Collecting Guide: Clarice Cliff ceramics

This article serves as a comprehensive guide to collecting the Art Deco ceramic ware of Clarice Cliff, a trailblazing British ceramic artist whose designs have been highly sought after since the 1920s. The extraordinary life and pioneering work of Clarice Cliff are explored, illustrated with pieces from the André Aerne Collection, sold to benefit the Muskegon Museum of Art. Clarice Cliff's creations have garnered a significant following, with collectors such as Anna Wintour and Whoopi Goldberg, and individual pieces can range from $100 to $30,000. Clarice Cliff was born into a working-class family in 1899 in Tunstall, Staffordshire, a hub for pottery works. She began working in potteries at the young age of 13. Demonstrating ambition and a desire for career advancement, she moved to A.J. Wilkinson’s factory, which offered greater opportunities. At Wilkinson's, she diligently acquired various skills, including modeling figures and vases, gilding, maintaining pattern books, and hand-painting, collaborating with male designers to expand her knowledge. Colley Shorter, the head of the Wilkinson factory, recognized her talent and supported her development by sending her to the Royal College of Art in London for three months, followed by a trip to Paris to observe the latest trends. Upon her return, Shorter provided her with her own studio, where she developed the renowned “Bizarre” line of wares in 1927. She led a team of female workers, known as “the Bizarre Girls,” who hand-painted her designs onto iconic Art Deco forms. Cliff’s ascent was remarkable given the hierarchical and gender-segregated nature of factory work, where women were rarely designers or modellers. Her unique ability and drive allowed her to transcend these limitations. Each of her pieces bore the Clarice Cliff signature, making her a household name and one of the first women in the potteries to launch a line under her own name, a concept akin to modern personal branding. Her success was not only due to her talent for creating vibrant, crowd-pleasing patterns but also to Colley Shorter's adept marketing strategies. Shorter effectively utilized modern advertising techniques, including hiring celebrities to be seen purchasing Cliff's “Bizarre” ware and organizing painting demonstrations in prominent department stores to attract large audiences. Cliff’s continuous introduction of new and exciting designs maintained media interest, and her rags-to-riches story resonated with the public. She drew inspiration from various sources, including the Art Deco movement and avant-garde movements like Cubism and De Stijl. Her wares often featured modernist shapes and visible brushstrokes, a departure from conventional production norms, reflecting her pioneering artistic vision. Cliff's goal was to make interesting and colorful household items accessible to ordinary people, thereby introducing Cubist influences into everyday homes through her designs, such as tea and coffee sets, candlesticks, vases, and plates. Cliff was a prolific artist, producing hundreds of designs during the inter-war period, characterized by bright colors, patterns, and distinctive shapes, making her style instantly recognizable and enduringly appealing. High-profile collectors, such as Anna Wintour, demonstrate the timeless appeal of Cliff’s ceramics, which effortlessly complement minimalist interiors with vibrant pops of color. While many of Cliff’s pieces were originally functional household items, they are now recognized as significant examples of British Art Deco. For aspiring collectors, the advice is to collect pieces that resonate personally, while also understanding the patterns and shapes that define Clarice Cliff’s body of work. Although many pieces are in private collections, examples can be found in museums like the V&A in London and The Met in New York. The article also highlights opportunities for new collectors, particularly through upcoming online sales offering pieces at more accessible price points, with many items available for under $1,000, and bids starting at $100. While some of Cliff’s designs, particularly those with limited production runs, command higher prices, the market also offers more affordable options. The article emphasizes the importance of verifying authenticity, checking for damage, and looking for the authentic Clarice Cliff script signature on the base, ensuring the glaze is in good condition. Ultimately, collecting Clarice Cliff ceramics is presented as an enjoyable and relatively straightforward endeavor, yielding beautifully decorative pieces to live with. #ClariceCliff #ArtDeco #Ceramics #CollectingGuide #BritishArt #DecorativeArts #Pottery #HomeDecor #DesignHistory #ClariceCliff #ArtDeco #Ceramics #CollectingGuide #BritishArt #DecorativeArts #Pottery #HomeDecor #DesignHistory