Ceramics

Conical shape ‘tea for two’ tea set in the Melon pattern, dating 1930. Stamford shape ‘tea for two’ tea set in the Delecia Pansy pattern, dating 1933. Collecting Clarice Cliff with Price Guide by Roland Head

The flamboyant Art Deco designs of Clarice Cliff Clarice Cliff was made Art Director of the Newport are instantly recognisable to collectors of twentieth Pottery; the first women in The Potteries to hold century ceramics. Clarice Cliff created a distinctive such a position. style and personal brand that was original and utterly Tea & Coffee Wares of its time. In this feature, I’ll highlight the prolific The Original Bizarre tableware was traditionally breadth of her output, as well as the state of the shaped, thanks to the Victorian designs of the under- Rare, large ‘tea for six’ Bonjour market for her work. lying wares. The range’s success meant that this old shape teapot, decorated in the Background stock was soon depleted, however, and Clarice was Honolulu pattern. Born in 1899, Clarice Cliff was one of a family of free to start designing shapes that better-suited her seven children in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. Her modern, Art Deco-inspired patterns. career in ‘The Potteries’ began at the age of thirteen Aside from the fairly traditional Athens and Globe with an apprenticeship at a local pottery. By shapes, the first teaware that Clarice Cliff designed seventeen, Clarice had already switched employers herself was the Conical shape. Based on triangles, twice, ending up at A. J. Wilkinson’s, then a pyramids and cones, it was drastically different to successful pottery, owned by the Shorter anything else on the market and an instant success - family. A combination of talent and initiative so much so that other potteries such as Shelley and resulted in her being noticed by the pottery’s Burgess & Leigh (makers of Burleigh Ware) soon management, and in 1922, she was promoted to produced their own variants on the idea. become an apprentice modeller and given a position Teasets were at the heart of Clarice Cliff’s ranges of in the factory’s design studio. In 1927, the combi- designs and were amongst the most popular and high nation of Clarice Cliff’s talent, persistent sugges- volume of Newport’s output. It should be borne in tions and burgeoning relationship with Colley mind that the majority of her wares were sold at Shorter, the factory’s managing director, who she relatively modest prices and were put into regular later married, led to the birth of the Bizarre range use by their first owners. Nothing epitomises this and the Clarice Cliff brand. better than the Early Morning sets, now more Colley Shorter decided to take a chance on his new commonly known as tea for two sets. Made in a designer’s judgement and gave Clarice her own wide range of shapes and patterns, these were studio at Newport Pottery, along with a full-time composed of two cups and saucers, a teapot, milk May Avenue vase, 5in high, very rare paintress. They immediately started work on trans- jug, sugar bowl and one side plate. They were shape. forming a quantity of hitherto unsaleable tablewares intended for a husband and wife to use to have tea that had been inherited when Wilkinson’s bought and a shared slice of toast in bed together before Newport Pottery in 1920. The result was Original they got up in the morning. The Early Morning sets Bizarre - the first Clarice Cliff pattern. Built from were a huge success and made a very popular and simple geometric designs of coloured bands, fashionable wedding gift. Good examples in collect- triangles and diamonds, the style rapidly proved to able patterns can command thousands of pounds. be both popular and effective at disguising the indif- The definitive Clarice Cliff teaware shape is ferent quality of the underlying wares. probably Stamford, with its characteristic flat-sided Clarice Cliff - The Brand teapot and solid-handled cups. Its combination of While the earliest wares to leave Clarice Cliff’s angles and curves captured the Art Deco style Newport Pottery studio only bore the range name perfectly and the teapot’s flat sides provided an ideal ‘Bizarre’, their success soon prompted Colley canvas for painting and displaying the ever- Shorter to realise that he had a major marketing expanding range of Clarice Cliff patterns. opportunity in his hands. Not only was Clarice Cliff Vases, Fancies & Sugar Sifters an eminently brandable personality, but the concept Clarice Cliff’s shape designs were not restricted to of ‘by women, for women’ would undoubtedly tablewares. Semi-functional shapes such as prove attractive to his primarily-female customer chargers, large jugs, pitchers and vases were also base. To cement this advantage, the legend ‘by made, as were a number of pure ‘fancies’; figurines, Isis shape vase, decorated with Red Clarice Cliff’ was added to the existing pottery masks, bookends, candlesticks, beakers and other Autumn pattern. markings on the base of each piece, and in 1930 such shapes. These shapes were made in smaller ANTIQUES INFO - January/February 09 Ceramics numbers and sold at higher prices than table wares, resulting in greater I have shied away from mentioning too many specific patterns in this rarity. Larger pieces such as jugs, chargers and vases also provided an feature. Clarice Cliff designed around 2000 and it would take more exceptional canvas for Clarice Cliff’s patterns. The result is that good space and expertise than I have available to provide a meaningful and examples, especially vases in the highly desirable Lotus and Isis shapes, comprehensive guide to their desirability. However, some examples of now change hands for thousands of pounds. At a recent auction sale, a Clarice Cliff’s finest and most characteristic designs might include Clarice Cliff Bizarre Sunray pattern vase in an unusual shape sold for a patterns such as Red Broth, Solitude, Luxor, Orange Melon, Trees and hammer price of £5,800. One final category of shapes that deserves House and Sunray, in addition to the ubiquitous Crocus patterns. singular mention is the Conical sugar sifter. Although sugar sifters were Collecting Clarice Cliff also made in more conventional, rounded shapes, the Conical sugar The past twenty years have seen a huge increase in Clarice Cliff values. sifter is an iconic example of Clarice Cliff design. Good examples in Bargains are scarce in the extreme. Ample exposure on popular rare patterns can fetch over £1,000 and a small but high quality television programmes has ensured that public awareness of the collection could be built from this shape alone, should you wish. collectable value of Clarice Cliff is high. Given this situation, the Patterns and Decoration mantra of ‘buy only the best’ is even more relevant than usual. Anyone One of the characteristic features of Clarice Cliff’s work is its golden- hoping that their poor quality or common pieces will benefit from the coloured glaze. Known as Honeyglaze, this was Wilkinson’s proprietary rising tide that lifts all boats is likely to be disappointed. clear glaze, its colour the result of the addition of one per cent iron oxide There is a bewilderingly wide range of shapes and patterns on offer; to a clear glaze. Most of her work was glazed with Honeyglaze before Clarice Cliff was nothing if not prolific. Collectors should take the time being decorated overglaze. The coloured enamels were painted on after necessary to gain some understanding of her work before beginning to the ware had been glazed and fired. A final firing then followed to invest the substantial sums necessary to buy interesting and desirable harden the enamels. pieces of this pottery.

Conical shape large bowl decorated in Crocus pattern.

Secrets patterned twin-handled Isis Orange Picasso Flower pattern vase, dating 1933. drum jam pot, dating 1930. Orange House pattern, shape 358 vase, dating 1931.

All images courtesy of www.andrew-muir.com The following four page Price Guide courtesy of www.antiques-info.co.uk Conical jug in Orange House pattern, dating 1931.

Rare Appliqué Blue Lucerne pattern Trees and House pattern on Lotus Lotus shape jug. shape jug.

Conical sugar sifter in Newlyn Conical sugar sifter in Orange Roof Shape 565 Forest Glen pattern vase, pattern. Cottage pattern. Double V pattern beaker, dating 1929. dating 1935. ANTIQUES INFO - January/February 09 Ceramics

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1 Clarice Cliff Secrets pattern sandwich set, octagonal dish 15 and six octagonal plates, facsimile signature, Royal Staffordshire printed marks, with a Secrets pattern toast Clarice Cliff ‘Orange Roof Clarice Cliff crocus pattern Clarice Cliff Bizarre ‘Tennis’ 5 rack. Gorringes, Lewes. Apr Cottage’ pattern vase, shape teaset: teapot, 6 cups, saucers, pattern lotus jug, printed 08. HP: £950. ABP: £1,117. No. 461. Great Western plates and cake plate. (1 cup marks, 29cm high. Wintertons Clarice Cliff Fantasque lotus Auctions, Glasgow. Feb 07. and plate def) Great Western Ltd, Uttoxeter. Mar 06. HP: vase, ‘Orange House’, printed HP: £760. ABP: £893. Auctions, Glasgow. Jan 06. £7,200. ABP: £8,469. mark to base, damage, 11.5in. 11 HP: £580. ABP: £682. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 06. HP: £1,800. ABP: £2,117. 6

2 Clarice Cliff Newport 16 Pottery Lotus jug, 8.25in. Louis Taylor, Stoke. Mar 06. Clarice Cliff Bizarre Sunray Clarice Cliff Blue Autumn 21 HP: £800. ABP: £941. pattern stepped vase, shape Clarice Cliff Red Roofs Fantasque Bizarre vase, Clarice Cliff Bizarre pottery No. 369A, base with printed Bizarre pattern wall plate, shape 342, painted in colours vase, angular bulbous body & impressed marks, 19.5cm. printed marks, 33.5cm. between orange and green (shape No. 342) decorated in Charterhouse Auctioneers, Sworders, Stansted 12 bands, 8in high. Golding green, blue, rose and brown Sherborne. Apr 08. HP: Mountfitchet. Apr 06. HP: Young & Co, Grantham. Feb with Inspiration Rose pattern £5,800. ABP: £6,822. £1,750. ABP: £2,058. 06. HP: £700. ABP: £823. on a mottled green and blue ground, 8in high, printed Prices quoted are actual 7 hammer prices (HP) and the mark in black to base and Approximate Buyer’s Price. titled in brown ‘Inspiration’. (ABP) Includes an average Canterbury Auction premium of 15% + VAT. Clarice Cliff vase, ‘Sunray’, Galleries, Kent. Apr 06. HP: printed marks to base and £560. ABP: £658. impressed shape No. 350, 3 Clarice Cliff Fantasque Bizarre viking boat, Bobbins 8in. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar pattern, 16in long. (minor 06. HP: £800. ABP: £941. chip to a foot) Dee, Atkinson 17 & Harrison, Driffield. Jul 06. HP: £1,500. ABP: £1,764. 13 Clarice Cliff ‘Trees and 8 House’ pattern vase. Henry Adams, Chichester. Oct 06. Clarice Cliffe Bizarre ware HP: £650. ABP: £764. lidded bowl, lid with cruci- form top reflecting the four 22 triangular feet, painted in the Clarice Cliff Bizarre Hono- ‘Autumn’ design, orange lulu pattern vase, c1933/1934, Clarice Cliff Coral Firs Clarice Cliff Melon pattern banding, printed marks, 8in 18 9in wide. Ewbank, Send, pattern Lotus jug, 11.5in. vase, shape No. 264. Great high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Apr 08. Surrey. Jul 06. HP: £1,100. Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 07. Clarice Cliff Sunray Bizarre Western Auctions, Glasgow. HP: £2,200. ABP: £2,587. ABP: £1,293. HP: £800. ABP: £941. pattern bowl, printed marks, Jan 06. HP: £520. ABP: £611. 20.5cm. Sworders, Stansted 14 4 9 Mountfitchet. Apr 06. HP: £600. ABP: £705.

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Clarice Cliff ‘Fantasque’ pottery coffee service in Dame , Clarice orange, blue, brown and 23 Cliff design for Circus Horses, green , Sunrise pattern within Bizarre pattern plate, pencil wide banded orange and Clarice Cliff Newport pottery Clarice Cliff Bizarre pottery sketch and watercolour with brown borders: 14 pieces, all hive shaped moulded ribbed single handled lotus pattern gilded highlights, signed and with black printed marks to conserve pot with bee finial, jug, ribbed body, enamelled titled in pencil ‘Design for bases, and a similar matched hand painted with unusual in orange, blue, mauve and small plate, all alike’, 16cm sugar bowl banded in blue, design of red castle/mountain, green with Autumn Crocus dia, with a side plate in same orange, brown and green, yellow tree with green trunk design, 11.5in high, black design, puce printed mark, 1st 3.25in dia. (damage) and red blossoms, black and Clarice Cliff Moonlight printed Bizarre mark to base. edition 1934, 17cm. Halls Canterbury Auction purple bushes and blue sky. pattern conical sifter, 5.5in. Canterbury Auction Fine Art, Shrewsbury. Mar 07. Galleries, Kent. Apr 06. HP: Batemans, Stamford. Mar 06. Gorringes, Lewes. Jun 07. Galleries, Kent. Feb 07. HP: HP: £2,000. ABP: £2,352. £960. ABP: £1,129. HP: £780. ABP: £917. HP: £600. ABP: £705. £500. ABP: £588. ANTIQUES INFO - January/February 09 Ceramics

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Clarice Cliff ‘Bon Jour’ part 24 coffee set: coffee pot, sugar, Clarice Cliff Fantasque 39 Clarice Cliff, pair of tapering 29 pottery rose bowl in orange, milk, 3 cups and 6 saucers, vases, square bases, red, blue green, black, mauve, blue painted with blossoming Deco Clarice Cliff bizarre and green Chintz design, No. Clarice Cliff Pansies jug. and brown, Orange Gardenia branches on a pink ground, oval sugar shaker, decorated 461. Brightwells, Leominster. Great Western Auctions, pattern, neck/base banded in 7.75in high. (12) Hartleys, with a cottage beside a river Jul 06. HP: £500. ABP: £588. Glasgow. Mar 06. HP: £430. orange, yellow and brown, Ilkley. Oct 07. HP: £300. ABP: £505. 4.75in high x 6.5in dia, black and bridge, 13cm. Calder ABP: £352. printed mark to base, pierced Valley Auctioneers, Halifax. 25 metal cover. Canterbury Apr 07. HP: £340. ABP: £399. Auction Galleries, Kent. Apr 06. HP: £380. ABP: £446.

30 Clarice Cliff tea and coffee 45 set ‘Stamford’ shape, Crocus Clarice Cliff part tea set Clarice Cliff jardiniere, pattern, 15 pieces for 6 place ‘Crocus’, 19 pieces including 40 ‘Sunrise’ design in blue, setting, includes milk jug and two serving plates and milk orange and green, within 2 sugar bowls, 6 cups with jug. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 35 Clarice Cliff honey pot, yellow and orange borders, solid angular handles. 06. HP: £420. ABP: £494. ‘Summerhouse’, cover with pad feet, 6.75in high. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 07. Pair Clarice Cliff Fantasque bee handle, 1931-33, 3.5in. Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb 08. HP: HP: £480. ABP: £564. This section is only a sample Bizarre ‘Gardenia’ vases. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 06. £300. ABP: £352. from 1000s of results from Great Western Auctions, HP: £320. ABP: £376. recent sales. See our website Glasgow. Mar 07. HP: £365. 46 for an extensive selection. ABP: £429.

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31 26 Clarice Cliff crocus pattern Dover shaped jardiniere, Clarice Cliff Bizarre bottle Clarice Cliff sandwich set, 8.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Apr vase, painted chevron design, Clarice Cliff jug, ‘Forest ‘Gayday’, six octagonal 08. HP: £320. ABP: £376. 7cm high. Richard Winterton, Glen’, octagonal jug, shape plates and serving dish, dish Burton on Trent. Jun 08. HP: 32, 7in. Gorringes, Lewes. Clarice Cliff jug, ‘Delecia’ 11.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. £300. ABP: £352. Apr 07. HP: £460. ABP: £541. 1930. Sandwich Auction Feb 07. HP: £360. ABP: £423. Rooms, Kent. May 06. HP: 27 £410. ABP: £482. 37

42 32 Clarice Cliff jug, marked Clarice Cliff crocus tea for Newport Pottery Co. No 41A, plain green two, painted in colours 47 between green, yellow and ground to bottom half which brown bands: tea pot, cream is stepped, rope pattern to Clarice Cliff ceramic wall centre and autumn leaves jug, sugar bowl, two cups, Clarice Cliff ‘Bizarre’ pottery hanging, in form of a star, saucers and plates. Golding and blue berries to upper puce decoration symbolising half. Sandwich Auction vase, flared rim decorated in Young & Co, Grantham. Feb brown, green and black with the Scorpio star sign, Clarice 06. HP: £350. ABP: £411. Rooms, Kent. Oct 06. HP: Cliff Wilkinson stamp to £300. ABP: £352. ‘Original Bizarre’ pattern, 6.75in high, black printed reverse, 7in. Hy. Duke & Clarice Cliff conical sugar mark to base and shape No. Son, Dorchester. Jul 08. HP: sifter, ‘Forest Glen’, 5.5in. 38 43 196. Canterbury Auction £460. ABP: £541. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 07. Galleries, Kent. Feb 06. HP: HP: £400. ABP: £470. £280. ABP: £329.

28 33 Early 20thC Clarice Cliff Clarice Cliff Bizarre ware Newport pottery conical 48 bowl, painted with purple, sugar shaker, decorated in orange and blue zig-zags, 6in the blue chintz pattern, black Clarice Cliff conical sugar Clarice Cliff ‘Poplar’ vase, Clarice Cliff ‘Gloria’ design wide, similar Fantasque ware printed Fantasque mark, shaker, Fantasque pattern. shape No.461. Great Western two handled vase. Henry bowl and two Clarice Cliff 5.5in high. Diamond Mills & Cotswold Auction Company, Auctions, Glasgow. Feb 07. Adams, Chichester. Jul 06. plates. (4) Hartleys, Ilkley. Co, Felixstowe. Mar 06. HP: Gloucester. Feb 07. HP: HP: £450. ABP: £529. HP: £270. ABP: £317. Dec 07. HP: £390. ABP: £458. £340. ABP: £399. £300. ABP: £352. ANTIQUES INFO - January/February 09