Moorcroft Columbine Pin/Candy Dish

Beautiful deep blue Moorcroft pin or candy dish. 5 inches wide and 1.5 inches high. This dish features the gorgeously coloured columbine pattern. Stamped signature on bottom.

My paternal grandmother, who passed away a few years ago at age 107, said a piece of Moorcroft was always given as a gift at a housewarming to bring good luck to those in their new home. A lovely tradition!

History:  The first pieces of fine art pottery from Moorcroft were designed by William Moorcroft and launched 1897 while employed at James Macintyre & Co.  William Moorcroft was a graduate of what is now the Royal College of Art in London, and the new art pottery was purchased strongly from the outset by such prestigious stores as Liberty of London, Harrods and Tiffany & Co. in New York.  

In 1913 William moved production of his art pottery to the present factory in Sandbach Road under the name of W. Moorcroft Ltd.  In 1928, after winning many gold medals and prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed ‘Potters to H. M. The Queen’.

Walter Moorcroft assumed the responsibilities of sole Moorcroft designer in 1945.  Design continued to evolve under the stewardship of Walter, as he developed his own style which experts say matured in the 1950s.  It was Walter who introduced many exotic flowers into Moorcroft design. It was in 1986 that Sally Tuffin took over design.  Aided by Phillip Richardson, she introduced animals, birds and geometric patterns into the vision of Moorcroft art. Moorcroft continues to produce beautiful pottery pieces to this day. (Moorcroft.com)