Circles of Life Second Chance Collection 2012
We held our 2012 catalogue launch over the weekend with the usual large crowds gathering over the two day event. With the home made finger foods, fine weather and good company the day past quickly with customers snapping up the pieces on offer plus several other pieces they had "rediscovered" in the cabinets.
With some of our group that attended the Moorcroft experience week with us in England last September in attendance, there was a great amount of "expert" discussion on the making of Moorcroft and how they all now had an even greater appreciation as to the effort that goes into every piece. So we were pressed by public demand into doing another trip in September this year. So that others could experience the Stoke on Trent history and creativity for themselves and in particular the day at Moorcroft.
By Sunday afternoon the cupboards were looking rather bare as the collectors all headed home. The very last customer to arrive and leave was drawn from the hat as the winner of the door prize. Even though the entries were all shaken, stirred and turned upside down. So Mr Lockhart was a very happy chappy, at receiving the phone call, This was all the more bizarre as at first he was reluctant to enter and it was just a last minute thing as he was heading out the door, late for his dinner making task. (Hope he didn't get into too much trouble for being late, at least now he has a great excuse ;-)
Anita Harris
Anita Harris was head designer at Poole pottery for ten years before moving to Stoke on Trent and taking up a position at Moorcroft’s Cobridge Stoneware.
Some of Anita’s designs at Poole pottery are still best selling designs today. Many collectors of Anita’s work have followed her from Poole pottery.
After three years at Cobridge stoneware sadly it had to close and Anita set up the Anita Harris studio and is now known as Anita Harris art pottery.
Run by Anita harris and Samantha Johnson along with Anita’s son Peter, who does designing from time to time for this small prestigious art pottery.
Samantha Johnson studied at Wolverhampton University where she obtained her degree in ceramics and 3d design.
She was a leading designer at Cobridge stoneware and also designed for Moorcroft.
When Cobridge closed she joined Anita in 2006 where her first design coming home was and still is a best seller today.
Peter Harris trained at Salisbury College of art and with the renowned glass maker William walker, and also at Sarum metal craft, today his expertise lies in glazing and air brushing techniques. His designs are already very collectable.
Anita Harris art pottery goes from strength to strength and now free from the constraints of mass production it is able to produce small limited edition runs, trials one offs, and “exclusives”, along with their standard ranges.
As most of our regular customers would have heard, we took 10 of our Moorcroft collectors on a tour of the potteries in Stoke on trent in September.
They all had a great time and some even want to do it again, so this September we will go again so check with Malar for a place as we can only take around 1o. I will post some picture soon;-)
Mr Hugh Edwards Moorcroft's "Fraser Street"
Sunday 12th of July 2009 Another "Fabulous Day!"
Hugh Edwards (Chairman of Moorcroft) and Lesley Cartlidge (Moorcrofts senior demonstrator on the right) had all enthralled, with demonstrations and informative casual chats, making the day a most rewarding and fun filled episode.
With home made finger food and the skies blessing us with sunshine, (despite it being mid winter), it was a perfect setting for a great day, with even the flowers opening their colorful faces for a look at proceedings.
With more than two hundred people attending, it was a remarkable feat to have everyone catered for and their questions answered, so our thanks go out to all the staff and volunteers who lent a hand on that "Fabulous Day!"
Also a huge thank you to Karen Alan and Philip Allen of Moorcroft Australia, who both made the day so much easier with their professional assistance and vast product knowledge.
Congratulations to Honny, one of the latest lucky prize winners from our Moorcroft "Home & Away" event 23 to the 25th of October 2009
Congratulations to Imogen who was one of our lucky door prize winners from our Moorcroft "Continent of Colour" event..
Sunday the 25th of March 2007
Hugh Edwards also Visited Drakesbrook Antiques on Sunday the 25th of March 2007. Being his last stop on his Australian visit, it was, as expected, a "fantastic day" with well over 100 people attending the event. Hugh was signing his new book "A New Dawn" which brings the series on Moorcroft pottery right up to the present day. Plus he was over signing the Moorcroft "New Dawn" vase, and any other pieces purchased on the day. He was supposed to finish at 4pm but ended up leaving after 7.30pm. The whole crowd was impressed by his personal approach, spending lots of time with each person and writing almost mini essays in the front of each of their books.
************************************************
As with the previous tours there was a vase up for grabs Moorcroft's "Grace" 82/16"(valued at more than $3,000.00). All vase purchases over $200.00 were entered into the barrel for the Australian wide draw.
Yes! It was one of our customers who won the prize again, making us a very lucky shop indeed. The winning ticket was drawn out of the box by Maureen Edwards at the end of our show, after a very long shuffle of coupons to ensure they were all mixed sufficiently.
Some of our Lucky customers
"Maryke" of Roleystone WA, (left)the Winner, of the 2007 Moorcroft "Grace" Vase presented by Malar Fraser.
Mrs Walmsley (middle) accepts the prize a Moorcroft "Daydream" vase drawn by Philip Allen for the release of the 2006 collections.
Far right:- Malar presents the Moorcroft "Shearwater Moon" vase prize to Jane Wilson during the Philip Gibson visit in November 2005.
All prizes were donated by Moorcroft and were gratefully received of course!
A big thank you to all the Moorcroft staff and employees for such wonderful prizes.
# The aim of our web site is just to whet your appetite and hopefully you will enquire as to availability of other items you may require.
We have a huge range of stock at two shops now, that would be impossible to fit on this site! Check out the categories section on the left of page!
*****************************************************
"One of our greatest pleasures is to help others become involved in the joys of collecting, plus demonstrating the possible financial gains associated with the hobby".
click here to browse our extensive Moorcroft collection
If you do not see what you are searching for on our web site, please do not hesitate to contact us
Or telephone (08) 9733 1240 with an enquiry.
International Callers:- 00 61 8 97331240
We hope you enjoyed our web site which is constantly under construction due to the never ending number of photos to be taken.
Kindest regards
Bill & Malar Fraser.
