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William Moorcroft Ceramics

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
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...
Category

1920s British Adam Style Vintage William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

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...
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Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

William Moorcroft Pomander in the Pomegranate Pattern, c. 1908
By William Moorcroft
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
William Moorcroft for Liberty & Co pomander with pierced lid in the Pomegranate pattern Dated: c. 1908 Dimensions: 12cm high Complimentary Insured Postage 14 Day Money Back Guarant...
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20th Century William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

William Moorcroft Green and Gold Florian Ware Goblet
By William Moorcroft
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A decorative pottery goblet created by William Moorcroft for James MacIntyre & Co. in 1903. This goblet is part of William Moorcroft's Green and Gold...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware

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...
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Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

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...
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Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

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 ...
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Mid-20th Century English Art Deco William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Rare Pair of William Moorcroft Leaf and Berry Pattern Pottery Goblets, C1930
By William Moorcroft
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A rare pair of William Moorcroft designed leaf and berry pattern goblets with a pale blue/green background, circa 1930. Fully signed to the base W. Moorcroft, with the factory sta...
Category

Early 20th Century British William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Related Items
William Moorcroft Tudric Pewter Mounted Tazza c1915
By William Moorcroft
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : A William Moorcroft Pomegranate Pattern Pewter Mounted Tazza Date : c1915 Period : George V Marks :The pottery tazza is signed with impressed marks and blue monogram. The ...
Category

1910s British Art Nouveau Vintage William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

John Ridgway Ironstone Bowl Hand-Painted pattern, William 1Vth Circa 1835
By John Ridgways
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a highly decorative, ironstone, twin handled circular footed Bowl by John Ridgway, dating to the English William 1Vth period, circa 1835 . The bowl has been carefully hand-painted in bold colorful enamels with a chinoiserie pattern of three oriental people travelling on a boat, pattern number 5057. It is also richly hand gilded. John Ridgway operated at his father’s celebrated Cauldon Place works, Shelton, Hanley, England, between 1830-1856, producing some fine porcelain and stone China of excellent quality. His stone China earthenwares and ironstone wares are discussed on page 305 of Godden's Guide to Ironstone, Stone and Granite Wares written by Geoffrey Godden for the Antique Collectors Club. This piece is fully marked to the base with an Imperial Stone China...
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Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ironstone

Early William Moorcroft Pottery Large Vase in Autumn Leaves Pattern, circa 1930
By William Moorcroft
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good early example of a large vase made by William Moorcroft, of Moorcroft Pottery in the Autumn Leaves pattern and dating to circa 1930. The pattern is known as au...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

William de morgan - MASSIVE ALHAMBRA VASE C.1898
By William De Morgan
Located in Stourbridge, GB
A rare and huge scale Alhambra vase by William de morgan. This is something i have not seen before and as such is a rare model. It is decorated in Alhambra form with obvious Persian ...
Category

19th Century European Arts and Crafts Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Art Nouveau Villeroy et Boch Stamp Schramberg Majolica, Water Lily Pattern
By Villeroy & Boch
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Nouveau Villeroy et Boch Stamp Schramberg Majolica, Water Lily Pattern, Dish and 9 assiettes. Majolica is a type of earthenware, decorated Water Lil...
Category

Early 1900s Luxembourgish Art Nouveau Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Majolica

Clarice Cliff Cup and Saucer Rare Pine Grove Bizarre Ptn Art Deco, Circa 1935
By Clarice Cliff
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a cup & saucer duo in the rarely seen, hand painted "Pine Grove" Pattern by the renowned Art Deco designer Clarice Cliff. This piece dates to the late Bizarre period, Circa 1935. The Pine Grove Pattern was Newport pattern 6449, having boldly drawn black, blue and green fir trees with orange/red trunks, the whole design then covered in thin grey, blue & green bands. This pattern is rarely seen but has the distinctive "Clarice" look of the early Bizarre pieces. The cup has the Bizarre black printed stamp on the base and the saucer has the Wilkinson's honey-glaze mark, all fully documented in the book ; Clarice Cliff The Bizarre Affair, written by Leonard Griffin and Louis K. and Susan Pear Meisel...
Category

Early 20th Century British Art Deco William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

William Polia Pillin California Studio Colorful Ceramic Bowl
By Polia Pillin
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Colorful California studio pottery bowl created by William and Polia Pillin of Los Angeles, California. Bowl measures 5.25" high by 11" in diameter and is signed W + P Pillin on the ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

William IVth Mason’s Tea Set 10 Pieces Porcelain Pattern 223, English circa 1830
By C.J. Mason 1
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an early English porcelain part tea set, made by C. J. Mason (The same factory who produced Mason's Ironstone) during the period of William IVth, circa 1830-1835. The tea se...
Category

Early 19th Century English William IV Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Gouda Pottery Art Nouveau Decorative Plate/Dish, Holland
Located in Miami, FL
Dutch Art Nouveau ceramic dish from Gouda, Holland with traditional period flowery and curvaceous designs. Matte glaze, mixture of abstract and floral designs, circa 1920s. Very c...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Art Nouveau William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Polia Pillin Ceramic / Pottery Bowl/Plate, Signed
By Polia Pillin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful ceramic plate painting, by the very well known, Los Angeles artist Polia Pillin.
Category

1950s American Modern Vintage William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century French Green Glazed Terracotta Jug or Water Cruche
Located in Buisson, FR
Great authentic and rare piece of pottery with a spout in handle from the Provence. Beautiful weathered and an amazing color. Imperfections help authenticate this water cruche as it ...
Category

19th Century French French Provincial Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

MOORCROFT - 'Clematis' - Vintage Hand Painted Ceramic Vase - U.K. - Circa 1950's
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Chatham, ON
MOORCROFT - 'Clematis' - Vintage Arts & Crafts ceramic vase - hand painted with a blue background - impressed stamps to the base - U.K. - circa 1950-86. Excellent condition - no lo...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Arts and Crafts William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Previously Available Items
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...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Silver Plate

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...
Category

Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique William Moorcroft Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware

William Moorcroft ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

William Moorcroft ceramics 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 ceramics, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original ceramics by William Moorcroft were created in the Art Nouveau style in united kingdom during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider ceramics by and Wedgewood. Prices for William Moorcroft ceramics can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $688 and can go as high as $4,336, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,498.

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