Customer Reviews

Clarice Cliff

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I am a collector of Clarice Cliff pottery and am anxious for any new information regarding her history or information detailing her brilliant creations. Andrew Casey provides additional views and knowledge concerning one of the most well known Art Deco ceramic designers during the 1920's and 1930's. Similar to most studies, he gives us a short biography of her rise from a working class family to head designer at A.J. Wilkinson and Newport Pottery in England. Most Cliff aficionados are aware of her relationship with the owner, Colley Shorter, who motivated her when sending her to design school and encouraging non-conventional designs. Clarice Cliff eventually married Colley Shorter after his wife died. It was understandable that during that time, many factory workers distanced themselves from her. However, Casey states, "more recently some people have used this affair to discount her amazing achievement...." I am rather shocked that in 2010, her work would be diminished presumably because Cliff, a working class factory girl, had an affair with an upper class married man. Maybe because she was a woman.....

Casey presents the evolution of her work and the impact the world economy was reflected in her designs and ambition. In addition to her prolific output of designs and shapes, she would feel the mood of the times and adjust her lines of ceramic ware. He also presents other famous artists of the times: Dame Laura Knight, Eric Elliot and others but does evaluate the present prices of their work in today's market.

Casey does add a new feature to the study of her ceramics. He presents the prices of the sold pieces at auctions and then gives us the "present" price or value. In any price guideline, it is a difficult task to determine the worth of art but he does attempt to give us some measurement. He also clearly delineated the timeframe and difference between the Bizarre and Fantasque lines. He provides the collector with Clarice Cliff dealers and auction houses, which only seem to be located in the U.K. or Australia.