Published: 30 June 2025
Classic colour combinations are always going to look great but there’s something about blue & white that just exudes charm and elegance like no other.
Blue and white, particularly in ceramics, has an incredibly long and rich history. It first emerged in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) in China with the use of cobalt blue pigment on white ceramic pieces of pottery. The style became incredibly popular during the Yuan(1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. The iconic blue and white colour combination was later adopted and adapted by other cultures across the world. We see examples of this in Europe, from the 16th century onwards, from Delftware and Meissen Porcelain to Wedgewood and Spode.
Holker Hall houses some spectacular examples of blue and white ceramics, the Wedgewood room in particular provides never ending inspiration, as does the English Delfware tiles. It’s fair to say that we’re well and truly besotted with blue and white this summer in the gift shop, from vases and trinket boxes and candles to drinks trays, there’s something for every home.
One of our regular customers, Jane, has purchased items from the new Summer collection on offer at Holker Gift Shop and has very kindly shared with us how wonderful her new vase and candle sticks look in her dining room. We always love to see how you’ve styled your Holker purchases, thank you Jane for sharing this with us.