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.
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 Rookwood Pottery Co., Sara Sax
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
$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
$634
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
$760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 4.72 in W 5.71 in D 4.53 in
Wedgwood Jasperware lidded boxes serving bowls classicism Mid-Century England
By Wedgwood
Located in Wien, AT
The set of Wedgwood consists of three lidded boxes in different shape and design and two small serving bowls of which one can be used as an ashtray. All is made of the famous but r...
Ceramic
Art Deco Half Doll Porcelain Vanity Powder - Trinket Box, 1930's
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this very attractive and totally original 1930's Art Deco ladies powder/ trinket box. Made from porcelain with a vibrantly colored painted finish. Highly fu...
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 Tiffany & Co., Elsa Peretti
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
Jasperware Wedgewood Heart-Shaped Trinket Blue & White Box
By Wedgewood
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Timeless and iconic, Wedgwood’s Jasperware trinket boxes are miniature works of art that blend classical beauty with everyday function. First developed in the 18th century by Josiah ...
Ceramic
Art Deco Porcelain Flapper Powder, Trinket Box, c1930s
Located in Devon, England
Striking and quite rare is this 1930s Art Deco ceramic powder box which depicts a stylized female dancer sat on the lid of a porcelain box. Beautiful colouring and detailing. A rare ...
Porcelain
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
Antique Large Cut Crystal & Silverplate Hinged Vanity or Dresser Box
By T. G. Hawkes & Co.
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a late 19th to early 20th-century cut crystal and silver-plated vanity or dresser box, characterized by an intricately faceted body and lid. The crystal is expertly cut in a ...
Cut Glass
Vintage Rose Chintz Egg Shaped Ceramic Trinket Box with Hinged Lid
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Vintage rose chintz egg shaped ceramic trinket box with hinged lid. This 20th century vintage ceramic egg (Trinket Box) stands on shaped legs, i...
$1,837 / set
H 4.81 in Dm 4.14 in
Cenedese Mid-Century Blue Pair of Italian Murano Glass Apothecary Lidded Jars
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Cenedese vintage midcentury modern pair of new old stock Murano solid light blue colored / coloured glass round Apothecary jars or storage containers with lids made circa 1970 with o...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass