Booths - Tea service (12) - Earthenware - Status / 1950s

Booths “Real Old Willow” A8025 – 12-Piece Gilt English Tea Set – c.1950s

A striking 12-piece Booths “Real Old Willow” tea set, made in England and decorated in the celebrated A8025 pattern. With its exceptionally rich cobalt-blue decoration, intricate Chinoiserie landscapes and elegant gilt detailing, this is a particularly attractive example of classic English blue-and-white tableware.

The design presents the romantic Oriental-inspired imagery for which Real Old Willow became renowned: traditional architecture, trees, birds and landscape motifs are surrounded by elaborate geometric borders in varying shades of deep blue. Gold accents to the rims and handles provide a beautiful contrast against the blue and ivory-white ground, giving the service a particularly luxurious appearance.

The underside bears the authentic Booths crown backstamp, together with “Made in England”, “Real Old Willow” and pattern number A8025. The A8025 version was introduced around 1944 and continued for several decades; comparable gilt A8025 pieces with this Booths mark are commonly attributed to the mid-20th century, particularly the 1950s. (Beauville Antiques)

The 12-piece set comprises:

* 6 teacups – 5 smaller cups and 1 larger cup
* 6 matching saucers

Saucers: approximately 14.5 cm diameter
Smaller cups: approximately 10.5 cm wide × 6 cm high

The combination of the saturated cobalt-blue transfer decoration, complex borders and gilded highlights gives the pieces wonderful visual depth, particularly when displayed together.

Condition

The service is presented in good vintage condition overall, with age-related signs of use and some wear to the gilding visible in places, particularly around the rims.

Please note that the larger cup has a repaired/glued handle, clearly photographed and disclosed. Other minor surface marks, manufacturing characteristics and age-related wear may be present, consistent with vintage English tableware.

Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

Maker: Booths
Pattern: Real Old Willow – A8025
Country of origin: England
Material: English ceramic / earthenware
Estimated period: c.1950s
Number of pieces: 12

A wonderfully decorative collection of Booths Real Old Willow, one of the enduring classics of English blue-and-white ceramics. The strong cobalt palette, intricate Chinoiserie decoration and surviving gilt embellishment make this an appealing service for collectors of traditional English pottery, Willow-pattern ceramics and distinctive vintage tableware.