The life story of English potter and designer Clarice Cliff, (1899-1972) is a real-life rags-to riches story. Clarice was born in the potteries area in Tunstall, Staffordshire in 1899, and her father was an iron moulder, while her mother took in washing.

She attended school until age 13 and then left to work in a lowly paid job in the potteries. At that time the potteries were the major employers of women in the North Staffordshire and at the time she commenced work there were over 20,000 women employed.

The jobs for women ranged from being assistants to the men who threw the pots, to the less menial but repetitive task of painting prescribed designs onto clay blanks.

After 10 years, and a several of changes of employer, she had learned a number of trades and mastered the techniques of gilding, enamelling, lithography and design.

At more...

35 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase, 'My Garden', Sunrise glaze, shape…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Vase: 'My Garden', Sunrise Glaze, Shape #675

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase, 'My Garden', Sunrise glaze, shape #675, printed marks to base. Height 15.5 cm.

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' vase, in tones of green, blue,…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' Vase

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' vase, in tones of green, blue, purple, yellow and pink, factory marks to base, height 15 cm

Large Clarice Cliff My garden basket vase 36 cm height

Clarice Cliff Garden Basket Vase - 36cm Height

Large Clarice Cliff My garden basket vase 36 cm height

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' pair of English porcelain vases,…

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' Porcelain Vases

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' pair of English porcelain vases, circa 1925, stamped 'Bizarre by Clarice Cliff, My garden, hand painted, Wilkinson Ltd. England', 12.5 cm high

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' tri-footed vase marks to base, 15.5…

Clarice Cliff Tri-Footed Vase 'My Garden'

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' tri-footed vase marks to base, 15.5 cm height

Clarice Cliff ' My Garden' beaker vase tubular shape, marks to…

Clarice Cliff Garden Beaker Vase

Clarice Cliff ' My Garden' beaker vase tubular shape, marks to base, 18 cm height

Clarice Cliff 'my garden' posy vase height 10.5 cm

Clarice Cliff Garden Posy Vase

Clarice Cliff 'my garden' posy vase height 10.5 cm

Clarice Cliff 'my garden' vase height 12.5 cm

Clarice Cliff Garden Vase

Clarice Cliff 'my garden' vase height 12.5 cm

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' vase height 27 cm.

Bizarre My Garden Vase - 27cm Height

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' vase height 27 cm.

Flared vase early 20th century, Wilkinson Ltd Pottery, My…

Wilkinson Ltd Pottery Flared Vase with My Garden Pattern

Flared vase early 20th century, Wilkinson Ltd Pottery, My garden pattern, Bizarre by Clarice Cliff, printed black factory base mark, height 17.5 cm

Vintage Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' bowl applied blossom…

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' Bowl with Blossom Decoration

Vintage Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' bowl applied blossom decoration, marked to base, height 11 cm, diameter 21 cm

Vintage Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase applied blossom…

Clarice Cliff Blossom Vase

Vintage Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase applied blossom decoration, marked to base and # 899 L/S, height 21 cm

Clarice Cliff, pair of candlesticks, each in the shape of a…

Clarice Cliff Candlestick Pair with Female Figure and Flowers

Clarice Cliff, pair of candlesticks, each in the shape of a female figure upholding a bouquet of flowers, one figure inscribed 'My garden' (2) one (A/F), height 18 cm. Provenance: The Estate of Ray Hughes

A Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase, cream vase with pink & blue…

Clarice Cliff Garden Vase

A Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase, cream vase with pink & blue flower detail, height 17 cm

Three Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My garden' wares: a bowl, sugar…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Garden Wares Set

Three Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My garden' wares: a bowl, sugar shaker and a small Candleholder$1930-35, a tan drip glazed yellow bowl and a matching pillar shaker, both with moulded floral bases in exuberant colours; and a similar domed candleholder;…

A Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase$1937-48 period, the flaring…

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' Scalloped Vase

A Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase$1937-48 period, the flaring scalloped vase shape 830, with a floral moulded base, decorated in pink, purple, blue and bright green colours; brown Newport pottery mark underside and shape number in relief, height 20 cm,…

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My garden' teapot and matching…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Teapot and Plate Set

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My garden' teapot and matching plate$1930-35, the ovoid pot with a moulded handle, lid and floral finial, decorated with a raspberry mottled drip glaze, the flowers in turquoise, apple green, yellow and pink wash colours, the…

A Clarice Cliff scroll style vase and a 'My garden' vase, 1930s,…

Clarice Cliff Vases - Scroll and Garden Motifs

A Clarice Cliff scroll style vase and a 'My garden' vase, 1930s, shapes 824 and 907, shaped as a loose roll of paper, in a matte cream glaze with gold rims; with Clarice Cliff Wilkinson stamp; and a waisted vase with concentric bands, and moulded twig,…

A Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase$1937-48 period, a flaring vase…

Clarice Cliff Hollyhock Vase

A Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase$1937-48 period, a flaring vase with moulded hollyhock designs to the lower body and a moulded floral foot, in autumnal and green colours upon a satin cream ground, the rim lined with green with a wash effect to the…

A large and Bold Clarice Cliff drip glaze 'My garden' jug,…

Bold Clarice Cliff Drip Glaze Garden Jug

A large and Bold Clarice Cliff drip glaze 'My garden' jug, circa 1930s, in a striking red orange and brown drip glaze with a flower moulded handle; a Wilkinson factory backstamp underside and pattern number, height 23.5 cm

Clarice Cliff 'My garden' sugar sifter, shape 660. Height 15 cm

Clarice Cliff Garden Sugar Sifter (660)

Clarice Cliff 'My garden' sugar sifter, shape 660. Height 15 cm

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase

Garden Vase by Clarice Cliff

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase

Clarice Cliff 'my garden' bizarre vase H12 cm approx

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Garden Vase

Clarice Cliff 'my garden' bizarre vase H12 cm approx

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' pattern lidded sugar basin

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Sugar Basin with Lid

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' pattern lidded sugar basin

Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase 'My Garden

Bizarre Garden Vase

Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase 'My Garden

A 'My garden' float bowl by Clarice Cliff, 1936-1938, the float…

Clarice Cliff's Garden Float Bowl

A 'My garden' float bowl by Clarice Cliff, 1936-1938, the float bowl with an inverted rim in bright orange with a dove grey and brown drip glaze and a large raised central section with moulded flowers in vibrant orange, yellow, amber and green tones with…

Pair of Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' tall cylindrical vases…

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' Vases with Tree Branch Handles

Pair of Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' tall cylindrical vases decorated with tree branch handles and flowers

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' vase the square body covered…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Garden Vase

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' vase the square body covered in a yellow running glaze over a brown ground flanked by polychrome enamelled foliate moulded handles. Height 12 cm

Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase. Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase…

Clarice Cliff Garden Vase

Clarice Cliff 'My garden' vase. Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase stamped 'Newport Pottery Co England'. Height 30.5 cm

Clarice Cliff My garden Ptn teapot. Height 16 cm

Clarice Cliff My Garden Teapot - 16 cm

Clarice Cliff My garden Ptn teapot. Height 16 cm

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' jug mould number 672,…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Garden Jug

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'My Garden' jug mould number 672, Wilkinson Ltd, approx 23 cm high

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase

Garden Vase by Clarice Cliff

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase

Garden Vase by Clarice Cliff

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' vase

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' honeypot vase, Newport Pottery,…

Clarice Cliff Garden Honeypot Vase, Newport Pottery, 20.5cm

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' honeypot vase, Newport Pottery, numbered 899 L/S. Height 20.5 cm

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Range 'My Garden' sugar sifter, Wilkinson…

Clarice Cliff 'My Garden' Sugar Sifter by Wilkinson Ltd

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Range 'My Garden' sugar sifter, Wilkinson Ltd. Height 14.5 cm