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.
William Moorcroft MacIntyre Art Nouveau Blue Daisy Pattern Tobacco Jar
By William Moorcroft
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Art Nouveau James MacIntyre & Co lidded tobacco jar decorated with tubelined daisies designed by William Moorcroft (English, 1872-1945) and dating from around 1900. William Moorcroft...
Ceramic
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
Postmodern Rimini Blue Ceramic Fish Money Box by Bitossi, Italy
By Bitossi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is a Rimini blue lacquered ceramic money box by Bitossi, one of the most known Italian ceramic company that was founded i...
Ceramic
Royal Bonn Art Nouveau Vase
By Royal Bonn
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Royal Bonn Art Nouveau vase.
Ceramic
$270 / item
H 4.73 in W 3.94 in D 7.88 in
Made in Italy Sound Amplifier, Blue & Gold Ceramics, Acoustic Speaker
By Mosche Bianche
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Description This is an amplifier compatible with all smartphones in which the speaker is positioned at the bottom, near the microphone. It will allow you to increase the volume of your smartphone by 15/20 decibels! European Design Patent filed n. 005778529 Materials Handmade in 100% Italian ceramic and non-toxic glazes, i.e. free of lead and other substances harmful to the health of workers (as required by EU regulations). METHOD OF USE Just insert your smartphone in the appropriate space and start your favorite music to hear it clear and loud at home, outdoors or wherever you want! It has a hole for passing the power cable. ECO-SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION The production method is characterized by an ethical and eco-sustainable approach. Ceramics of controlled origin, non-toxic glazes and photovoltaic panels are used to guarantee the functioning of the electric ovens...
Ceramic
$50
H 0.75 in Dm 4.5 in
Blue and White Johnson Bros Saucer Catchall or Trinket Dish Carisbrooke England
By Johnson Brothers
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Small blue and white decorative plate or saucer by Jonson Brothers. Circular in shape with pinched edges, this plate depicts a scene of Carisbrooke Castle England in 1792.
Ceramic
$481 / set
H 7.49 in Dm 11.03 in
Art Nouveau Majolica glazed tableware set of 10 pieces Leaves pattern in relief.
By Faienceries Sarreguemines
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Nouveau Majolica glazed tableware set of 10 pieces Leaves pattern in relief. Sarreguemines Majolica is a type of earthenware, decorated with colored lead glazes. Majolica was m...
Majolica
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
$9,800
H 9.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Ceramic Vase, Glazed Grecian-style 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 urn-like form, its spare coloring, and its depiction of classical subjects...
Stoneware
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
$891 / set
H 11.82 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
Pair of Art Nouveau orange apothecary jars, hand-painted porcelain
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing pair of porcelain apothecary jars, with cartouches reading "Amber" and "Opium." These jars were traditionally used by apothecaries to store medicinal liquids. However, in ad...
Ceramic
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
19th Century French Pottery Tobacco Jar Humidor Renaissance Style
Located in Austin, TX
Rare complete 19th French pottery tobacco jar inspired by the Renaissance with medallions with his two pewter lids. Pottery from North of France No...
Pewter
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
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
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
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 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