An Official Moorcroft Pottery Retailer for 20 years
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01451 820 547
Contact us 01451 820 547
Tribute collection to 100 years of Moorcroft Pottery has some gems
William Moorcroft founded the pottery that bears his name on 23rd April 1913, and to celebrate the anniversary Moorcroft have brought out the Legacy Collection of pieces, each of which has some connection with Moorcroft’s hundred-year history. At the top end of the eleven-piece collection are two superb limited editions that will have collectors drooling: Rachel Bishop’s Tree of Life and Nicola Slaney’s Owl and Pigeon.
The Legacy collection also contains a very affordable new range, Peacock Parade, inspired by the Moorcroft’s classic Peacock Feathers design of 1899.
All of the Legacy pieces will have a special backstamp. We’ve already had our first deliveries and pieces have sold: as ever, please let me know if there's something you’re especially interested in, as eight of the eleven pieces are Limited Editions, and allocations to all dealers will be small.
Sumptuous new biography of Pottery’s founder released as part of Centenary celebrations
William Moorcroft: Behind the Glaze is a beautifully illustrated hardback history of the life of the boy from Burslem whose pottery and workshop were destined to outlast all the others.
Neil Swindell’s book concentrates on the history of the man, chronicling his years at Macintyre and the rise to fame when Liberty invested in his new factory. Swindell has had access to both the factory and the family archives, and his diligent research has unearthed some new images and many new facts and stories about William the man and Moorcroft the pottery. The book boasts 117 colour photographs and 110 black and white images.
Standing alongside Walter Moorcroft's 1999 memoir “Life and Living”, and Paul Atterbury's distinguished “Guide to Moorcroft Pottery”, “Behind the Glaze” is the definitive story of the man behind the pottery – and a very desirable item for any collector.
“William Moorcroft: Behind the Glaze” retails for £30, but I am giving away a copy with every Limited or Numbered piece of the Legacy Collection (subject to availability).
Moorcroft have announced that all Legacy Collection pieces will be impressed with a special commemorative backstamp (see right).
New Collection of Enamels for 2013
A new collection from Elliot Hall is always an event to look forward to, since the company, which produces the world’s finest freehand painted enamels, can be relied upon to surprise and delight.
A World of Imagination, Elliot’s collection for 2013, is no exception. Along with stunning pieces like Treetops, with its superb depiction of African wildlife, comes the lovely, engaging Hepatica Valentine Box.
The Valentine box is the third in the Valentine’s Heart series of heart-shaped boxes, and other additions to existing series include Goldfinches (fourth of a series of ten Garden Birds) and Cyclamen (this year’s annual Easter Egg).
Begging to be collected are Angela Roberts’ series of Flowers of the Month. Each tiny (30mm) box is painted inside and out with a flower found in that particular month. My personal favourites are Honeysuckle (September), Ladies Slipper Orchid (July) and Winter Jasmine (December), but with a low edition size of just 50 pieces and at an affordable price, it’s difficult not to covet the whole set !
Pictured right: haven't you got room in your heart for a Panda ?
Details of our special offer
If you’re one of our loyal customers you will have received details of our anniversary special offer. Here’s the small print:
• Offer is applicable only on orders totalling £300 and above.
• It’s applicable only to purchases to be delivered in the UK.
• It’s applicable only to Moorcroft pieces currently available in the UK.
• Only one discount per customer !
We have no way of preventing the discount being applied to items below £300 on the website, but please don’t use it below this figure, as we won’t be able to honour such orders.
If you’d like to find out more about what this is all about, send me an email !
Nicola Slaney's pieces celebrate the Queen’s Coronation
In 2013, Moorcroft is proud to introduce the Coronation Collection to mark Her Majesty, The Queen's phenomenal sixty-year reign, echoing the colour and diverse vibrancy of our British and Commonwealth heritage. These pieces of art pottery are more than just commemorative items. From their inception, they all form part of our rich cultural heritage in the world of the applied arts.
So reads Moorcroft’s description. What we have are six open range pieces, each inspired by some floral connection with Norman Hartnell’s design for HMQ's Coronation Gown (click here for more on its fascinating history). There’s also a magnificent prestige vase in the 23/11 shape: Jubilation. This comes in a limited edition of 100 pieces.
Moorcroft will begin to deliver pieces in early April: as ever it’s best to book a piece by contacting me at the shop.
For descriptions of each piece take a look at our webpages.
2013 collection now in stock
We’ve had a great deal of interest in the latest pieces from Moorcroft – especially the new Limited and Numbered editions. It seems a lot of people are getting their Christmas presents a little late this year !
I have now received my allowances, and there are some superb pieces. The ‘Rosebay Willow Herb’ I have was painted by Beverly Wilkes, which makes it extra special: it looks even better in reality than it does in the photos. ‘Bees in Corn’ is also a beauty.
With allocations very strictly limited it’s inevitable that some customers will be left disappointed. If you’re interested in a particular piece, be sure to let me know, either via clicking on the ‘Please Enquire’ link on each piece, or by sending me an email.
As ever, when buying from the Cotswold Shop you can be sure that you are buying a carefully selected piece, not just the next off the line. All Moorcroft collectors know that not all pots are created equal, and we pride ourselves on only selling the Best of the Best.
...and how to avoid ‘graded’ pieces and so-called ‘bargains’ on eBay
As any Moorcroft collector knows, no two pieces of their pottery are ever identical: subtle differences in colouring and tubelining are what give the pottery its magnificent individuality. Moorcroft strenuously check each firing for quality control, and many pieces don’t make it out of the factory gates.
When I receive a batch of pieces from Moorcroft I check each carefully for fidelity of colour and quality of glaze. Those pieces that do not reach my standards are sent back to the factory. So, in buying from the Cotswold Shop, you have a guarantee that you are buying the very best of the best.
Caveat Emptor
From time to time you may see other online sellers offering significant discounts on current Moorcroft stock. Let the buyer beware: as you may know Moorcroft sell ‘seconds’, which are clearly marked with a red dot, and more recently ‘Graded’ pieces – which are not marked. These graded pieces...
These Graded pieces have flaws (or poor colouring) only noticeable to the experienced eye, but the fact they’re not marked means they can be passed off by unscrupulous dealers as first quality stock. Indeed, most of the 'bargains' you will find on eBay and other discount internet sites selling Moorcroft are Graded or substandard pieces. Sadly, for the buyer, they have little investment value.
I have never and will never sell anything other than Moorcroft’s finest, first quality pieces.
It goes without saying that it's not in the interest of sellers to tell you you're not buying the very best pieces. I have over twenty years’ experience of handling and selling Moorcroft, and I inspect every piece that comes in from the factory. I return a proportion of the stock I am sent, and that stock will find its way onto the market.
Many retailers believe that Moorcroft should clearly mark Graded pieces: Moorcroft argue that without the sale of such pieces the company would struggle to survive.
Whatever your views, wherever you buy, ensure that what you're buying is of the best quality, and remember that here at the Cotswold Shop we only ever sell the best of the best.
You can find out more on our Why Us ? page and a very informative warning about eBay here. Essential reading !
