Moorcroft Pottery Genesis Jug 130/12

Genesis designed by Vicky Lovatt for the 2017 'Washington Trio' collection.

William’s sixteen years at James Macintyre & Co. is not an era to be sniffed at. Heavily influenced by Eastern pottery, he approached early designs using the familiar transfer-printed technique and called it ‘Aurelianware’, taken from Aurehanus which is itself derived from the Latin aurum meaning ‘gold’ or ‘golden’. True to its meaning, Aurelianware featured intricate Art Nouveau foliate patterns set against a brilliant gold surface, broken occasionally by bands of blue chevrons. In 2017, designer Vicky Lovatt, has manipulated these overlapping blue semi-circles into the scales of a diving fish, whose fins now hold the bright flame-orange colour of original Aurelianware. Her creation also honours one of the graceful shapes dreamed up by William for his Edwardian market, complete with delicate gold-gilding on the rim, handle and base.