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 William Moorcroft pottery, vases, serveware and more on 1stDibs.
Moorcroft Green Glazed Flamminian Ware Cannister Vase 1913
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare Moorcroft for Liberty & Co green glazed flamminian ware cannister shaped vase dated 1913. Flamminian Ware was produced between 1905 and 1915 and was produced for renowned...
Ceramic
Circa 1935 Deep Centerpiece Bowl by Moorcroft, England
By William Moorcroft
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1935 deep centerpiece bowl in the "Freesia" pattern by Moorcroft, England. A gorgeous example made during the William Moorcroft period (WM monogram). Tube-lined flowers on cela...
Ceramic, Celadon
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
Moorcroft Vintage Pomegranate Pattern Vase Stamped & Signed Walter Moorcroft
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
A sweet vintage vase from Moorcroft, featuring a stunning pomegranate pattern in beautiful cobalt blue. The piece is signed by and stamped Moorcroft, made in England, 32 adding to it...
Pottery
Rare Vintage Petite William Moorcroft "Leaf and Berry" Art Pottery Cabinet Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare Vintage Petite William Moorcroft "Leaf and Berry" Art Pottery Cabinet Vase, Stamped, circa 1930s. An exquisite and charmingly petite art pottery cabinet vase designed by the leg...
Pottery, Earthenware
A sweet little William Moorcroft Leaf and Berry vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in London, GB
William Moorcroft. A sweet little colorful Leaf and Berry vase in wonderful original condition.
Ceramic
Vintage William Moorcroft Leaf Berry Pattern Art Pottery Cabinet Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Forest Grove, PA
An early William Moorcroft "Potter to H.M. the Queen" Leaf and Berry Art Pottery cabinet vase. Excellent condition with fine line tubing and featuring stylized natural forms. We thin...
Ceramic
Moorcroft Vintage Stamped & Signed Vase Decorated In The Poppy Pattern c1940’s
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
This pretty vintage English vase is by William Mooorcroft, Burslem, England. The vase features the poppy pattern on Moorcroft’s signature, stunning cobalt blue ground and red poppies...
Pottery
Moorcroft Pottery English Arts and Crafts Floral Pottery Lamp
By William Moorcroft, Moorcroft Pottery
Located in New Windsor, NY
Beautifully hand decorated and colorful Moorcroft Pottery table lamp. Decorated with lilies, poppies and other flora. Moorcroft pottery, known for its vibrant, hand-painted designs, ...
Pottery
Pre-1928 William Moorcroft Vase in the "Pomegranate" Pattern
By William Moorcroft
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pre-1928 William Moorcroft Vase in the "Pomegranate" pattern, England. Stunningly graceful, this monumental vase has a large swag of pomegranates, berries & leaves surrounding the up...
Ceramic
$863Sale Price|20% Off
William Moorcroft, England Stamped and Signed Vintage Pomegranate Pattern Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
A gorgeous William Moorcroft, Burslem, England pottery vase, this perfectly formed vase is clearly signed on the base with impressed makers marks and hand signed in cobalt blue glaze...
Pottery
Early William Moorcroft Anemone Bowl & Lid Both Signed & Stamped
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
Beautifuly decorated 5 inch Moorcroft Anemone lidded pot. This trinket dresser box, covered lidded candy dish, features the anemone pattern on a cre...
Pottery
Large "Seashell" Shaped Centerpiece Bowl by Murano Glass
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous extra large "seashell" shaped centerpiece bowl by Murano Glassworks of Venice, circa 2000s. This handcrafted piece is characterized by a unique "cartoccio" design and ivory ...
Blown Glass
Large Lalique Crystal Bowl Centerpiece
By René Lalique
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautifully hand crafted Lalique centerpiece decorative bowl in a wide open "V" form shape. The bowl is embellished by engraved frosted doves and large scrolls design details. Maker'...
Crystal
$683
H 7.68 in W 3.65 in D 3.55 in
A G Sangwell Martin Brothers Pottery Grotesque Dragons Tribute Art Pottery Vase
By Martin Brothers
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and rare Martin Brothers tribute vase by A G Sangwell, but recorded by the collector as A E Sangwell the owner of a hardware shop at 25 Featherstone Road (confirmed throug...
Pottery
Art Pottery Vase by Ramona Rowley
By Ramona Rowley
Located in Water Mill, NY
Art pottery vase by listed California artist Ramona Rowley.
Pottery
Galle Mold Blown Berry Vase
By Gallé
Located in Sarasota, FL
Galle mold blown ( souffle) vase. Dark brown over reddish, yellow and brown base. Sharp definition of leaves and berries.
Glass
$587
H 2.96 in W 3.55 in D 2.56 in
Moorcroft Vintage Stamped & Signed Vase Decorated In The Poppy Pattern c1940’s
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
This pretty vintage English vase is by William Mooorcroft, Burslem, England. The vase features the poppy pattern on Moorcroft’s signature, stunning cobalt blue ground and red poppies...
Pottery
Unavailable|$995 / set
H 3.25 in Dm 5.75 in
William Moorcroft Pomegranate Patterned Art Pottery Teacup & Saucer Set #1 of 4
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This art pottery teacup and saucer set was done by the Moorcroft Pottery company of England in circa 1925 in their 'Pomegranate' pattern. Each duo is done in the Moorcroft signature ...
Pottery
Murano Glass Centerpiece Bowl, Italy, circa 1950
Located in New York, NY
A remarkable large hand-blown Murano glass bowl crafted in a rich emerald green hue, featuring the refined bullicante technique—an intricate process in which controlled air bubbles a...
Murano Glass
Vintage William Moorcroft Leaf Berry Pattern Art Pottery Cabinet Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Forest Grove, PA
An early William Moorcroft "Potter to H.M. the Queen" Leaf and Berry Art Pottery cabinet vase. Excellent condition with fine line tubing and featuring stylized natural forms. We thin...
Ceramic
Water Berry Pottery Hand-Painted Ceramic Plate with Fish, Zimbabwe
Located in Nottingham, GB
Five individually detailed fish swim through a dense tangle of spiky serrated foliage and yellow blossoms across the dished face of this circular ceramic plate. Each fish is rendered...
Ceramic
Moorcroft Pottery Vase, circa 1920
Located in New York, NY
Decorated with mauve, plum and blue blossoms against a cobalt ground.
Porcelain
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
Unavailable|$2,250
H 8.5 in W 6.5 in D 8 in
Large William Moorcroft Pomegranate Patterned Art Pottery Teapot
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large art pottery teapot was done by the Moorcroft Pottery company of England in circa 1925 in their 'Pomagranite' pattern. The teapot is done usin...
Pottery
Large Irridescent Centerpiece Bowl by Murano Glass
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous extra large blue iridescent centerpiece bowl by Murano Glassworks of Venice, circa 1970s. This handcrafted piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks an...
Blown Glass
Jugendstil Centerpiece Bowl by Joh. Loetz Witwe, c. 1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) centerpiece bowl, by Joh. Loetz Witwe, in iridescent purple and gold glass with a ruffled rim, seated in a patinated bronze mount with floral and foliate d...
Bronze
Circa 1930s "Pomegranate" Pattern Low Vase by Moorcroft, England
By William Moorcroft
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1930s low vase by Moorcroft, "Pomegranate" pattern, England. The acclaimed Pomegranate pattern by William Moorcroft, festooned with pomegranates, berries & leaves around th...
Ceramic
Circa 1930 "Pomegranate" Design Large Vase by Moorcroft, England
By William Moorcroft
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1930 large vase "Pomegranate" design by Moorcroft, England. Designed by William Moorcroft, the body festooned with pomegranates & berries among leaves, all in fall colors again...
Ceramic
Sold
H 2.75 in W 10 in D 10 in
Large 10" Antique Art deco William Moorcroft "Pomegranate" Pottery Bowl 1920
By William Moorcroft
Located in Portland, OR
A good early & large antique Art Deco William Moorcroft "pomegranate" pottery bowl, circa 1920. A vibrant and crisp tube-lined pottery bowl by the master Art Nouveau potter & designer, William Moorcroft, the bowl is a very nice early example of the pomegranate pattern, with rich colors and a bold design of pomegranates to the center and leaves and fruit to the outside. The bowl having a blue facsimile signature to the underside "William Moorcroft" and the impressed marks "Moorcroft Burslem...
Pottery
Sold
H 5.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
William Moorcroft Stamped & Signed Vintage Pomegranate & Cobalt Blue Design Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
A stunning, William Moorcroft, Burslem, England vase in superb condition, signed, stamped made in England with impressed markings and the addition of “Potter to H.M the Queen”. The ...
Pottery
Sold
H 10.24 in W 4.73 in D 2.37 in
William Moorecroft Large Signed Vase Decorated in the Wisteria Design c1940’s
By William Moorcroft
Located in Sherborne, GB
A rare, elegantly shaped, large, William Moorcroft Wisteria and plum patterned signed vase. The vase has a stunning cobalt blue ground with yellow, pink a...
Pottery
William Moorcroft James MacIntyre Blue Cornflower Twin Handled Vase 1898
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare James MacIntyre & Sons art pottery twin handled vase decorated in the blue cornflower pattern by William Moorcroft (British, 1872-1945) and date...
Ceramic
Sold
H 4.34 in Dm 3.75 in
William Moorcroft for James MacIntyre Florian Ware Poppy Pattern Preserve Pot
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish and finely made James Macintyre & Co Florian Ware ceramic preserve pot decorated with poppies by renowned English born potter William Moorc...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 2.76 in Dm 7.09 in
William Moorcroft Liberty & Co Forget Me Not and Rose Pattern Art Pottery Bowl
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish art pottery bowl made for Liberty & Co decorated with tube lined Forget Me Not’s and Rose’s forming garlands around the body of the bowl by William Moorcroft (British, 1872...
Ceramic
William Moorcroft MacIntyre Art Nouveau Tube Lined Rose Pattern Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co. vase with tube lined rose garland designs by William Moorcroft (British, 1872-1945) and dating from 1907. William Moorcroft...
Pottery
Early William Moorcroft Pottery Large Dish in Freesia Pattern, circa 1935
By William Moorcroft
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good early example of a large diameter dish or shallow bowl made by William Moorcroft, of Moorcroft Pottery in the Freesia pattern and dating to circa 1935. A very ...
Pottery
Sold
H 11.82 in Dm 3.06 in
William Moorcroft MacIntyre Art Nouveau Elegantly Shaped Blue Lilac Pottery Jug
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co. rare Florian Ware tall elegantly shaped handled jug decorated with tube lined lilac flowers designed by William Moorcroft (English, 1872-1945) and d...
Earthenware
William Moorcroft MacIntyre Art Nouveau Blue Trees Pattern Pottery Jug
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co. rare Florian Ware tall elegantly shaped handled jug decorated with tube lined tall blue trees designed by William Moorcroft (English, 1872-1945) and...
Earthenware
William Moorcroft MacIntyre Art Nouveau Elegant Blue Carnation Pottery Vase
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co. Florian Ware tall elegantly shaped vase decorated with tube lined carnations designed by William Moorcroft (English, 1872-1945) and dating from arou...
Earthenware
William Moorcroft Macintyre Art Nouveau Rare Blue Dahlia Pattern Goblet
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co. Florian Ware goblet decorated with tube lined decoration in a rare ‘Dahlia’ variant design by William Moorcroft and dating from 1903. William Moorcr...
Pottery
William Moorcroft MacIntyre Art Nouveau Tube Lined Florian Ware Loving Cup
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co. Florian Ware three-handled flared loving cup decorated with tube lined floral designs by William Moorcroft and dating fr...
Pottery