Books have been written for her many collectors

Books have been written for her many collectors Clarice Cliff Her designs have been used to inspire others

So why is she so famous?

Clarice Cliff designs. She was part of the ‘art deco’ artist movement who used basic geometric shapes and patterns. She loved to use vibrant colours; including blue, black, orange, green, red and yellow. .

Some early designs on whiteware ‘stylised’ designs of landscapes abstract designs

Her biography Key Facts: ● January 20 th 1899 Clarice Cliff born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. ● Aged 13, Clarice started work in 'The Potteries'. ● 1916 She moved to the pottery factory of A. J. Wilkinson's. ● 1927 Clarice given her own studio. The famous 'Bizarre' wares launched. The factory continues to produce pottery, bearing Clarice's name, until 1964. ● 1940 She marries her boss, Colley Shorter and moves to Chetwynd House. ● 1963 Following the death of her husband Clarice sells the factory to Midwinter's and retires to Chetwynd House. ● 1972 The first Clarice Cliff exhibition takes place at Brighton and Clarice provides comments for the catalogue. ● 23 rd October 1972 Clarice Cliff dies at Chetwynd House. ● 1999 celebrated Worldwide as Clarice Cliff's Centenary year.

Probably her most famous work is her 'Bizarre' ware; which was designed between 1928 and 1936. In the factory they had some old 'glost' (white ware) and as these had small marks (imperfections) they were called ‘seconds’. Clarice Cliff was allowed to decorate these with her own freehand patterns. She developed simple patterns of triangles, in a style that she called 'Bizarre‘. For these she used ‘on-glaze enamel’ colours, which have a brighter palette than the usual ‘underglaze’. Examples

To the surprise of the company's senior salesman, it became immediately popular and soon a professional 'backstamp' was made, which carried Cliff's facsimile signature, and proclaimed Wasn’t she clever to change something ‘second-rate’ to ‘first-class’? was later used as an umbrella name for her entire pattern range and the factory had to then refer to the first pieces, with the simple triangles, as ‘Original Bizarre’.

Look at these designs. What can you say about them? Look at the shapes. Look at the colours.

Look at these designs. What can you say about them? They’re all works by Clarice Cliff Look at the shapes. Look at the colours.

Which shapes can you spot here? How are these different to the last ones?

What shape is this? Clue: think of ice cream!

Which 3 d shapes can you spy with your little eye?

Here are some more of her pottery designs. You can see some other designs here

Here’s a clue to the ‘age’ in which she lived; the ‘Age of Jazz’. Here is a picture of Clarice Cliff. When do you think she lived? .

She was born in this house. What can you say about it? She grew up and started work at a place like this. Do you know what the big chimneys could be used for?

Our home! Stoke-on-Trent is the world's largest and most famous pottery producing city. . . often known as ‘The Potteries’ Where is it? It is actually 6 towns Tunstall Burslem Hanley Stoke Fenton. and Longton Stoke-on-Trent is located in the north of the county of Staffordshire, England.