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 Moorcroft pottery, vases, serveware and more on 1stDibs.
1940s Art Deco Moorcroft Pottery Table Lamp
By Moorcroft Pottery
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Art Deco Moorcroft Pottery table lamp The base only measures 18.5" tall. Additional information: Materials: Pottery Color: Blue Period: 1940s Styles: Art Deco Lamp...
Pottery
$2,750
H 26.88 in Dm 6 in
Moorcroft Art Pottery 'Fuchsia' Footed Lamp with Lightolier Glass Reflector Bowl
By Lightolier, Moorcroft Pottery
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This striking English art pottery lamp was made by the renowned Moorcroft Pottery company of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Initially with James Macintyre & Co., innovative ceramist William Moorcroft founded his own firm in 1913. Underwritten by retailer Liberty London, the company went from strength to strength and was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Mary in 1928, leading them to include the phrase ‘Potter To HM The Queen’ on their paper labels as well as in their impressed marks. William's son Walter joined the firm in 1935 and took over management and design responsibilities upon the death of his father in 1945. Moorcroft remains in business today with early pieces by William and Walter being particularly sought after. This Walter Moorcroft signed lamp has a traditional pear or bottle vase form which has been decorated in the 'Fuchsia' pattern. The body of the lamp has a variegated blue/blue-green background featuring Moorcroft's distinctive slip-trailing technique. The leaves and blossoms have been finished in bright jewel tones. The body of the lamp has been joined to a metal base having a milgrain edge and four scrolling feet. The top of the lamp has a simple metal cap topped by a decorative foliate band. The piece retains its original Lightolier reflector bowl, patented by Jacob Samuel Hamel in March of 1950. The reflector bowl has a frosted body which attaches to the lamp by Virtue of three screws. The lamp comes complete with a silk shade manufactured by Royal Knight...
Metal
Moorcroft Pottery English Arts and Crafts Floral Pottery Lamp
By Moorcroft Pottery, William Moorcroft
Located in New Windsor, NY
Beautifully hand decorated and colorful Moorcroft Pottery table lamp. Decorated with lilies, poppies and other flora. Moorcroft pottery, known for its vibrant, hand-painted designs, ...
Pottery
Vintage Hand Painted Ceramic Table Lamp with Original Shade by Marbro
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage hand painted ceramic table Lamp with original shade by Marbro, circa 1970 Measures: 11" diameter at the body x 9" diameter at the base 19" high to the top of the cerami...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Italian Deruta Ceramic Table Lamp, Hand-Painted Floral
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Deruta ceramic table lamp vase, decorated with flowers and leaves against an white ground. Diameter 7.4" - 19 cm. Height including socket 11.4" - 29 cm. Shades shown are for...
Ceramic, Pottery
$720
H 29 in W 9 in D 14 in
Mid-Century Studio Pottery Table Lamp with Sculpted Floral Glaze and Wood Base
Located in Northport, MI
A vibrant and visually striking mid-century ceramic table lamp featuring an intricately sculpted floral design in a rich, high-gloss glaze. The bulbous ceramic body is adorned with a...
Ceramic, Wood
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 18 in D 11 in
Hand Painted Folk Art Table Lamp, Eva Fritz-Lindner Masterwork , One of a Kind
Located in South Burlington, VT
A stunning yet whimsical and unique Eva Fritz-Lindner hand painted Folk Art table lamp complete with new custom fitted linen shade. Here's a beautiful and unique way to accent your home or office, or make a charming gift to someone special. This is a unique hand painted pottery table lamp fitted with a beautiful rectangular linen shade. It is hand painted in lovely cobalt blue and cream colors designed and hand painted by the now deceased master artisan Eva Fritz-Lindner working at Staatliche Majolika-Manufaktur Karlsruhe over the past 50 years. Creative design, lovely vivid colors in cobalt blue and creams over a natural terra cotta pottery base , good opportunity to display a functional one of a kind work of art. Glaze: Fine colors that only Eva Fritz-Lindner could execute by hand Designer signature: signature i 3 on pottery base It would surely "pop" out and create pleasant conversation in splendid fashion in your favorite spot! Dimensions: table lamp with shade 33.5 inches high; shade only is 11.5 inches high x 18 inches wide and 11 inches deep. hand painted pottry base is 21 inches high and 8.5 inches diameter at mid section. We have installed this sculptural lamp with a 72 inch cord - all mounted on a handsome round hardwood stand. Quality: Very good Only one. Most of her larger pottery sculptures such as this, were likely produced in less than 25 copies Based upon research and all were hand painted individually by this artist ensuring each work of art was indeed unique. Provenance: pottery lamp base...
Iron
20th Century German Hand Painted Ceramic Table Lamp by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in Sofia, BG
20th Century hand painted red ceramic table lamp with floral decorations by Rosenthal in very good authentic condition. Measurements without the shade 40/20 and 62/45 cm. Germany, ci...
Ceramic
Vintage Hand-Painted Italian Pottery Table Lamp by Bitossi, 1950s
By Bitossi
Located in New Orleans, LA
A vintage hand painted Italian faience or glazed pottery table lamp with fanciful, bucolic scenery and brass fittings, attributed to Bitossi. Early Bitossi marks on lamps, particul...
Brass, Iron
$856Sale Price|30% Off
H 17.72 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Handpainted Art Nouveau table lamp by Großherzoglichen Keramik-Manufaktur, 1930s
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Very rare Handpainted porcelain Art Nouveau table lamp by Großherzoglichen Keramik-Manufaktur Darmstadt', Germany, 1930s Collectors item. Silk lampshade of the period. Height inclu...
Porcelain, Silk, Paint
Lovely Decorative Chinese Vase Converted into a Table Lamp Decorative Piece
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Chinese vase converted into a lamp A very good looking and well-made lamp, exceptionally decorative and I think the only one...
Porcelain
Lovely Chinese Export circa 1920 Antique Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Table Lamp
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare hand painted and lacquered Chinese Export circa 1920s Chinoiserie table lamp with hand painted finish of a chap playing a flute T...
Wood
RARE ANTiQUE FRENCH ART DECO 20s COLD PAINTED BRONZE TABLE LAMP WITH MARBLE BASe
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, very rare original cold painted Bronze, French Art Deco table lamp period patina ...
Marble, Bronze
1 OF 4 BRAND NEW IN THE BOX RALPH LAUREN BATIK PORCELAIN COBALT BLUE TABLE LAMPs
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale 1 of 4 absolutely stunning, brand new in the box with the original labels, Ralph Lauren Porcelain Cobalt Bl...
Porcelain
VINTAGE WHITE PORCELAIN CHiNESE STYLE LAMP WITH ORNATELY PIERCED BODY
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair decorative vintage Chinese style pierced porcelain lamp...
Porcelain
Stunning circa 1930 Bronze Bird & Wrought Iron Table Lamp Painted Glass Shade
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning circa 1930s bronze bird with glass domed shade and wrought iron frame table lamp A very well made piece, with the original glass s...
Bronze, Wrought Iron
