Dual Nationality

I suppose the reason it has taken so long to write this is mainly due to the fact that I don't think anyone ever reads this blog. However this is perhaps one of the biggest disappointments in my life and I feel it is something I would like to share. Although it has not affected my life in real terms, it has however had a big impact on how I feel about myself and therefore I feel it might help to share it. My mother is English and my father is American. He was serving over here in the early sixties in the American Air Force when he met my mother. For whatever reason when I was born, probably because my parents were seperated at the time because of my Fathers short posting to France, my Mother decided not to put his name on the birth certificate. This has probably in hindsight been the biggest hurdle to achieving what I later wanted to do in life. I don't know why my folks eventually split up although I suspect it was my Mothers decision as my Father loved her very much. That is not to say anything against my Mother as it was a difficult decision to take in the 1960's and bring up a baby on her own with little or no support from the state. I won't talk about my childhood (maybe that will be another entry) but suffice to say we didn't have a lot of money although my Dad did help out even though he was back in the States and he always kept in touch with me and despite my Mothers decision when I was born she never wanted me to lose touch with him. I remember he came over when I was about eight or nine and it was a big event in my life especially as it would end up being several years before I got to see him again. The first time I ever met him in the US was when I was 15 when he paid for me to fly over to see him in Massachussettes. This was a huge step for me to take as I could not remember him from his brief visit when I was a young child. I didn’t even know what he looked like so I had taken a photo of him with me on the flight so I would recognise him when I landed at Logan Airport. One of my earliest memories is of sitting on the plane wondering whether this man sat next to me on the plane could in fact be my Father as he looked remarkably like the man in the photo. Needless to say it wasn't. It was even more nerve wracking when I was stood in the Arrivals hall of Logan Airport and I felt this hand on my shoulder and this voice saying: 'hello son'. From that point on I really began to get to know my Dad and it has not always been plain sailing, but we have, despite the several thousand miles of ocean between us built up quite a good realtionship over the years which sort of finally brings me to the point of this blog entry. I have always been aware of the fact that on my birth ceritificate the only entry under my Fathers name is a line of dots and that’s it. As I built up a relationshipo with my father I have always wanted some form of official recognition that he is my Father. After my first visit with him I wrote to the US Embassy in London to ask whether it would be possible to apply for dual nationality and over the years I have tried a couple of additional times. All obviously with no success. The official line is that as my parents were not married and as at the time no laws existed in the relevant nations or states that recognised illegitamate children in this way I have no right to dual nationality. I don't think even the official embassy people - now Homeland Security I think - dount I am who I say I am as my Father registered me as his next of kin on his Air Force papers at the time. Its just that the law applies at the time of the birth and not what ever changes may have occurred since. The first time I got this answer I even went to see my Member of Parliament who asked questions in the House of Commons but again it never camne to anything. We even arranged for official declarations to be signed by family members but again with no joy. Over the years as I say I have tried a couple of times again in the vain hope that the law may have changed. The people I spoke to from Homeland Security have always been very understanding but unfortunately unable to help. I suppose when I was a teenager the intention was that I do it so that I could move over and live for a longer period with my Father but as time went on and I established a life over here I did it more from the fact that it would give me some official recognition of who I am. Its very frustrating when I travel to see him and see the number of of people who have moved to the USA to start new lives and eventually no doubt claim US citizenship and I have no chance. I can't be the only person in this situation and it is frustrating. I suppose I have accepted it but even now I guess I am hoping somoeone will read this and take pity on me, but then again no-one has ever read anything else I have written,, but at least I have had the opportunity to get this bug bear off my chest. If you have any comments please feel free to get in touch it would be great to hear from you stevecova1@googlemail.com  

New development inspired by clarice cliff

Revealed: The next design for Hanley's Central Business District between Broad Street and Warner Street | This is Staffordshire

New jug

watching a new clarice cliff jug. here's hoping everyone is too interested in Xmas to worry about bidding on eBay or maybe i am living in a cold paradise. only a little odilon jug but i like it

From Cambridge News 20/4/12

Cliff vase sold for 10 times its estimate
An art deco ceramic vase was snapped up a Cambridge auction house for 10 times its estimate.
The Clarice Cliff sliced circle design vase, pictured, sold at Willingham Auctions for £4,600 – to the surprise of the auctioneers.
The UK-based buyer won the lot via telephone bidding, and auctioneer Stephen Drake said there was a lot of interest.
Mr Drake said: “It was quite amazing really. It was brought in by a private client who also put in another Clarice Cliff piece which sold for £1,000.
“The general interest was huge with six telephone bidders and live bidding on it, as well as internet.
“The condition of it was so very good.
“It had been locked away for years in a private collection and so had rarely been seen, making it a very desirable piece of pottery.”
The 20cm-tall vase was estimated at between £400 and £800 ahead of the sale.
The next sale at the company’s premises in High Street, Willingham, takes place on Saturday, May 12, starting at 10am.

Event to mark end of project

From This is Staffordshire 23/3/12

FAMILIES can enjoy free pottery workshops to celebrate the end of a china project.

Burslem School of Art in Queen Street, Burslem, will open its doors for arts and crafts activities from 11am to 3pm.

In the last six months the school has seen more than 200 people become involved in a Great Wall of Stoke-on-Trent China project, creating hundreds of ceramic pieces, and learning about pottery processes and history.

The open day to show off the results will include free workshops in art, pottery and design.

And in the Potters Film Studio footage from BBC archives documenting the lives and work of Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper and Charlotte Rhead will be shown.

A pop-up Pottery Gallery featuring professional ceramics from local and international artists will also be displayed until April 26.

Event to mark end of project

FAMILIES can enjoy free pottery workshops to celebrate the end of a china project.

Burslem School of Art in Queen Street, Burslem, will open its doors for arts and crafts activities from 11am to 3pm.

In the last six months the school has seen more than 200 people become involved in a Great Wall of Stoke-on-Trent China project, creating hundreds of ceramic pieces, and learning about pottery processes and history.

The open day to show off the results will include free workshops in art, pottery and design.

And in the Potters Film Studio footage from BBC archives documenting the lives and work of Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper and Charlotte Rhead will be shown.

A pop-up Pottery Gallery featuring professional ceramics from local and international artists will also be displayed until April 26.

From This is Staffordshire 23.3.12

The loss of a loved one

I have sold my first piece of Clarice cliff on eBay. I know it has to be done to raise money for my next piece, nevertheless it will be sad when I have to pass it over to the postman to deliver. It was a lovely little piece as well

Trading in chattels has its pros and cons.

A useful article stating the pro's and con' of using eBay for all your Clarice Cliff bits and bobs. You may have to register to read the full article but it does not appear to be spam rather a post on another blog.

Follow this link here

Can it be that women really just can't compete with men

This is Staffordshire

An interesting article although I am not sure I entirely agree with the comments as I think what CC achieved during a time of male dominated mills was no mean achievement and suggests she was no pushover

Clarice Cliff Bio - Lynn Knight - Guardian Review from 2005

If anyone is thinking of buying this book, this seems a fair review. Can't say whether it is accurate as I have yet to read it myself, but thought people might be interested in seeing it

Follow this link

My best Conical Jug - at the moment

From Ania and Jay at Desired Antiques this is perhaps my favourite piece of the moment. In Pastel Melons this Conical Jug from about 1930 is just lovely. Its14cm high and the colours are great. It is marked Fantasque and Bizarre.

All things Clarice Cliff: The CC Auctioneers

All things Clarice Cliff: The CC Auctioneers: Fieldings - Follow this link Fieldings Auctioneers seem to be the acknowledged expert auction house for all things Clarice Cliff. Will Farm...

The CC Auctioneers

Fieldings - Follow this link

Fieldings Auctioneers seem to be the acknowledged expert auction house for all things Clarice Cliff. Will Farmer the contemporary expert on CC is one of the members of Fieldings and I think it is him who has championed the CC auctions which take place twice a year. They attract quite a following and many people get together the night before at a local hotel and it has become quite a social event for those into CC. To date I have not managed to get along but who knows maybe in May when I think the next CC auction is on

CC. Going with a Bang!

An 18lb shrapnel case from WW1 done in the style of Clarice Cliff. Who'd have thought. As they say on eBay it would make a great pen holder. Lovely.

See the eBay link here. Don't all bid at once

Cafe Au Lait - not just a milky coffee

This is one of my favourite pots Cafe Au Lait - Mango's. I always wondered where the name for the style came from and to be honest I still am no nearer finding out. I think it has something to do with the brown stippled look which would make sense, but I'm no expert. I did find out from one website today that most of the Cafe Au Lait was produced around 1931-33 so at least I have some idea of the age of the piece

Wiki and Clarice Cliff

Another very useful site to get background and as a starting point in learning a little more about Clarice Cliff is the wiki site about her. It gives some useful background information as well as an initial understanding of the development of her work. In addition I found it useful in understanding just how impressive a woman she was for her time. Managing to build a world wide fame for her work at a time when ceramic design was dominated by men. It's strange when you think about this how little is mentioned of her when discussing women's achievements in the 20th century.

Clarice - Good place to start

I saw this article recently on the BBC website. For those completely new to the world of Clarice Cliff it's a good place to start as its simply written and gives a potted back history to this wonderful designer. It's also written with some input by Leonard Griffin who seems from other websites to be one of the experts on all things Clarice. It also talks about her boss and later Husband Colly Shorter and the input he had into her work. Useful also for other links and it is ice to see a picture of her when she was older as most of those I have seen have when she was a young woman. BBC Link

Liberty Conical Jug - Small but perfectly formed

It may only be small and one of the cheapest things I have, but this is just lovely. Not sure when it dates from but I would guess mid thirties. The conical Jug is perhaps one of the nicest shapes in my view but then it is mine.....

Andrew Muir and One that got away

Andrew Muir

This is one Jug I was very sorry to see sold. It is in the pattern 'Pastel Autumn' dating to 1932 and I think it's lovely. I first saw it on Andrew Muir's site which I think I have attached a link to. I have been watching it for a while and had decided that should I have a small windfall I would treat myself. Andrew then put it on eBay and I thought I might be in luck but it went for even more than he had it on sale for on his site. Who knows maybe it will come up again one day and you never know I may even have some money to buy it with.

Just another point worth mentioning Andrew Muir seems like another good dealer and he has a lot of lovely stuff on his site. Whenever I have asked questions heh as always been more than happy to reply and again the things on his site seem reasonable for what they are.

Desired Antiques and Collectables

Just thought it useful to mention these dealers who can be found at http://www.desiredantiques.co.uk/ . I have bought a couple of things from them since I started my collection and they have always been excellent value for money and a pleasure to deal with. For those like me who are new to the world of CC they are a very good place to start.