Five dealers with cabinets in the centre were targeted, four silver dealers and Mark Templeman of Deco to Modern, a dealer in 20th century ceramics.
Mr. Templeman had 20 pieces of Moorcroft, five pieces of Clarice Cliff and nine pieces of Troika stolen, plus three small silver items.
It is thought that the alarm system was disabled prior to the break-in, possibly the day before.
The more notable items of Moorcroft pottery taken from Mr Templeman's stock included:
• a blush flambé leaf and blackberry vase from 1928, signed in blue by William Moorcroft, and impressed with the Royal Warrant mark Potter to HM the Queen;
• a 9½in (24cm) tall pomegranate and pewter footed vase c.1920, with Moorcroft Made in England backstamp and William Moorcroft's initials in blue;
• an early, 6¾in (17cm) plum wisteria vase, from 1914-1918, with hand-painted signature in green and impressed Moorcroft Burslem marks.
• a 7in (18cm) tall pansy vase, dating from 1914-1916, with a hand-painted signature by William in green and the standard small impressed Moorcroft and Burslem marks and the shape number M72.
Any information should be given to D.C. 1364 Barbara Banning at Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 ext. 6170, quoting crime reference number CR/025275/11.
The high price of silver is thought to have motivated another burglary on September 5 at a manor house in a village just outside Lutterworth in southern Leicestershire.
Among the items stolen were:
• two solid silver ornate wine coolers (valued at £1500 each);
• two solid silver vegetable salvers (valued at £750 each);
• a large handled silver platter with domed cover (valued at £1000);
• six hand-blown air-twisted stemmed goblets (valued at £1800 the set);
• a 12in (30cm) high Tiffany scent bottle with the stopper missing (valued at £150);
• four white gold gilt napkin rings (valued at £300 the set);
The crime reference number is LA/01939/11-9, and the officer in charge of the case is D.C. 1524 Steve Winn.
Tel: 0116 222 2222 ext 3819.
