Willow Tree Collectables - Quietly

People buy Willow tree collectables for many different reasons. Some folks buy them for themselves, because they are avid collectors, and they just have to have the latest release, others buy them as gifts for family, friends, or loved-ones as a way of marking a significant life event, and there are some people who buy them simply because the figure's neutral colouring matches the décor in their homes.

Whatever reason you choose to buy Willow Tree figurines (I'm guessing that as you are here that you collect them), you'll know that each one is lovingly created, from the smallest figures, like Willow Tree Congratulations right through to the larger pieces such as Willow Tree Quietly.

I want to look at Willow Tree Quietly today because it has a special meaning to me. Not only was this Willow Tree figure one of the first Willow Tree figures I ever owned, but it was bought for me at a particularly emotional time in my life when the sentiment ' Quietly encircled by love' seemed to epitomize my situation perfectly.

Quietly is one of the larger pieces in the Willow Tree range, although it's not one of the tallest, it stands just over 5 inches high and features a scene of a mother sat with her two young children (at least that's what I see anyhow). Even though the faces lack any expression, you can just sense the huge feeling of love that bonds the mother and her children.

The way the mother's arms encircle the children, the way the eldest child is snuggled in close and the way the baby reaches up to touch the mother, all emphasise the closeness of this special family unit.

To me, Quietly will always be a special piece, something I will cherish forever - and as I keep adding to my collection of Willow Tree collectables as new figurines become available, I will be very surprised if another figurine ever overtakes it as my number one favourite figure.

Willow Tree Quietly

Height - 13cm / 5 inches

Ref - 26100

Sentiment - 'Quietly encircled by love'

Willow Tree Collectables

Willow Tree Collectables were first introduced to the world back in January 2000. When the collection was first put together by Susan Lordi, it consisted of just 16 pieces (15 Willow Tree angels and 1 Willow Tree figurine) plus a nativity scene. It's amazing to consider that from those humble beginnings, we've ended up with the literally hundreds of Willow Tree pieces we have today.

The Willow Tree collection was conceived to convey our most cherished sentiments towards our family, our friends, our loved one's and to the people in our hearts; the range has expended to encompass almost every conceivable human circumstance and the original inspiration of the Willow Tree range is as strong today as ever.

Willow Tree collectables have always been an intimate expression of our closeness to others, with the sculptured figurines representing sentiments, qualities in others, or just events in our lives that symbolize our existence. The artist behind the Willow Tree Collection, Susan Lordi, had these thoughts in mind as her inspiration for her creations.

The evolution of Willow Tree figurines, continues even today, as the artist identifies feelings and emotions we have need to express to each other. These emotions are manifested in pure, simple sculptures that convey love, hope, strength and intimacy, all emotions of life lived to the full.

The inspiration for the name Willow Tree came from the way a willow tree appears summon us by gesturing with the bows of its branches, the majestic way its foliage moves with the wind seemed to echo all human emotion. Willow Tree figures are designed to be upright like a tree, and are frequently fashioned carrying objects from nature or small animals that echo the human qualities or virtues that they represent.

Willow Tree figures are sculpted to imply beauty, elegance, grace and serenity, with emotions expressed through gestures alone. The position of a hand, the tilt of a head or the way two figures interrelate, demonstrates that suggestion is such a powerful sensation.

It is often remarked that Willow Tree collectables have no visible facial expressions, and for good reason, the emotions are left for the observer to decide which makes them very personal to their individual owners.