William Moorcroft (1872–1945), the founder of the celebrated British art-pottery company that shares his last name, was both an aesthete and a technical innovator. Along with William de Morgan, he is regarded as one of the greatest ceramists of the Arts and Crafts movement, yet Moorcroft’s singular style is heavily inflected with the lush naturalism of the Art Nouveau school of art and design.
The son of a decorative pottery painter, Moorcroft was born in Staffordshire, the center of English ceramics-making, studied at the Wedgwood Institute and in 1897 joined the local pottery manufacturer James Macintyre & Co. as a designer. After a year, he was put in charge of the company’s art-pottery studio, and there he developed a new style of wares named “Florian,” made with a technique called tube-lining, or slip-trailing. In this method, decorative motifs are outlined with a thin, raised border produced by piping a thread of clay onto the body of a vessel — much like squeezing toothpaste from a tube.
Moorcroft, who took the unusual step of signing his ceramics, would go on to win numerous international awards. In 1913, backed by the London department store Liberty & Co., he left Macintyre to open his own workshop. Queen Mary, wife of King George V, gave Moorcroft her Royal Warrant in 1928. Shortly before he died in 1945, his son, Walter Moorcroft (1917–2002), took over as head of the firm. The pottery company is still in business in Staffordshire, with a design department headed by Rachel Bishop.
William Moorcroft’s ceramics are noted for their colorful, ebullient (and often slightly surreal) decorations depicting stylized natural forms — flowers, toadstools, fruit (pomegranate is a favorite among collectors), insects and landscapes. Most Moorcroft wares are finished with a glossy overglaze. Blue-and-white and pastel shades were generally used as underglazes on early Moorcroft pieces, and he later developed a rich, ruddy background glaze he called “flambé.”
Moorcroft art pottery has a rich, warm and inviting look — a comforting aesthetic that explains their enduring appeal.
Find antique and vintage Moorcroft pottery, vases, serveware and more on 1stDibs.
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Moorcroft Pottery Hibiscus Heart Shaped Box with Lid, England
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Charming vintage ceramic box with lid features the Hibiscus pattern decor, with a striking red flower and yellow-green leaves hand-painted over a slightly raised relief. The soft sha...
Ceramic, Pottery
Art Deco Era William Moorcroft Pomegranate Lidded Dresser or Vanity Jar or Box
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This art pottery dresser jar or box was made by the Moorcroft Pottery company of England in circa 1935 and done in their pomegranate glaze pattern. This circular jar has a hinged lid...
Pottery
Signed Sara Sax Rookwood Pottery Lidded Rectangular Box
By Sara Sax, Rookwood Pottery Co.
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This gorgeous ceramic lidded rectangular box was made by Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati, Ohio, and decorated by renowned artist, Sara Sax. Rookwood has long been recognized as one of...
Ceramic
$637
H 3.5 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
William Moorcroft Burslem Vintage Pomegranate Pattern, Stamped and Signed Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
This sweet sized vintage vase features the pomegranate design on a dark cobalt blue background. It was designed by William Moorcroft and produced at Burslem. The base is reassuringly...
Pottery
Lovely Lidded Art Deco Ceramic Box 1930s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Lovely Lidded Art Deco Ceramic Box 1930s This is a wonderful lidded ceramic art deco box. Great design and lovely colors - a true modernist piece with a lot of elegance. Would be gr...
Pottery
Art Deco Moser Style Pink Clear White Cased Cut Glass Hinged Lid Lg Dresser Box
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a fantastic Art Deco art glass box with three layers of cased glass, pink on the outside cut in rectangles with the corners cut, clear in the middle cut with intriguing diago...
Glass
Victorian Period Sterling Silver Heart-Form Trinkets Box with Hinged Lid
By H. Matthews
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver heart-form trinkets box with hinged lid and gilt interior, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1897, H. Matthews - Maker. Lid is designed with a Joshu...
Gold, Sterling Silver
Art Deco Brass Lidded Cigarette Box, 1930's France
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Art Deco Brass Lidded Cigarette Box, 1930's France Interior attached compartments: Two, measure 3.375" x 2" for cigarettes, one, measures 1" x 2" for matches. Space for a striker (no...
Brass, Nickel
Moorcroft Pottery Big Poppy Vase
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large Moorcroft Pottery big poppy vase. Walter Moorcroft era. The base bears impressed marks and a blue glaze script Walter Moorcroft signature. ...
Pottery
Antique Moser Lidded "Ruby Cabochon" Pattern Gilt Glass Box
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A circular faceted box with hinged lid, circa late 19th century. Overall gilt patterned decoration with raised ruby tone glass panels. The domed lid with f...
Brass
$95
H 3.75 in W 5 in D 2.5 in
Harrods Porcelain Delivery Truck Lidded Tea Caddy Box London Pottery England
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Harrods ceramic delivery truck, lidded candy or trinket box, London, England. Hand painted ceramic small tea caddy box, trinket truck box. Vintage Har...
Porcelain
$250
H 2 in W 4.13 in D 4 in
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Clear Crystal Heart-Shaped Lidded Jewelry Box
By Elsa Peretti, Tiffany & Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous modern clear crystal heart-shaped lidded jewelry box or trinket box By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Japan, Circa Late 20th Century Measures: 4.13"W x 4"D x 2"H. Very...
Crystal
Moorcroft pottery 'Otters' ginger jar, designed by Sian Leeper
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
Moorcroft pottery 'Otters' ginger jar, designed by Sian Leeper. This specific design was produced in a limited edition around 2004 or 2005. The jar features a tub-lined decoration, a...
Pottery
$1,600 / set
H 3.94 in Dm 3.86 in
Cenedese Pair of Mid-Century Green Italian Murano Glass Apothecary Lidded Jars
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare pair of Cenedese vintage midcentury modern clear green colored / coloured Murano glass round Apothecary jars or storage containers with lids made circa 1970s. Wonderful Italian ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass