Moorcroft Pottery (England, Est. 1897)
Flambe ‘Freesia’ Vesta, c. 1906
glazed tube-lined pottery, with ribbed concentric strike base
1 7/8″ high x 2 1/4″ diameter
Notes: An unusual and scarce Freesia flambe tube-lined and glazed vesta with a graduated ground, by Moorcroft Pottery, unsigned, attributed to the early William Moorcroft era.
Of diminutive globular form parallel to the example #3, domestic wares, center front, c. 1906, pp. 69, in Atterbury. Our example has a base with a concentrically ribbed strike surface which is an unusual feature. While unsigned, likely due to the usage of the base, it is a clear and identifiable piece of Moorcroft. What is most notable about this little vesta is the usage of the flambe glaze, a style not formally introduced until 1919. Early example such as this are scarce and typically include experimental features.
