Moorcroft Pottery For Auction

Moorcroft was originally founded as a studio in 1897 within a large ceramic company, James Macintyre & Co.. Moorcroft pottery soon made its mark on the world with designs from the then 24-year-old William Moorcroft, who personalised each piece of pottery produced with his own signature or initials. This did little for James Macintyre’s name and reputation, and in 1913 William parted company with Macintyre and marched his workforce across Cobridge Park to a new factory where Moorcroft pottery is still made today. Moorcroft was financed by  the famous store Liberty of London store who continued to control Moorcroft until 1962. So successful was the factory in 1928 Moorcroft Pottery was appointed potter to HM The Queen.

William Moorcroft died in 1945 and his elder son, Walter, took over management and design and later bought out Liberty, but Moorcroft seldom prospered. In 1984, the family sold the bulk of their shares and Moorcroft is now controlled by the Edwards family.

Over the past decade, interest in Moorcroft has grown and there is high demand for rare and desirable Moorcroft vases, Macintyre Art Pottery, Florian Ware, Faience, Liberty and Co, Moorcroft Lustre Ware, Moorcroft Flambe Ware, Moorcroft Bowls, Moorcroft Candlesticks and Ginger Jars and early pieces.

Moorcroft patterns have since the beginning been synonymous with floral designs from the early Aurelian, Dura and Florian Ware, with patterns such as Daffodil, Poppy, Iris, Violet, ,Wisteria, Peacock, Lilac, Honesty, Tulip, Wild Rose, Primrose, Crocus, Fresia, Daisy, Forget Me Nots, Chrysanthemum, and the popular Cornflower design.

With the Hesperian Ware came patterns depicting fish, notably, Carp, seaweed and shells. Colours varied from the typical Florian Blue and included greens, yellows and salmon hues sometimes with gold accents. Other areas of nature captured Moorcroft’s imagination, such as toadstools and butterflies.

In 1902, the first landscape design was produced with pattern names such as Hazledene, Claremont, Prunus and later Moonlit Blue, Eventide and Dawn. The popular Pomegranate and Pansy designs were introduced in 1910, along with the Spanish design and its much richer new array of subtle and carefully balanced colours. Next came Persian Ware, reflecting the enthusiasm at the time for Middle Eastern styles of decoration. Moorcroft continued to use flowers as his main source of inspiration, introducing Orchid, Anemones, Fresia, Honeysuckle, Spring Flowers, Clematis, Fuchsia, Lily, Columbine, Hibiscus, Bourgainvillaea, Magnolia, Geranium and Campanula Grape and Leaf and the more exotic South African Flower and Waratah. Many different glazes were produced, including Flamminian, Lustres and Powder Blue.