WILLIAM 150 COLLECTION

THE POTTER WHO OPENED THE DOOR TO MOORCROFT DESIGN, TECHNIQUE & ARTISTRY

One hundred and fifty years ago, one of the most gifted potters of his generation, William Moorcroft, was born. Quickly, the art potter gleaned that the consummate skills of botanical design and a passion for the natural world was not enough for his ambitions. In truth, to become an icon for the Applied Arts, success lies not simply in surface decoration and shape design, as these change with what is in vogue during each generation. Something more is always needed. A door had to be opened for generations of potters to perfect.

Whilst the emerging Art Nouveau designs of the continent inspired the young Moorcroft in terms of shape and design, it was to be in his home in the Potteries where he would perfect his ceramic alchemy, during his first job in 1897, as a designer for James Macintyre & Co. There followed the arrival of gold medals from across the Atlantic in St Louis in 1908 to Europe, including a gold medal at the Paris Exhibition in1925. In 1913 William launched a company under his own name, Moorcroft, and the company we know and love today, was firmly established.

With each piece echoing the hallmarks of William’s most renowned work, the Moorcroft Design Studio step forward to honour the founder, of what is said to be one of the greatest Arts and Crafts pottery companies today, with their WILLIAM 150 collection.

Anemone was a design introduced by William, though it was not produced on a large scale. William’s blooms often circle the vessel partially in bud, almost waiting for future generations to fully explore these flowers. As if sprung from the tears of Aphrodite herself, mysterious blooms of Pleione purple, and fiery, deep-scarlet anemones orbit like planets around a brilliant-white central bloom to make Anemone Jubilation. In truth, never before have anemones appeared in such jubilation, possibly to even tempt Adonis himself. A shy, and unassuming flower in pale colour varieties, Vicky’s blooms make a statement in brighter colours.

• Designer:  Vicky Lovatt
• Dimensions: H 30.00 x W 14.00 x D 14.00 cm