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William Moorcroft Pottery

British, 1872-1945

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.

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Creator: William Moorcroft
Rare Vintage Petite William Moorcroft "Leaf and Berry" Art Pottery Cabinet Vase
Rare Vintage Petite William Moorcroft "Leaf and Berry" Art Pottery Cabinet Vase

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...

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Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts William Moorcroft Pottery

Materials

Pottery, Earthenware

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Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique William Moorcroft Pottery

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Petite English Floral Art Pottery Vase by William Moorcroft
Petite English Floral Art Pottery Vase by William Moorcroft

Petite English Floral Art Pottery Vase by William Moorcroft

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Located in San Diego, CA

Rare English low art pottery vase by William Moorcraft, circa 1930s. The piece is signed and also has the designation "WM, Potter to HM the Queen". Excellent condition and vibrant fl...

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Early 20th Century English Victorian William Moorcroft Pottery

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Petite English Floral Art Pottery Vase by William Moorcroft
Petite English Floral Art Pottery Vase by William Moorcroft

Petite English Floral Art Pottery Vase by William Moorcroft

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Rare English low art pottery vase by William Moorcraft, circa 1930s. The piece is signed and also has the designation "WM, Potter to HM the Queen". Excellent condition and ...

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Early 20th Century English Victorian William Moorcroft Pottery

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William Moorcroft pottery for sale on 1stDibs.

William Moorcroft pottery are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of William Moorcroft pottery, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original pottery by William Moorcroft were created in the Art Nouveau style in united kingdom during the 20th century. Prices for William Moorcroft pottery can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $561 and can go as high as $4,336, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,060.