Clarice Cliff Feature Articles

This is our third and final (for now) photo feature on Clarice Cliff's Impressions series, this one featuring various animals. These figures - both human and animal have been reported as being made between 1929 and 1933.  However, here is an excerpt from Leonard Griffin's The Art of Bizarre book, published by Pavilion:

"Clarice constantly returned to modelling figures throughout the thirties and in 1931 revived the style of her mid-twenties hand-made figures with the Impressions series.  The press release that accompanied the picture of a group of these again reveals the influence of Colley Shorter.  'Clay Impressions Bizarre ware by Clarice Cliff constitute an endless variety of rough modelled clay impressions, full of humour and imagination, all done by hand without any mould whatsoever.  Even the most humorous in many cases are beautiful by reason of the range of colour glazes they are finished in.  They rival many of the Chinese types and are fit for cabinet collection.'  These now rare figures can be distinguished from the mid-twenties ones, as they are marked Impressions Bizarre."  An additional human figure is featured in a black and white photograph on page 130 (and shown in my post today on site).

I mentioned previously that Clarice Cliff donated some items to the very first tribute exhibition to her held at the Brighton Museum, Sussex, UK, in 1972. The ones she donated were the Banjo Player, the kilted Scotsman, and the bear and polar bear. The human figures were originally sold at 10s.6d.(ten shillings and sixpence)  with the animals costing a little less at 8s.0d (eight shillings).  Nowadays, when these extremely rare figures come up at auction the animal figures can cost approximately £800 and the human one well over one thousand pounds! Amongst animals known are an elephant, a squirrel, a bear and polar bear, and a horse but there could well be more.................

The Impression series figures Clarice donated are at the Brighton Museum, but you would have to check with the curator whether or not they could make them available for you to see if they are not already on display. We are indebted to past and present members of the Original Clarice Cliff Collectors Club and ClariceCliff.com who have contributed to these three features.

Doreen Mann, Editor

ClariceCliff.com