Design icon Clarice Cliff was a ground-breaking artist whose work still engenders passion in collectors today
Not only did Clarice Cliff break all the rules of design during her years as an artist in Stoke-on-Trent potteries, but she also broke new ground as a woman too, working during the 1920s and 30s at a time when women were battling for any form of recognition.
‘I am amazed at how someone particularly from such a humble background had that special inspirational spark and enquiring mind and was so aware of design and shape,’ explains Jonathan Daltrey from Banana Dance (bananadance.com), a leading Clarice Cliff specialist.
‘Add to that the ability to use what she saw and be able to adapt either the shape or the medium used and also amend or improve the pictorial design made her quite unique for her time.’
Jonathan began collecting Cliff’s work as a schoolboy. ‘It was on sale in Romford market for 50p. I was told by the seller that it was very collectable and made by ‘Clarence Cliff’ which made me laugh as the signature underneath was most definitely Clarice, and not Clarence a cross-eyed lion, popular on TV at that time in the early 1970s. I bought the piece which was a Raffia design fruit bowl. I still have it today and will never sell it.
In 2021 a Sky drama, The Colour Room based on the artist’s life, generated further interest. ‘Clarice’s ware is just so uplifting and was ahead of its time which are some of the reasons why it is still sought after today and has withstood the test of time,’ Jonathan explains.
The designer prized for her Art Deco work, also understood the commercial side of the business. When she introduced the bestselling Autumn Crocus range in the 1920s, Clarice was quick to grasp the fact that she could build on its success by simply changing the colourway. It was a master stroke and vastly expanded her catalogue.
‘It’s bold, bright and affordable and I always recommend that an example of this pattern should be any collector’s first piece. Prices range from £50 to whatever you want to spend in reality,’ says Jonathan.
Prized patterns commanding high prices include Dame Laura Knight’s Circus ware, Applique Lucerne, Gibraltar, Blue Firs, Purple Crocus and May Avenue. A May Avenue 18-inch ribbed charger achieved a record price in 2003. It was sold by Christies for £39,950.
The Age of Jazz figurines, which consist of five stylised figures are perhaps the most iconic and desirable of shapes believes Jonathan. ‘They appear occasionally for sale individually and the highest price at auction for the rarest of the five figures, the Double Dancer was around £20,000 at Sotheby’s some 25-30 years ago.’
‘I do feel that people and artists draw on Clarice’s originality (not always successfully in my opinion) and will continue to do so in many ways and in many forms.’
Today Cliff is regarded as one of the most influential ceramics artists of the 20th century with pieces changing hands around the world. Her work does not look out of place in the modern homes of today.
