William Moorcroft (potter)
Encyclopedia
William Moorcroft was an English
potter who founded the Moorcroft
pottery business.
He was born in Burslem
, Staffordshire
. He studied art at Burslem then in London
and Paris
. He experimented with his own pottery designs around 1896 while working for James Macintyre & Co Ltd. and produced Aurelian Ware which was partly decorated with transfer
s and partly painted by hand. Moorcroft developed highly lustred glazes and used oriental shapes and decorations. Some of his techniques were closely guarded trade secrets. He then developed his famous Florian Ware, with heavy slip
and a translucent glaze which produces brilliance of colour. Much of the output was sold through Liberty & Co. in London
and Tiffany
in New York
.
In 1913, William Moorcroft set up his own factory at Cobridge
with staff from Macintyres. The business succeeded. In 1928 Queen Mary
made him "Potter to the Queen," which was stamped on the pottery. His son, Walter, took over the pottery in 1945 just before William's death.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
potter who founded the Moorcroft
Moorcroft
Moorcroft is a British pottery manufacturer based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, which was founded by William Moorcroft.-History:...
pottery business.
He was born in Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. He studied art at Burslem then in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He experimented with his own pottery designs around 1896 while working for James Macintyre & Co Ltd. and produced Aurelian Ware which was partly decorated with transfer
Transfer
Transfer may refer to:* Transfer * Transfer * Transfer DNA, the transferred DNA of the tumor-inducing plasmid of some species of bacteria such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens* Transfer...
s and partly painted by hand. Moorcroft developed highly lustred glazes and used oriental shapes and decorations. Some of his techniques were closely guarded trade secrets. He then developed his famous Florian Ware, with heavy slip
Slip (ceramics)
A slip is a suspension in water of clay and/or other materials used in the production of ceramic ware. Deflocculant, such as sodium silicate, can be added to the slip to disperse the raw material particles...
and a translucent glaze which produces brilliance of colour. Much of the output was sold through Liberty & Co. in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Tiffany
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In 1913, William Moorcroft set up his own factory at Cobridge
Cobridge
Cobridge is an area of Stoke-on-Trent in the county of Staffordshire, England. Cobridge has a Holdcroft centre on Sneyd Street, a community centre and a C of E church called Christ Church on Emery Street which is Grade II listed. Cobridge once had a railway station on the Potteries Loop Line...
with staff from Macintyres. The business succeeded. In 1928 Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
made him "Potter to the Queen," which was stamped on the pottery. His son, Walter, took over the pottery in 1945 just before William's death.