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
$682
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
$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
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
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
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
Art Pottery Vase by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand
Located in København, Copenhagen
Art pottery vase by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand. "Eterna" with decoration in relief. Measures: 21 cm. In perfect condition.
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 23 in Dm 15 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Trenton Ware Art Pottery Floor Vase, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts & Crafts Trenton ware art pottery floor vase offers blue glazed urn form vessel with maker stamp on base, 20th century Measures- 23" height x 15" diameter. A fine exa...
Pottery
Japanese Incised Art Pottery Vase, Chop Mark
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Multi colored Glaze with sgraffito decoration. Signed with a Chop Mark.
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.25 in W 5.75 in D 5.75 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Fulper Art Pottery Buttress Vase Circa 1920
By Fulper Pottery
Located in Big Flats, NY
An Arts and Crafts vase by Fulper offers glazed art pottery construction in buttress form, maker mark on base as photographed, c1920 Measures- 8.35''H x 5.75''W x 5.75''D
Pottery
Large Moorcroft Flambe 'Spring Flowers' Art Pottery Plate or Charger
By Walter Moorcroft
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large Moorcroft charger was made in circa 1940 with a deep flambé glaze in the 'Spring Flowers' pattern. The top of the plate is hand painted wi...
Pottery
Circa 1928-1936 English Small Moorcroft Pomegranate Pattern Vase
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Small Moorcroft pomegranate pattern vase, 1928-1936, England. Signed "William Moorcroft"; stamps: "Potter to H.M. The Queen" & "Made in England". 1928-1936 for Queen Mary's Royal War...
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 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 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