Clarice Cliff Feature Articles

From the early 1900s to the 1960s the cigarette was a cultural icon of sophistication, glamour and sexual allure’ (Markel, 2007).

Clarice Cliff like many other designers in the 1930’s capitalised on the popularity of smoking and designed a number of accessories for the consumer. From match strikers modelled as dogs to hippopotamus ashtrays -Clarice designed accessories to appeal to as wide a populist market as possible.

Of these one of the most innovative was the smokers set – shape 467. Produced from 1930 until 1934 and in a variety of patterns, the set comprises of a tray, cigarette box, match holder and ashtrays. The set could be ordered with either 4 or 6 ashtrays. However, I have never seen a set with a set of 6 ashtrays. Many years ago at a major antiques and collectables fair Doreen saw a set of six ashtrays in the Gibraltar pattern which were being sold individually as the rest of the smokers set was not available (they were not from the set shown below).  As the sets are made up of several components the passage of time makes complete sets very rare. 

The first example is in Orange Chintz – interestingly the well of the tray is undecorated but this does not detract from the overall impact of the design.

Another illustration is a part set in a simple abstract design. I have seen a set of napkin rings in this pattern so would suggest that it is a later date production of this shape, possibly 1932 - 1933.

Also illustrated is one of the most elaborately decorated smokers set ever seen, in the Gibraltar pattern. This set explodes in a regatta of boats, mountains and blue sea. Painted in the ‘ice cream’ colours of the sea-side this set is one of the best smoker’s sets known. I remember seeing this set in the ‘flesh’ at a shop in the Kings road and was blown away by the quality of the decoration. I was equally shocked when I asked the price – way over my budget!

From the delicate design of the Gibraltar set next is a smokers set in Red Roofs. This is a more brashly painted Red Roofs pattern.

Below is another superbly painted set in Pastel Autumn. The design is placed perfectly on the tray and the tree trunk and bushes on the cigarette box flow onto the sides. This is such a precisely painted piece it may have been a trade example or for a special customer.

Next we have a set in Nasturtium.  Delicately painted each ashtray has a different section of the design. 

We can also show a set in Orange Roof Cottage. There seems to be at least two different painters for this pattern. One painter in this instance draws a ‘flatter’ cottage whereas other examples have the house with a massive pointed gable.

Pictured below is a set in the Bobbins pattern. The owner of this set told me that this came up for sale in a local newspaper. He rang the seller who informed him someone else was on the way to buy it and who ever got there first could have it! The owner then tells the story of emptying children’s piggy banks and cash machines on route to obtain the required funds and yes he was the first to arrive.

Before the advent of mass media, card games such as whist, gin and bridge were the mainstay entertainment of the middle class British household of the 1930’s. Clarice - like other designers - capitalised on this and designed her Bridge smokers set.  The ashtrays have individual suits modelled as a fan. The tray, match striker and cigarette box have all four suits. The decorators have also changed the hair colour of the women in contrast to the card suits. It is also interesting to note the match holder does not have the raised striker area as shown on the other sets. Finally, pictured is a set in Secrets.  You will note that the ash trays have extracts from the design on them and the tray has the pattern name printed on the back.

This article is in no way a definitive list of all the smokers sets that has come up for sale. I am sure many have passed between collectors privately.  I have never seen a single component of a set in an Applique or Latona pattern but maybe they exist and you have one in your display cabinet. Equally I think there may be an inspiration smokers set but I cannot track down any images. 

If you have a smokers set you want to contribute to the article please let me know and we can add it to the list.

We also feature photographs of a Royal Doulton Bridge set which indicated this was a popular area for the production of novelty items.

Other smoking accessories in Clarice’s design ranges include: a cigarette and ashtray shape 420, a cigarette and match holder shape 463, Hiawatha ashtrays (currently often called pin dishes or coasters) in two sizes, the circular 503 shape, a square shape ashtray, a rabbit ashtray, an elephant ashtray, a bird ashtray, a bird Pipe Rest, a cigarette box, a Lido Lady ashtray shape 561 (two sizes), a Stagecoach cigarette box shape 445, and a cigarette and matches holder shape 468.

We gratefully acknowledge photographs of a number of items from members private collections, also Gail Crockett, Ian Shay, Andrew Muir, Colin Mawston, Gavin Casey and Doreen Mann.

Gavin Casey

(with additional material from Doreen Mann)