Clarice Cliff was a pioneer in the world of early 20th-century ceramics, blending bold colours, innovative shapes and Art Deco designs to create pieces that remain both popular and influential today. Her pottery not only reflects the artistic trends of the time, but also showcases her unique vision and creativity. Whether you’re an avid Clarice Cliff collector or simply appreciate the bold designs, Clarice Cliff pottery is iconic in the world of 20th-century British pottery.
At Potteries Auctions, we’re experts in buying and selling Clarice Cliff at auction, with her wares regularly passing through our saleroom doors and fetching a high price. Read on to find out more about popular Clarice Cliff pottery, as well as some of our recent rare Clarice Cliff pieces.
Key Features of Clarice Cliff Pottery
Bold and bright colours
One of the most distinctive features of Cliff’s pottery was her use of vibrant, bold colours. She often used oranges, yellows, blues, greens and black to create eye-catching designs that were pretty revolutionary compared to traditional pottery of the time.
Geometric and abstract designs
Cliff’s designs often included geometric shapes, abstract patterns and stylised floral motifs. These designs were influenced by the popular Art Deco movement of the 1920s and 1930s.
Hand-painted decoration
Many of Cliff’s pieces were handpainted, which added to their uniqueness. Her technique allowed for variations and individual touches, making each piece slightly different.
Innovation and style
Cliff’s pottery is known for its innovation, not only in design but also in the shapes of the pottery itself. She created a range of unusual and asymmetrical shapes, such as the ‘Conical’ range and the ‘Bizarre’ line, which became synonymous with her name.
Popular Clarice Cliff Patterns
Bizarre Ware
Introduced in 1927, Bizarre was Cliff’s first major line of pottery, featuring strong bold patterns and bright colours. This line quickly became popular and established Cliff’s reputation as a leading pottery designer.
This Clarice Cliff Bizarre Rhodanthe single handled Lotus jug features hand painted in brown and orange shades depicting a stylised tree landscape. This lovely piece sold for a great £440 at our November 2023 sale.
Crocus
One of Cliff’s most popular designs, Crocus featured simple yet striking floral patterns. It was produced from 1928 and remained in production for many years due to its enduring popularity.
This Clarice Cliff Newport pottery toast rack in the Crocus design sold for £160 back in our March 2023 three-day sale.
Appliqué and Fantasque
These were other popular ranges by Clarice Cliff, showcasing her love for vibrant colours and unique designs. The Appliqué range featured 14 designs, including Avignon, Windmill, Red Tree, Idyll, Palermo, Blossom, Caravan, Bird of Paradise, Etna, Garden, Eden and Monsoon. Meanwhile, Fantasque mainly featured more whimsical patterns of abstracts or landscapes of cottages and trees.
Sold at our November 2022 auction, this Clarice Cliff Bizarre Fantasque Newport Pottery hand painted shallow bowl is our highest selling piece of Clarice Cliff in recent history. It sold for an incredible £3,800!
Blue Chintz
One of her more distinctive and celebrated patterns, Blue Chintz is known for its intricate design and vibrant use of colour, featuring detailed floral designs of roses, lilies and other garden flowers.
Clarice Cliff’s Local Legacy
Cliff’s work is celebrated not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for its cultural significance in The Potteries. Not only did she break the mould of traditional pottery design, but her work also contributed significantly to the acceptance of women as creative forces in the ceramic industry.
A local legend here in The Potteries, we were delighted to see Clarice’s legacy honoured earlier this year as part of Historic England’s National Blue Plaque Scheme, with a blue plaque erected on the outside of what was her former home at 20 Snow Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, where she lived at the height of her success. The plaque reads “CLARICE CLIFF 1899 – 1972 Pottery Designer and Factory Art Director lived here”.
Our very own Kathy was even interviewed by BBC Midlands back in April to commemorate the occasion and to discuss the importance of Cliff’s art to the Staffordshire region!
Clarice Cliff: An Art Deco Icon
Clarice Cliff’s work is widely recognised as emblematic of the Art Deco movement. Her pottery represents a blend of modernity and tradition that captures the spirit of the 1920s and 1930s bringing a well-needed splash of colour to bleak times during the Depression and post-WW1 era.
Today, Clarice Cliff pottery is still highly collectible and sought after by collectors worldwide, with pieces in good condition – especially rare patterns or shapes – often fetching high prices at auction.
This 15-piece rare Clarice Cliff Blue Autumn coffee set in Lynton shape (circa 1934) sold for an incredible £1,400 in our November 2023 sale. The sale featured a large collection of rare Clarice Cliff wares, especially in Rhondanthe designs, which were a big hit with our buyers.
The star of the show, however, was this Clarice Cliff Blue Chintz miniature Bizarre vase. Measuring just a tiny 6.6cm, this truly unusual piece sold for a whopping £1,200.
Here’s Kath holding it for scale – the picture of it alone doesn’t do justice to just quite how small it is!
How to Sell Clarice Cliff Pottery at Auction
At Potteries Auctions, we can identify and provide valuations across a range of Clarice Cliff pottery and ceramic pieces to help you get the best value at auction for your precious items.
Please get in touch with us if you’re looking for an expert evaluation and are seeking to sell your pottery. Free valuation days are held every Tuesday at our Silverdale saleroom and every Thursday at our Cobridge saleroom – to book an appointment, use our online booking form here.
Due to popular demand, we have also started to offer a private valuation service for premium items. Please contact us directly to arrange an appointment by emailing amy@potteriesauctions.com.
You can also email us at enquiries@potteriesauctions.com or call us on +44 (0)1782 638100, or valuations can even be provided via WhatsApp – simply send some clear images of your items via the app to 07864 667940.