Moorcroft is highly decorated pottery. The company originated during a commercial period in ceramics where designers were not recognized. William Moorcroft took a different approach. He oversaw the making of each piece of pottery by a gallery of workers and personally signed his name or applied his initials to each one. Other pottery manufacturers of the same era used a mark identifying the factory. Linda Clifford's website has an informative article and video revealing the processes used today at Moorcroft.
There are four Moorcroft designers—William Moorcroft (the founder), Walter Moorcroft (William's son), Sally Tuffin and Rachel Bishop. Learn more about each of their styles and signatures by investigating documentation about Moorcroft. Resources like Moorcroft's official website, the World Collectors Net website and the book "Moorcroft: A Guide to Moorcroft Pottery 1897-1993," written by Peter Atterbury, Paul Atterbury and Beatrice Moorcroft, reveal further history and design techniques used in Moorcroft pottery.
Christie's Auction House carries Moorcroft pottery in many of its Interiors or 20th Century Decorative Art and Design auctions. The Christie's website is loaded with photographs of Moorcroft pottery that have been auctioned in the past. The site will also reveal whether there are any Moorcroft pieces up for auction. Sotheby's is another auction house that sells pottery designed by William Moorcroft. Examining or viewing these pieces via photograph or in person can reveal further characteristics and marks used in Moorcroft pottery.