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.
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
William Moorcroft Poppy Vase c1925
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : A William Moorcroft poppy vase Date : c1925 Origin : Burslem, England Features : Indigi-blue ground with five large poppies. Marks : WM sign...
Ceramic
Art Pottery Vase by Ramona Rowley
By Ramona Rowley
Located in Water Mill, NY
Art pottery vase by listed California artist Ramona Rowley.
Pottery
Art Nouveau Villeroy and Boch Saxony Poppy Porcelain Egg Cups
By Villeroy & Boch
Located in New York, NY
Set of four Jugendstil Saxony Poppy porcelain egg cups by Villeroy and Boch, Dresden, Germany, dating between 1874- 1909. Beautiful stylized Art No...
Porcelain
$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
$1,057
H 5.12 in Dm 5.91 in
Vintage Glazed Signed European Art Studio Stoneware Pottery Vase or Vessel
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful brown salt glazed studio pottery vase or vessel. The piece is signed by the artist but we have not yet been able to identify them. Most cer...
Stoneware
Japanese Incised Art Pottery Vase, Chop Mark
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Multi colored Glaze with sgraffito decoration. Signed with a Chop Mark.
Charles Catteau for Kéramis, Art Deco Vase, Belgium, 1925
By Boch La Louviere, Charles Catteau
Located in New York, NY
Signed in ink: Ch. Catteau Marked in ink: D.1009 (design number) Incised: Grès Kéramis and 901 (shape number) Stamped: Boch F es La Louvière made in Belgium This vase displays Catte...
Stoneware
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
Ceramic Vase, Glazed Stoneware Vase, Ciboure Pottery, France, circa 1925
By Ciboure
Located in New York, NY
One of a set of beautiful ceramics from Ciboure Pottery, this piece is inspired by antiquity—evident in its form, its spare coloring, and its depiction of classical figures. Produced...
Stoneware
Charles Catteau for Kéramis, Art Deco Vase, Belgium, 1925
By Boch La Louviere, Charles Catteau
Located in New York, NY
Signed in ink: Ch. Catteau Marked in ink: D.1009 (design number) Incised: Grès Kéramis and 901 (shape number) Stamped: Boch F es La Louvière made in Belgi...
Stoneware
$650Sale Price|23% Off
H 9.25 in W 3.75 in D 3.25 in
Danish Art Pottery Vase by Soholm Bornholmsk Stentoj
By Soholm Pottery
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Danish Art pottery vase by Soholm Bornholmsk Stentoj. Mid-Century Modern / Scandinavian Modern
Ceramic
Studio Art Pottery Vase by Jay Forsythe, Oxbrook Pottery
Located in Peabody, MA
We are pleased to offer several ceramic works by the superlative young contemporary artist Jay James Forsythe of Oxbrook Pottery. A 2004 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design...
Pottery
Rare French Art Deco Galle Cameo Glass Vase -Winter Hydrangea -c1925
By Émile Gallé
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Fabulous late Galle Cameo vase in brown over yellow cleverly and finely depicting naturalistic winter hydrangea and lightly fire polished- This large and exceptional cameo vase is fr...
Art Glass
William Moorcroft Moonlit Blue Bowl c1925
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft Moonlit blue bowl c1925 Period : George V Marks : MOORCROFT, MADE IN ENGLAND, and pattern number 1410 Origin : Burslem, E...
Pottery
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
William Moorcroft Pottery Vase Moonlit Blue c1925
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft Moonlit Blue vase Date : c1925 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Baluster form with everted rim. Deep and pa...
Pottery
Large William Moorcroft Flambe Orchids Vase c1935
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Large William Moorcroft Flambe Orchids vase Date : c1935 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Large ovoid vase with eveted rim. Flambe ...
Pottery
William Moorcroft Vase - Moonlit Blue c1925
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft Moonlit Blue vase Date : c1925 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Baluster form with everted rim. Deep and pa...
Pottery
William Moorcroft Wisteria Plum Vase c1940
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft pottery Wisteria Plum vase Date : c1940 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Baluster form with wisteria plum decoration. Marks : Stamped MADE IN ENG...
Pottery
William Moorcroft Pomegranate Pattern Biscuit Barrel c1930
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft Pomegranate pattern biscuit barrel Date : c1930 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Blue ground with polychrome pomegranate decoration - hammered pe...
Pottery
William Moorcroft CORNFLOWER ON WHITE GROUND VASE C.1914
By William Moorcroft
Located in Stourbridge, West Midlands
A rare and superbly decorated Cornflower vase on a white ground that is dated 1914. Crisp bold colours, clear decoration and painted perfectly to the shape. An excellent example of t...
Ceramic
William Moorcroft REVIVED CORNFLOWER VASE C.1912
By William Moorcroft
Located in Stourbridge, West Midlands
A fantastic example of Cornflower on a beautiful shape that will date to 1912. The decoration and colour on this vase is as nice as you'll find with good pale crisp colours. GUARANTE...
Pottery
William Moorcroft Monumental Pomegranate Pattern Vase c1930
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft pomegranate pattern vase Date : c1930 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Baluster form with pomegranate decoration Marks : William Moorcroft signat...
Pottery
William Moocroft Very Large Pomegranate Pattern Vase c1930
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft pomegranate pattern vase Date : c1930 Origin : Burslem, England Bowl Features : Inverted baluster form with pomegranate decoration Marks : William Moorcro...
Pottery
James Macintyre Florian Ware Vase Designed by William Moorcroft c1900
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : William Moorcroft Florian ware vase Date : c1900 Origin : Burslem, Staffordshire, England Bowl Features : Baluster form decorated in green ...
Pottery