Striking Art Deco Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian decorated vase by William S Mycock 1931. Broad baluster form vase with stylised foliate design encircling the body and band of geometric design to neck. Relief design highlighted in black over a vivid orange-vermilion ground with visible yellow crystals within. Impressed factory mark used from 1930 to 1938 and shape number 181. Incised WSM monogram for William S Mycock together with his year cypher for 1931. The vase is 21.5 cm in height and 19.5 cm maximum diameter.
 
Whilst originally developed in 1905, Pilkington’s orange-vermilion glaze suited the tastes of the Art Deco era when it became popular. The distribution of vermilion crystals was not always predictable with pieces often showing clumping. Other variations included streaking – sometimes applied and sometimes a result of different firing techniques.
William Mycock completed his apprenticeship at Wedgwood but left to become a "jobbing" artist working at a number of potteries, gaining experience of a variety of techniques. He joined Pilkington as a tile artist in 1894 but moved to Pilkington’s pottery department c1906 where he remained until his retirement in 1938 (after its closure). He was Pilkington's longest serving pottery artist.