Clarice Cliff Feature Articles
Q1. 2013 - Another year passes in the history of Clarice Cliff. As the UK's leading auction house for Clarice Cliff pottery, have you seen any hitherto unknown Clarice Cliff shaped pots/patterns/colour-ways come through the saleroom door?
A. Sadly this year we’ve not had any Clarice “time bombs” as such….we have seen some wonderful items and 2013 has been one of the strongest years for Clarice sales in a long time. The alternate Autumn colour-way which turned up in not one but TWO vases in the October Decades of Design sale was a highlight, however. There were some amazing shapes passed through the room including Yoyo vases, double conical bowls and THREE pieces of Eton! Not bad eh?
Q2. Do you think we have seen "all there is to see" now or do you think that there are still Clarice items "out there" we are not yet aware of?
A. I genuinely believe that there are still things “out there” just waiting to be discovered. I was floored this year after being shown a vase in a hitherto unknown colour-way of a classic pattern! I can’t say any more than that…..however, it proved to me that there are discoveries out there to be found. All I have to do is find them!
Q3. What is the most difficult - or perhaps delicate is a better word -aspect of persuading a member of the public (not collectors) to part with their Clarice Cliff pottery? Do they imagine that ALL Clarice Cliff pottery is worth thousands of pounds? Are they heavily influenced by the media, especially television programmes which get repeated over many years thus not taking into account changing markets?
A. The great majority of the general public believes that the addition of Clarice’s name to the bottom of a piece of pottery is a blank cheque to clear their mortgage! Sadly as we all know this is rarely the case! The one thing that is clear, however - most people know who Clarice is and I still find that opinion is divided…..my marmite girl!! By the time pieces come through the saleroom door the owners on the whole have made the decision to part company….my job is to provide my knowledge and experience to establish the correct market value.
Q4. What has been your most spectacular Clarice Cliff find?
A. It has to be the May Ave Charger…….a heart stopping roller coaster of negotiation! From the minute the images popped onto my screen at work it was a non-stop exchange of emails and phone calls to secure it. Bear in mind that I was one of five auctioneers who had been approached (we didn’t know that, Will!)…..this was one of my most challenging consignments. However, in the end I won the day! My only regret? I didn’t have the money at the time to buy it for myself! If I could wind back the clock….well it would be hanging on my wall now! One day maybe……………...
Q5. We know you are a Clarice collector as well as an auctioneer, what would you rate as the THREE most incredible items (patterns/shapes/colour-ways) you would like to see either in your saleroom ...........or on display in your home?
A. That’s a tough question because my choices for each of those hats would differ considerably. Being commercial and with my auctioneers hat on I would of course go for the “time bombs”, those astonishing patterns on remarkable shapes, rare abstracts on the best shapes, Applique etc.
For me, putting my collectors’ hat on……...well, it has to be landscapes. As mentioned before I would desperately love to own a May Avenue Charger (but seeing as I’ve already said that I’ll go for another three making my count four!). So I would personally love a House & Bridge 18” ribbed charger! I would sell my own God children to own the Summerhouse Isis vase with green banding in Sevi Guatelli’s book, and how about a YoYo vase in Blue Firs…….there are many more things but I’m a little spoilt for choice.
Obviously I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year! The pots ARE wonderful. However, remember at this time of year its family, friends and health which are number 1!
See you all next year on the 26th of April for the next installment………..
Doreen Mann
