Sale Price Information: Please note this is an 'online' sale price only until labelling can be changed at the Centre. This is a large item taking up considerable cabinet space required for new stock, so a genuine opportunity to purchase at a heavily discounted price.
A large vintage Moorcroft vase from the Natural Pottery range by William Moorcroft. Originally a Moorcroft Museum piece.
The vase is a substantial item having a height of 200mm, a rim diameter of 136mm and a weight of 1.27 Kg.
Moorcroft was awarded the royal warrant in 1928 and on the base of this vase is the impressed W Moorcroft signature with the impressed POTTER TO HM THE QUEEN mark to the lower right of the signature, plus the impressed MOORCROFT mark. These marks allow the vase to be dated 1928 to 1949.
The date range can be narrowed down further because it was in the 1930's that Moorcroft developed a range of what was called Natural Pottery, more akin to products been produced by the studio potters of the day. The colouration and ribbed detail to the top and bottom of the vase is very typical of the style.
Known as the Yo Yo design the geometric style of this vase is also very typical of the Art Deco period which began in the early 1900's and became particularly popular in the 1920's and 1930's.
The base of the vase has a Moorcroft Museum label showing it was once a museum item and a piece of Moorcroft history, with added interest for collectors. On occasions Moorcroft will sell pieces from their museum and the excellent condition of this vase may in part have been due to years spent as a display item in the controlled conditions of a museum.
'A Guide to Moorcroft Pottery 1897-1993 New Edition by Paul Atterbury' is one of the books Moorcroft recommend on their website and interestingly page 153 of the hardback version of the book has an image for the design of this vase which gives added provenance. In fact comparing the vase with the image in the book they look to be the same, so it may be that when this vase was in the museum it was the one photographed for the book, however this cannot be guaranteed.
The vase represents a different aspect to the beautiful and colourful designs normally associated with Moorcroft. As the vase is rotated it might suggest a walk through a wood from a densely forested area to the light of a clearing. This type of abstract allows a holder to exercise a degree of personal artistic interpretation.
The vase provides a collector of vintage Moorcroft pottery an opportunity to add interest and variety to a collection.
Available online or at the Antiques Centre in York. If visiting the Centre please visit Cabinet 138 situated on the Lower Ground Floor to view a selection of Moorcroft Pottery from early vintage pieces to more modern examples.
