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.

Secrets Plate.

This I think was the second item I bought and for some reason it's my favourite. It's not the biggest and it's certainly not the lost expensive, but ever since I acquired it I think the pattern has been one of my favourite. I am always trying to work out just what they might be doing in their houses just behind the hill. This one I think is from around 1933 but I am no expert. It's just a nice hilltop and river scene. What do you think?

Coral Firs - My First Pot

This is the first pot I bought back in August last year. It is in the popular Coral firs pattern from the Clarice Cliff bizarre range. Produced between 1933-1935. I have always tried to make sure that I have only bought things that are in a decent condition. It must be said that since I bought this I have become a little clearer about what I like and have pit is one on eBay a few times. Unfortunately with little luck as I have always hoped I would recoup what I spent so that I can put it towards something else. No doubt someone will want it one day