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.

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A Clarice Cliff 'Alton' pattern Bizarre series vase, 1930s, the…

A Clarice Cliff 'Alton' pattern Bizarre series vase, 1930s, the baluster vase shape 1515, decorated with brown and tan autumn leaves and vibrant orange red and blue flowers against a green and yellow landscape, black Newport pottery backstamp underside,…

Fantasque Bizarre coffee cup and saucer, c. 1932 pastel autumn…

Clarice Cliff Fantasque Bizarre Coffee Cup & Saucer Set

Fantasque Bizarre coffee cup and saucer, c. 1932 pastel autumn pattern, printed factory mark to base 'Fantasque hand painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England' (2)

Fantasque Bizarre pot, c. 1932 pastel autumn pattern, square…

Clarice Cliff Fantasque Bizarre Pot, 1932

Fantasque Bizarre pot, c. 1932 pastel autumn pattern, square stepped form, printed factory mark to base 'Fantasque hand painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England' and impressed shape number '368'

Clarice Cliff seven piece 'Autumn Leaf' drink set comprising a…

"Autumn Leaf" Drink Set with Jug and Six Mugs

Clarice Cliff seven piece 'Autumn Leaf' drink set comprising a jug and six mugs

Two Clarice Cliff hand painted plates. One Rudyard pattern…

Clarice Cliff Hand Painted Plates - Rudyard & Autumn Patterns

Two Clarice Cliff hand painted plates. One Rudyard pattern (diameter 15 cm); & one autumn pattern (diameter 14.5 cm)

Clarice Cliff Bizzare cup & saucer, pastel autumn balloon trees…

Autumn Balloon Cup & Saucer

Clarice Cliff Bizzare cup & saucer, pastel autumn balloon trees pattern with triangular handle

A rare pair of Clarice Cliff tall candlesticks in the Autumn…

Rare Clarice Cliff Autumn Blue Candlesticks

A rare pair of Clarice Cliff tall candlesticks in the Autumn blue pattern, 12' tall in the Elton shape with tapering square section bodies decorated with houses nestled between and under ballooning trees, the circular nozzles and tapering bases in…

Clarice Cliff Fantasque trefoil dish Autumn pattern, 28 cm width

Clarice Cliff Autumn Trefoil Dish, 28cm Width

Clarice Cliff Fantasque trefoil dish Autumn pattern, 28 cm width

Clarice Cliff, A Collection of Sabots, including 'Circle Tree',…

Clarice Cliff Sabot Collection

Clarice Cliff, A Collection of Sabots, including 'Circle Tree', 'Mountain', 'Bobbins', 'Orange Erin', 'Pastel Autumn' and 'Poplar' pattern, printed factory marks to bases (11), length 14 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

Clarice Cliff honey glaze conical sifter autumn leaf pattern

Autumn Leaf Honey Glaze Sifter by Clarice Cliff

Clarice Cliff honey glaze conical sifter autumn leaf pattern

A large Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Autumn Crocus' jug$1928-35, the…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Autumn Crocus Jug

A large Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Autumn Crocus' jug$1928-35, the tapering jug shape 24 decorated with crocus in blue, orange and purple colours above tan and green borders; with Bizarre Newport stamp and title underside, height 20.5 cm

A sixteen piece Clarice Cliff 'Autumn Crocus' tea and coffee…

Clarice Cliff 'Autumn Crocus' Tea & Coffee Set

A sixteen piece Clarice Cliff 'Autumn Crocus' tea and coffee service$1928-35 (teapot); and after 1952, comprising a teapot, coffee pot, sugar bowl and six demitasse cups and saucers in blue, orange and purple colours with tan and green borders; one with…

A Clarice Cliff octagonal 'Bizarre' plate, decorated in 'Autumn…

Clarice Cliff Octagonal Plate in Autumn Orange

A Clarice Cliff octagonal 'Bizarre' plate, decorated in 'Autumn Orange' pattern, minor wear. Diameter 26 cm

A good Clarice Cliff 'Pastel Autumn' conical part-tea set,…

Clarice Cliff 'Pastel Autumn' Tea Set with Landscape Design

A good Clarice Cliff 'Pastel Autumn' conical part-tea set, includes teapot, pair of cups and saucers, cream jug and side plate, solid angular handles and spouts, the landscape with large billowing trees in green, red, pink and yellow tones, blue…

Clarice Cliff 'Bizarre' plate, 'Sungay' pattern together with…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Plates Duo

Clarice Cliff 'Bizarre' plate, 'Sungay' pattern together with Clarice Cliff 'Bizarre' 'Autumn Crocus' plate

An 'Autumn Crocus' float bowl by Clarice Cliff, circa 1930, the…

Clarice Cliff Autumn Crocus Float Bowl

An 'Autumn Crocus' float bowl by Clarice Cliff, circa 1930, the float bowl of typical inverted form in orange, blue and purple colours around an amber circle on a honey glazed ground with a yellow rim; with Newport pottery backstamp underside and pattern…

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Autumn Pastel' cylindrical preserve…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre Autumn Pastel Preserve Pot

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Autumn Pastel' cylindrical preserve pot, circa 1932. 9.5 cm high

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Orange Autumn' conical sugar sifter,…

Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Orange Autumn' Sugar Sifter (1935)

A Clarice Cliff Bizarre 'Orange Autumn' conical sugar sifter, circa 1935high

Clarice Cliff 'Blue Autumn' (Balloon Trees) Bizarre jug, c.1930,…

Clarice Cliff Blue Autumn Bizarre Jug

Clarice Cliff 'Blue Autumn' (Balloon Trees) Bizarre jug, c.1930, octagonal tapered 'Athens' shape, single handled, printed and moulded marks to base, a good example with strong colouring and only minor scratching. Height 17 cm

Seven piece Clarice Cliff lemonade set in autumn tones, 6 mugs…

Autumnal Clarice Cliff Lemonade Set with 6 Mugs and Jug

Seven piece Clarice Cliff lemonade set in autumn tones, 6 mugs & a jug

A Clarice Cliff bizarre 'Blue Autumn' (Balloon Trees) bowl,…

Clarice Cliff Blue Autumn Balloon Trees Bowl

A Clarice Cliff bizarre 'Blue Autumn' (Balloon Trees) bowl, English, circa 1930 8.8 cm high

Clarice Cliff 'Bizarre' Daffodil bowl, c. 1930-1934 'Autumn…

Clarice Cliff Daffodil Bowl with Autumn Pattern

Clarice Cliff 'Bizarre' Daffodil bowl, c. 1930-1934 'Autumn (balloon trees)' pattern, impressed shape number '450', printed factory marks to base 'Hand painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England', together with removable frog (2), (A/F).…

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' plate, 'Autumn' pattern,…

Clarice Cliff 'Autumn' Plate

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' plate, 'Autumn' pattern, painted factory marks to base 'Hand Painted Fantasque Bizarre By Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England', with impressed shape mark '31'. Diameter 22.5 cm

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' Athens jug, 'Autumn' pattern,…

Clarice Cliff Autumn Jug

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' Athens jug, 'Autumn' pattern, painted factory marks to base 'Hand Painted Fantasque Bizarre By Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England', with impressed shape mark '24', restoration. Height 20 cm

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' toast rack, 'Autumn' pattern,…

Clarice Cliff 'Autumn' Toast Rack

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' toast rack, 'Autumn' pattern, painted factory marks to base 'Hand Painted Fantasque Bizarre By Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England'. Height 7 cm. Width 15 cm. Depth 8 cm

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' fern pot, 'Autumn' pattern,…

Clarice Cliff Fern Pot with Autumn Pattern

Clarice Cliff, 'Fantasque Bizarre' fern pot, 'Autumn' pattern, painted factory marks to base 'Hand Painted Fantasque Bizarre By Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England'. Height 9.5 cm