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For sale is this stunning, early Spanish pattern trumpet vase by William Moorcroft. Decorated with an abundance of flowers and foliage using reds, oranges and greens to fantastic effect, this small vase is truly something to behold. The decoration begins from the vases hip, with flowers arranged around the vase. The inside of the top rim is similarly decorated with flower buds to really make the vase pop with colour and elegance.

The vase presents superbly throughout. To note is an area of invisible restoration beneath the hip and also a very fine small hairline to the top rim. Close examination reveals the hairline occurred whilst the vase was new and before age crazing occurred. This is not visible on display and has to be carefully looked for. The

William Moorcroft “Claremont” Vase – Shape M55, c.1925
A vibrant and highly desirable example of one of Moorcroft’s most celebrated patterns

This exquisite M55-shaped William Moorcroft vase, dating to the mid-1920s, showcases the iconic Claremont pattern—one of the most sought-after designs in the Moorcroft repertoire.

Encircling the body are ten finely tubelined toadstools, rendered in vivid and varied tones: four rich reds, four warm yellows, and two deep, velvety blues. Each cap is detailed with Claremont’s hallmark speckled surface and beautifully defined gill undersides—an artistic hallmark that makes this pattern so visually captivating. The base colour merges lush green and inky blue glazes, creating a moody, woodland atmosphere that complements the naturalistic subject matter.

To the underside, the vase bears the impressed marks “Moorcroft” and “Made in England”, along with the model number “M55”, confirming its authenticity and period origin.

A small, invisible professional restoration has been carried out to the top rim, precisely between a large yellow and large red toadstool. The restoration is of a high standard, with only a subtle uniformity of colour betraying the repaired area under close inspection. Importantly, the most visually dominant red toadstool sits on the opposite, untouched side, making this piece an outstanding display example.

Compact in scale but striking in design, this Claremont vase is a true collector’s gem—a perfect representation of Moorcroft’s artistry during the golden period of British Art Pottery.

Dimensions: Height: 7cm; Width 8cm
Condition: Professionally restored rim; still displays beautifully

William Moorcroft Pomegranate Vase (Circa mid-1920s)

Presenting a fine William Moorcroft vase in the highly sought-after Pomegranate pattern, dating to the mid-1920s. Measuring 13cm in height and 9.5cm in width, the vessel features a well-proportioned baluster form with a gently flared rim and a sweeping circular foot. The piece survives in excellent original condition, completely free from chips, cracks, or restoration.

The tube-lined decoration displays the iconic Pomegranate design, featuring a continuous frieze of both whole and open fruit revealing intricately detailed seeds. These are interspersed with lush clusters of rounded berries and trailing autumnal foliage. The vibrant ochre, russet, and deep crimson tones of the pomegranates contrast strikingly against the characteristic inky cobalt blue ground, which transitions subtly to a mottled greenish-ochre toward the upper rim. The high-gloss glaze remains rich and reflective, enhancing the depth of the metallic oxide colors.

The underside displays the impressed factory marks “MOORCROFT” and “MADE IN ENGLAND”, alongside William Moorcroft’s painted “WM” flash monogram in blue, confirming its authentic mid-1920s production period.

Martin Brothers Gnarly Olive Jug

Presenting an exceptional, historic gnarly-designed Martin Brothers art pottery jug, measuring approx. 22.5cm in height and 12.5cm in diameter. This piece from a highly sought-after potter features a robust baluster form jug, resting securely on a flared circular foot. Its gnarly silhouette is defined by a bulbous lower body that tapers into a cylindrical neck, culminating in a sweeping pouring lip and an applied, sturdy strap handle.

The jug is characterized by its tactile, heavily ribbed texture, a testament to its hand-thrown origins by eccentric brothers. A rich, dark olive-brown salt glaze dominates the meticulously textured body and handle. This deep, lustrous finish contrasts strikingly against the lighter, biscuit-toned clay left exposed at the rim, the interior, a thin defining band at the shoulder, and the foot. This earthy, two-tone palette masterfully accentuates the horizontal throwing lines that encircle the entire vessel.

Beneath the foot, the unglazed natural clay base proudly bears the authentic, hand-incised cursive signature reading “Martin” and “London”, securing its prestigious provenance. Preserved impeccably, this remarkable piece presents in excellent, original, and entirely undamaged condition, making it a museum-quality acquisition for discerning collectors of late 19th and early 20th-century British studio pottery.

Early Martin Brothers Salt-Glazed Open Salt Dish (Circa 1880s)

This distinctive open salt dish, crafted by Robert Wallace Martin of the renowned Martin Brothers pottery, dates to the 1880s and represents a superb example of early British art pottery. The piece features a robust, architectural form with a squared, lobed profile resting on four domed feet.

The exterior is defined by tactile detailing, utilizing a raised, beaded border that frames the upper and lower registers. The flat sides showcase a recessed, vertically fluted arcade motif, which contrasts sharply with the smooth, sweeping curves of the prominent corners. A rich, earthy palette characterizes the dish: the interior basin and upper sections are bathed in a mottled ochre and mustard-yellow glaze, while the lower corner sections exhibit a deep, resonant cobalt blue.

The underside bears the clearly incised signature “Martin Bros, London & Southall,” authenticating its early origins. Notably, the base retains a label from the esteemed Whitley Collection, providing highly desirable provenance for the discerning collector.

The dish presents in exceptional, unrestored original condition, free from subsequent damage or repairs. It exhibits small authentic, in-manufacture firing cracks—visible within the interior basin and underside—which are inherent to the early Martin Brothers firing process and do not detract from its structural integrity or historic appeal.

Double Ribbed Martin Brothers Lustre vase – June 1907

For sale is this really interesting example of Edwin and Walter Martins’ organic pottery work. The vase is of subtle bulbous form, with a multitude of thin horizontal ribs and then large pronouced vertical ribs from the waist to the top rim. The Brothers have then applied a rich deep brown / dark grey / black colour with metallic oxide to give a wonderful lustre to the piece. In the photographs, observe the different angles where we try and illustrate the effect. This is a wonderful example of their work and is a most subtle, yet highly competent execution.

Condition and Provenance

The vase is in excellent original condition, with no chips, cracks, or repairs. A couple of specks on the main body of the vase are small imperfections during the manufacture of the vase. The signature beneath is 100% consistent with period pieces and is marked “6-1907, Martin Bros, London & Southall”, again entirely consistent and authentic. See the V&A Museum picture below of a virtually identical example from the same year by Edwin.

Robert Wallace Martin Early Gentlemens’ Cigar Lamp

For sale is this incredibly rare Robert Wallace Martin Gentlemen’s cigar lamp. I have only ever seen this example from the Martin Brothers, so I am confident these are rarer than hen’s teeth.

Presenting as a central oil burner with wick, it has been fitted with finely worked white metal (a silver plate metal) of excellent quality. No wear to the metal to the base layer is evident and it polishes beautifully. Any dullness is a light tarnish that removes easily. Three identical “wands” rest in the protruding wand sections, and each wand and wand seat has matching numbers 1-3 for the wands to know their position.

The way the lamp worked was each of three gentlemen took a wand, and using papers from their vespa cases, would wedge the paper into their wand and be able to light their cigars from the comfort of their leather chair, whilst the lamp remained in the centre of the table. Lighting the cigar from a “clean” paper prevented the cigar’s flavour from being contaminated by the oil flame from the lamp.

Decorated with blue floral designs with a subtle green and blue banding between, the stems rise with a lovely natural green glaze to the silver tops. Set on three bulbous feet, with three layers of small shapes banding each foot, this delightful piece is quintessential late 1870s to early 1880s Martin Brothers! Whilst approximately 14.5cm tall and 9cm across, it is very solid and weighs 710g!

Beneath  the cigar lamp is the signature of Robert Wallace Martin (R.W. Martin), the figure “8” and then “Southall”.

This piece is in wonderful orginal condition that is ready to brace any serious collectors collection. Even better if you and the friends enjoy an occasional cigar, as it is a novelty that can be safely and robustly used without fear of damage as it is so well made.

For sale is this superb Martin Brothers Aquatic Fish vase which is a striking example of their exceptional artistry. The vase features banding at both the top and bottom, framing the whimsical scene. The main part of the vase displays eight fish, each with a whimsical expression and in different poses. These fish are set against a blue and cream background, creating a captivating seawater effect. Interspersed among the fish are seaweed and shells, adding to the aquatic theme. This vase, likely made by Robert Wallace Martin, showcases the exceptional skill of the Martin Brothers beautifully.

For sale is a wonderful, early Martin Brothers aquatic jug dated January 1884.

Aquatic Jug – Robert Wallace Martin

The Martin Brothers were renowned for their extraordinary skill in ceramics, known for their unique and imaginative designs. This jug, likely crafted by Robert Wallace Martin, embodies these characteristics. Robert, the eldest of the Martin brothers, was celebrated for his detailed and creative work. His pieces often drew inspiration from nature, as seen in the lifelike representations of marine life on this jug.

Condition and authenticity depiction of the skate, mackerel, and eels adds a dynamic and captivating element to the piece. These features are typical of Robert Wallace Martin’s work, known for infusing personality

In summary, this piece is beautiful, highly original  and its condition is immaculate, with no damage or restoration. The detailed skate, mackerel, and eels, set against a naturalistic background, showcase the remarkable skill and creativity of the Martin Brothers. Signed and dated January 1884, this jug is a valuable and collectible example of their early work, sure to be cherished by the discerning collector.