Sunflowers for Dougie!
Renowned artist Emma’s new Moorcroft range raising funds as hospice nears 50th anniversary
POTTERY giant Moorcroft has produced a ceramic collection inspired by the language of flowers to support Dougie Mac.
A percentage of sales from each of its new Floriography pieces – which cost from £180 to £895 – will go to the hospice. Designed by renowned artist Emma Bossons, the works feature flowers whose symbolic meanings were suggested by staff, volunteers and supporters when asked to describe Dougie Mac. The hospice will celebrate its 50th anniversary of caring for people in North Staffordshire next year. There are four pieces in the collection: a square plaque featuring daisies and forget-me-nots to represent love and enduring memory, costing £180; a vase with the same flowers for £445; a vase with violets and bluebells, symbolising faithfulness and kindness, for £495; and a larger vase featuring honeysuckle and Dougie Mac’s trademark sunflowers, representing affection and adoration, for £895.
The daisy vase is a numbered edition, while the others are limited editions of just 30 plaques, 25 bluebell vases and 35 sunflower vases. The collection is available to buy now, with three of the four pieces in stock, although there is a wait of up to six weeks for the sunflower vase, which is called Symbol of Adoration. Ceramic artist Emma, who has been designing since 1996, said the collection meant a lot to her.
The 46-year-old, who lives in the Staffordshire Moorlands, said: “Like so many people in this area, I have a personal connection to Dougie Mac which makes this collection mean a lot to me. Almost everybody you talk to has been touched by Dougie Mac in some way.
“The starting point of the collection was the words that staff and volunteers put forward, so it really comes from the heart of Dougie Mac. I looked up the flower meanings for those words and took it from there. I started with the smaller pieces and then gradually got larger and larger. I felt really inspired and could have kept going and going.”
Staff at the Blurton-based hospice welcomed the new collection and Moorcroft’s support. Head of fundraising Donna Adams said: “We were delighted when Moorcroft said they were going to produce the Floriography Collection to mark Dougie Mac’s 50 years of care. All the pieces have such poignancy and are truly stunning.
“The collection is a fitting tribute to the care and support Dougie Mac has offered to local communities across North Staffordshire for 50 years and we would like to thank Moorcroft for all their support.” Moorcroft is holding a free Christmas event at its Heritage Visitor Centre in Sandbach Road, Burslem, on Friday and Saturday. It includes a tombola with pottery and non-pottery prizes, a Christmas jumper competition and festive refreshments – as well as a Christmas auction hosted by special guests Charles Hanson (Friday) and Eric Knowles (Saturday).
It runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm on both days. For free tickets phone 01782 820500 or email mclub@ moorcroft.com