Seconds Willow Tree 243/4 Lidded Box

Charles Rennie Mackintosh repeatedly used the theme of the willow tree throughout the original Willow Tea Rooms building. The reason for this motif is due to the street on which the 1903 Tea Rooms was built – Sauchiehall Street. ‘Saugh’ is the Scottish Gaelic word for willow tree, and ‘haugh’ means meadow. Mackintosh believed that use of the natural form was paramount to the creation of Art Nouveau works, and the willow tree became his muse. The 1890s had brought a strong mood of spirituality to the Glasgow art scene and the willow tree had a strong symbolic past in Celtic culture owing to its mythical properties of enchantment and healing.

Mackintosh employed the willow motif to unite the Tea Rooms’ interior and exterior, including the iconic Willow Tea Rooms signs that hangs above the entrance which features a bird, bell and tree, in his pursuit for a ‘total work of art’.

Upon entering the building, guests are immediately surrounded by willow designs and upstairs the Willow Chair (settee) from 1904 takes centre stage in the exhibition. However, it was the cashier’s chair that caught designer Emma Bossons’ eye, featuring a stylised willow tree, together with the oval droplets which cascade from the entrance frieze and glass panels of the dividing wall, echo raindrops running off water laden branches. Emma combined these two motifs to create her Willow Tree lidded box – a most apt shape to use for a tea room inspired design, being reminiscent of a tea caddy.

What is a Moorcroft second? All our art pottery is closely inspected before it leaves the Moorcroft factory and the selection process is as rigorous as any in the world. As a result, not all pieces emerge unblemished in their quality assessment. The fault or faults may be in the finish of a piece, whether it be a tiny tubeline miss, an incorrectly painted petal, or a small glaze run. Seconds are not ‘red-dotted’, all of them are far too good for that, and each seconds piece has a charm and individuality of its own. Any fault is not structural and the piece can still be used for the purpose it was made. 

The 'Was' price shown is the Best Quality RRP of this design and shape.

A Gift Box is not supplied with this product

Was: £345.00
Ex Tax: £186.88

• Designer: Emma Bossons
• Dimensions: H 12.00 x W 9.00 x D 14.00 cm
• Availability: In Stock