Liberty & Co.
Q: I have an art nouveau style vase that my grandmother used as an umbrella stand. It has a floral design that feels like it's etched into the vase. The bottom is stamped "Made for Liberty & Co" and it looks like it is signed "W. Morris Jr." Can you tell me the age and value, if any?
A: Liberty & Co. is a famous department store in London, England. The signature on your vase is "W. Moorcroft." Moorcroft made pottery for several retailers. Liberty was the most important, financing the Moorcroft pottery until 1962 when the Moorcroft family bought them out. Pottery can be found with both Liberty and Moorcroft marks, some with just the Liberty mark and some with just the Moorcroft mark. Liberty sold some Moorcroft patterns under different pattern names. Your vase is the "Spanish" design, made in different color variations from 1910 to the 1930s. Pieces marked "Liberty" are very collectible. A large vase like an umbrella stand could sell for over $1500.
