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Moorcroft produces special art pottery designs to complement new RHS book on roses
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has licensed Moorcroft, a leading name in the world of art pottery, to produce The RHS Rose Collection, a beautiful line of art pottery using rose designs inspired by the RHS Lindley Library, the world’s finest collection of botanic art.
The RHS Rose Collection is composed of six designs, based on famous roses. They are: Marechal Niel, with its icy lemon buds which open into a contrasting warm, glowing yellow bloom; The Sphere, a highly contemporary spin on the popular classic pink rose; RHS Wisley, named after the Royal Horticultural Society's garden in Surrey; Scotch Rose and Rosa, two interpretations of Scotland’s emblematic native bloom; and Eglantine, a famous wild rose.
All six designs appear on vases, while the Scotch Rose design also appears on a coaster and a round ceramic plaque with a wooden oak surround, The Sphere has a matching coaster, and Eglantine also comes as a framed rectangular wall plaque. All pieces are designed by members of the small group of highly skilled artists who work within the prestigious Moorcroft Design Studio, using the RHS Lindley Library’s world-famous botanical drawings as inspiration.
The RHS Rose Collection has been designed to complement a new RHS publication, The Rose, a book specially written by RHS Historian Brent Elliot, and subtitled A History of the World’s Favourite Flower in 40 Captivating Roses with Classic Texts and Rare Beautiful Prints.
Launched on 27 May, the RHS Rose Collection will be available from the Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre in Stoke-on-Trent and then launched to Moorcroft’s trade accounts – specialist, individual, privately owned giftware shops, collectible shops and art galleries, at home and abroad – as well as to thousands of its Collectors’ Club members worldwide, and online on the Moorcroft website (moorcroft.com). The floral motif, which has been a strong theme of Moorcroft designs since the first pieces were made in 1897 by William Moorcroft, is one likely to appeal to both Moorcroft’s core customers and RHS members alike.
Moorcroft and the RHS have collaborated a number of times in recent years, firstly with Moorcroft’s Silver-gilt medal-winning ‘The Moorcroft: “Natural Woman” Garden’ at the RHS Tatton Flower Show in 2008, and then with centrepieces for Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013 and 2014.
The Moorcroft factory, built in 1913 and now more than 100 years old, is in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Supported by designs from the world-famous Moorcroft Design Studio and the skills of a dedicated workforce of artists, craftsmen and craftswomen, Moorcroft pottery sells all over the world, while examples, both old and new, fetch high prices in the major salesrooms of the world.
Elise Adams, Managing Director, Moorcroft, says: “Our customer demographic – the collector who appreciates high-quality, British-made, handcrafted, fine art pottery and the botanical themes we often favour – is a great match with the demographic of the people who support the RHS. We’ve developed a strong synergy with the RHS with our involvement in show gardens at both the RHS Tatton Flower Show and the RHS Chelsea Flower Shows and now we are honoured and delighted to have the chance to play such an important role on this wonderful rose project.”
Cathy Snow, RHS Licensing Manager, says: “The RHS Rose Collection has been designed to complement the RHS publication The Rose written by our historian Brent Elliot to celebrate these beautiful blooms – which it does beautifully. The six designs also stand out on their own as true works of art that many collectors will be thrilled to own.”