[A]ntiques celebrity Eric Knowles is giving a free talk in Cumbria this weekend to celebrate the launch of an exclusive new Moorcroft vase featuring a famous Lakeland beauty spot.
The Antiques Roadshow and Bargain Hunt TV presenter will be at the Treeby & Bolton gallery in Keswick on Saturday (JUNE 16) afternoon when the beautiful Friar’s Crag vase will be revealed for the first time to the public.
The seven-inch ceramic is decorated with a stunning view across Derwentwater and down the Borrowdale valley from Friar’s Crag, widely regarded as among the top scenic locations not just in the Lakes but the whole of the UK.
Only 50 of the limited edition vases have been produced and they are only available from Treeby & Bolton, which is just a short walk from Friar’s Crag. The highly collectable individually numbered pieces, priced £495, have been designed by Moorcroft’s Kerry Goodwin and produced at the company’s world-famous factory in Stoke.
“I have yet to see anything by Kerry that I wouldn’t want to buy and have in my own home,” said Eric, who specialises in ceramics and is a big fan of Moorcroft’s distinctive tube-lining. “Kerry is one of the great ceramic designers of our time. Like all the Moorcroft design team, they are simply the best,” added Lancashire-born Eric, 65, speaking from Spain earlier this week where he was giving a speech.
His talk on Saturday at the Keswick gallery will be about arts and crafts in the Lake District. Admission is free but places are limited and can be booked by emailing [email protected] or calling 017687 72443.
As well as Eric, Kerry will be at the gallery from 12 noon to 3pm to talk to people about her work and the latest piece, which features a Treeby & Bolton backstamp as well as the Moorcroft one. Both will be signing Friar’s Crag vases bought on the day.
Libbie Barton, gallery manager, said: “The vase looks sensational and we are expecting it to sell out really quickly with it being such a small limited edition and only being available here. These are antiques of the future and each one is unique. Demand will also be very high for Eric’s talk, so people need to book in advance.”
A smaller Moorcroft vase featuring Ashness Bridge near Keswick was launched in 2016 at Treeby & Bolton. It sold out.
