Churchill Indian Tree India-inspired Chinoiserie China

Churchill has made the Indian Tree pattern off and on since the early 1900s. It is currently discontinued, but you can find pieces on eBay, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace.

Indian Tree has large stylized peonies or lotus flowers with leaves on a gnarled tree. Some variations include exotic birds or animals. It is surrounded by a floral outer rim.

Indian Tree is a Chinoiserie china pattern. Chinoiserie isn’t just Chinese. It is 17th-century European interpretations of all kinds of fantasy Asian design. It derives from European fascination with art from Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, India, Persia and anywhere else considered exotic.

Churchill Indian Tree is usually made using the smooth rim Georgian mold. This is also the most common mold for Blue Willow, too. You can sometimes find pieces made with the scalloped rim Chelsea mold. Some older pieces were made using the Columbia mold. It looks nearly identical to the Georgian mold, but the pieces are slightly different size and won’t stack.

Blue or Pink on White or Cream Churchill Indian Tree is easier to find, but my favorite is the multicolor version. Other ceramics companies have made additional color variations.

Queen’s is owned by Churchill China (UK) Ltd. Queen’s Pottery was acquired by the Churchill China Group in the mid 1990s. Plates marked Queen’s Indian Tree are made by Churchill using the same molds and will stack and store together.

The Indian Tree pattern is inspired by traditional Indian design motifs like the mythical Ashvattha or Tree of Life. It was hand painted or block printed on cotton cloth.

Antique Coalport Indian Tree China set made in England in 1801. The set includes round dinner plates with a beautiful floral pattern in multicolor, crafted from bone china with a glossy finish. As a vintage piece from the early 1900s, it holds historical value and showcases the craftsmanship of Coalport, a renowned brand in pottery. Perfect for collectors or those looking to add an elegant touch to their dining table with authentic British-made dinnerware.

Antique Coalport Indian Tree China Made in England in 1801 on eBay

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a modified version of the motif was used for ceramics. Like Blue Willow, a lot of different potteries manufactured a version of the pattern.

Modern Churchill Indian Tree pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe.

Some Churchill Indian Tree pieces are marked Sampsonite (sometimes spelled “Samsonite”) and “Super Vitrified.”

Vitrification is a process where the clay is fired at really high temperatures, up to 2200°F. This closes all gaps between particles, so that the plates are stronger, denser, non-porous, and stain-proof.

The Churchill Super Vitrified body is one of the strongest in the world, delivering presentation that lasts. A comprehensive collection of ranges from classic to contemporary, whiteware to coloured glazes. A variety of shapes and sizes to provide your tabletop solution.

One of the strongest ceramic bodies in the world, Churchill Super Vitrified offers outstanding performance solutions across a variety of versatile designs, from timeless white to contemporary prints, spinwash and coloured glaze effects.

The Churchill Super Vitrified body is one of the strongest in the world, delivering presentation that lasts. A comprehensive collection of ranges from classic to contemporary, whiteware to coloured glazes. A variety of shapes and sizes to provide your tabletop solution.

Churchill Super Vitrified

Churchill Super Vitrified is engineered for strength, designed for commercial use. It is used in hotels and restaurants. Super Vitrified hotelware is produced by Churchill China in England.