Clarice Cliff stands as one of the most influential and sought-after ceramic designers of the 20th century, celebrated for her bold imagination, striking use of colour, and pioneering role in shaping British Art Deco style.
Born in Tunstall, Staffordshire in 1899, Cliff entered the pottery industry at the age of 13 and steadily rose through the ranks at A.J. Wilkinson’s Royal Staffordshire Pottery, where her career would flourish.
By the late 1920s, she had developed her signature style, vibrant, hand-painted patterns applied to radical, modernist forms. Her "Bizarre" and "Fantasque" ranges launched in 1927–28 defied Edwardian convention with abstract motifs, stylised landscapes and daring palettes, captivating a new generation of buyers eager for progressive design. Cliff's ability to combine avant-garde aesthetics with mass-market appeal marked a turning point in British decorative arts.
Throughout the 1930s, Cliff’s influence continued to grow, with her designs widely exhibited and exported. She remained closely involved in production and design oversight, an unusual level of creative control for a woman in the industry at the time. Today, Clarice Cliff’s work is highly collectable, admired for its joyful exuberance, craftsmanship and contribution to the story of British design.
