Moorcroft Ironstone Obsession Vase

Designed by Nicola Slaney

IRONSTONE OBSESSION
by
Hugh Edwards

My wife, Maureen is not a proud person, but there was one occasion in her Moorcroft life of which she feels justifiably proud, and that was the day in a San Francisco trade fair that she opened an account with Moorcroft retailer, Ironstone Vineyards in California. 

One of Ironstone Vineyards’ greatest attributes is that it produces superb wine, both white and red on its 5000-acre winery in Lodi and the Sierra foothills.  The location alone is awe-inspiring – towering mountains, ancient forests and spectacular scenery.  Put simply, it is real Moorcroft country, a destination of choice for anyone who loves Moorcroft and the ideas and inspiration which lie behind our work.  On top of this, another obvious attraction is plain for all to see.  Ironstone Vineyards own the biggest gold nugget ever found in the United States!  Uniquely, Ironstone did not hide their find away in a bank vault.  Instead they mounted it in a 12” thick glass case around which heavy steel shutters wrap themselves the moment Ironstone closes for the day.  A tank could not dislodge that nugget, but on its own it attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Ironstone Vineyards each year.

Throughout its 110-year history, Moorcroft has been interested in grapes which have appeared time and time again in our designs, but the link with Ironstone does not stop there.  Like myself, the owner of Ironstone Vineyards, Stephen Kautz, has had a profound love of daffodils, several tons of which he planted all over his estate.  In Spring, the Ironstone daffodils are spectacular and as a result the winery’s Spring Obsession event was borne.  Moorcroft has its own Spring Festival, of course, with seasonal themes of Spring appearing each year.  Top of the Moorcroft list of seasonal design themes are daffodils, both now and more than a century ago.  Ironstone hosts lectures, promotes art competitions in which daffodils feature strongly, and plays host to the inevitable wine-tasting of each year’s new vintage.

Ironstone's 2007 Spring Obsession event featured an exciting new collaboration. Our very own Club Secretary, Elise Adams, delivered a lecture on the subject of daffodils and grapes in Moorcroft art.  With her, our senior demonstrator, Ruth Fairweather, taught Moorcroft masterclasses.  In return, a Moorcroft retailer in the form of Ironstone Vineyard’s owner, Stephen Kautz himself, delivered the 2007 Spring Festival lecture on the subject of grapes, daffodils and gold nuggets!