Legacy & Continuity exhibition opens at spode museum

Dore & Rees is thrilled to be sponsoring a groundbreaking collaboration between Jingdezhen Ceramics University and the University of Staffordshire - Legacy & Continuity - Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ at Spode Museum.

Here, our Head of Asian Art, Lee, takes a tour through the display with Ceramics Specialist Professor Neil Brownsword.

This pioneering exhibition explores the enduring legacy of the Willow pattern – one of North Staffordshire’s most iconic and globally recognized ceramic designs. Originating around 1790 and inspired by Chinese porcelain, the Willow pattern became a worldwide commodity through British adaptation and mass production, embedding itself firmly in global visual and material culture.

Using the Willow pattern as a lens, this exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the often paradoxical history of Chinese influence on British ceramic traditions. It offers insights into how 18th and 19th century British potters imitated and adapted Chinese forms, imagery, and technologies during North Staffordshire’s rise as a global centre of ceramic production.

The exhibition runs until 29 March 2026.

Spode Museum, Elenora Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD