Willow Tree Collectables - Why We Love Them

The story of the Willow Tree Collectables started in January 2000 when artist Susan Lordi introduced her first range of sculptured figurines to the world at large. The first Willow Tree collection started out with a mere 16 figures (1 figurine and 15 angels), plus a small nativity scene. From that modest start, we now have Willow Tree collectables across many ranges amounting to hundreds of different designs and themes.

Susan Lordi conceived Willow Tree collectables as a way for us to express and convey our emotional feelings towards our friends, family and loved ones through the medium of gift giving. What started out enveloping a handful of human emotions has grown to encompass virtually every imaginable circumstance or life event, and that original unique idea remains as strong today as it was at the start of this century.

The Willow Tree collection was initially intended to be a personal expression of our relationships with those closest to us, with the sculptures used as a metaphor for our love, our admiration and our sentiments. These thoughts symbolize our existence and are still the main inspiration behind the creation of new additions to the range, even today.

The development of the figurines and angels continues today and will continue for some considerable time, as the creator uncovers even more emotions that her loyal followers want to express. The emotions represented by the sculptures have a purity that conveys the hope, love and strength that is lovingly carved in to each individual figurine. The colours used for each figure is a deliberate attempt to inject an element of tranquility into each model created.

The name Willow Tree was inspired by the movement of the branches of the willow tree, how its sway seemed to beckon individuals towards its pull. The grace and majesty of the willow tree was thought to echo many human emotions, and many of its qualities are seen in the individual Willow Tree pieces. Each Willow Tree collectible mimics the trees bold stance, and the figures often hold objects from the natural world or tiny animals in order to represent the virtues or human qualities that they characterize.

Each sculpture is lovingly created to imply serenity, elegance, grace and beauty, and the emotions and sentiments within each piece are expressed through the figures gestures alone. It's the position of the hands, or the angle of the head or maybe just the way the figures are positioned in relation to each other that conveys exactly what the artist is trying to say.

Often people remark on the fact that there are no facial expressions on Willow Tree Collectibles, and there is a very good reason for that, the artist believes that if the emotions are left to be decided by the observer, the sentiment will be more powerful for that.