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.

Was: £345.00
Ex Tax: £230.00

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