Rare Moorcroft pottery – including museum-worthy pieces – are set for auction thanks to a major single-owner collection which could achieve £100,000.
Some 263 colourful lots capturing the magic of Moorcroft from the 1920s through to the modern era will be offered by Hansons Auctioneers on July 4. The auctioneers have described the collection as ‘truly exceptional’.
Limited edition, trial pieces and even an unpainted master vase, titled William at Work, £400-£600, above, are on offer. Other trial examples include a Moorcroft master sphere vase of the world, £800-£1,200, and a Moorcroft Museum plaque, titled ‘Angel of Peace’, circa 1999, £600-£800.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “This sale abounds with truly exceptional Moorcroft Pottery, from early pieces made and signed by William Moorcroft in the 1920s through to recent examples.
“The collection captures a century of innovation at this important Staffordshire firm. It could create a Moorcroft museum in its own right. In fact, some of the rarest lots are museum pieces. Collectors have the opportunity to buy pottery which not only showcases Moorcroft’s changing styles through the decades but, in some cases, demonstrates the firm’s manufacturing and creative process.
“For example, among the trial pieces is a large vase, above left, titled ‘The Pond’ designed by Helen Dale (£600-£800). Interestingly the sale also includes a framed watercolour of the original vase design, above right, signed by Helen (£500-£800).
“One of the rarest limited editions – one of only two ever made – is a boxed, David Bowie Commemorative Star Man vase Titled ‘Who Am I’ (£1,500-£2,000), below. Other star lots include a vase titled ‘Times Gone By’ decorated with a Dickensian scene (£2,500-£3,500). There is so much to choose from, it is an absolute collector’s delight.”
Rare early pottery includes a 1930s museum piece in the shape of a sage green fruit bowl made and signed by William Moorcroft. Inscribed in Latin ‘VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS’ – Truth Conquers all Things – it has an estimate of £2,000-£3,000, below.
Even older is a circa 1925 William Moorcroft flambe lily vase with pewter hinged mount. Back stamped Moorcroft and made for Liberty, it comes from the Moorcroft Museum, £2,500-£3,000.
Other 1920s items, made and signed by William Moorcroft, include an Eventide flambe vase, circa 1928, £800-£1,200, and an Eventide tray, circa 1925, £750-£1,000.
Sweeping into the modern era, a circa 2017 plaque captures a 1930s scene. ‘MacDonald House’ depicts a neo-Georgian style building in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London, £800-£1,200.
Other Moorcroft lots include a trout pattern ginger jar designed by Phillip Gibson, circa 1999, £400-£600; a museum-worthy enamel vase, circa 1998, decorated free hand in grapevine pattern, £400-£600, and a framed limited edition plaque, titled ‘Sleeping Beauty’, circa 2016, decorated in Art Nouveau style, £250-£350.
The rarities continue thanks to a Moorcroft match striker sold by A Colin Lunn tobacconists of Cambridge. It features a Cambridge University shield, £250-£350.
Wares from Colbridge, an associate company of Moorcroft, are also on offer. These include a stoneware ‘Caught in Time’ mantle clock dated 2005, £300-£500, and stoneware grotesque bird ‘Albert the pelican’, £150-£250.
Charles said: “This is one of the most significant single-owner Moorcroft collections Hansons has ever had the privilege of cataloguing, a job diligently embraced by consultant valuer Kim Wood. We are anticipating strong interest.”
Moorcroft pottery comes has its roots in Staffordshire. In 1897, Staffordshire pottery James Macintyre & Co discovered a prodigious talent in the shape of 24-year-old designer William Moorcroft. Within a year he was in charge of the company’s art pottery studio.
Moorcroft’s succeess resulted in resentment on the part of Macintyre employers, culminating in the firm’s decision in 1912 to close down his studio. In 1913 Moorcroft set up his own company and transferred production to a new pottery factory nearby.
Moorcroft went on to produce an extensive array of moderately-priced domestic tableware in addition to its famous tubelined, hand-painted art pottery.
Moorcroft’s reputation was enhanced when Queen Mary, a keen collector, granted him a royal warrant in 1928. Shortly before William’s death in 1945, his elder son, Walter Moorcroft, took control of the business. The company’s royal warrant was re-issued in his name in 1946.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUCTION CATALOGUE
Auction: The Single-Owner Moorcroft Collection, Tuesday July 4, 9.30am
Auction venue: Hansons Auctioneers’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall.
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
Enquiries: [email protected]
Ceramics invited for auction
Entries of single items or entire collections are invited for Hansons’ monthly ceramics sales which include Doulton, Beswick, Royal Worcester, Royal Crown Derby, Moorcroft, studio pottery and much more. To consign or find out more, call 01283 733988 or email [email protected].
