (10 inches diameter)
8 luncheon plates (8 inches diameter)
8 fruit bowls (6 inches diameter)
9 cups (3 inches tall by 3-1/8 inches diameter with
9 saucers (5-1/2 inches diameter)
CONDITION: These are reported to be in "as new" condition with minor wear commensurate to age and use.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$100-150*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia