Clarice Cliff Auction Prices and Value Guide

Clarice Cliff auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 2,205 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Clarice Cliff auction prices: quick answer

Clarice Cliff auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Clarice Cliff
Source records
2,205
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Clarice Cliff

Clarice Cliff (1899–1972) was an English ceramic artist and designer whose bold, colorful pottery helped define the Art Deco movement in British decorative arts. Born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, she began working in the Potteries at age thirteen and joined A.J. Wilkinson's pottery factory in 1916, where her talent was recognized and she was eventually given her own studio. In 1927 she launched the groundbreaking 'Bizarre' range of hand-painted earthenware, and her celebrated Crocus floral pattern followed in 1928. Demand grew so rapidly that a separate decorating department was established in 1930. The period from 1927 to 1936, known to collectors as the 'Bizarre' years, represents her most influential output. She continued designing into the 1960s, adapting her distinctive style to evolving tastes and export markets. Today Cliff is regarded as one of the most significant ceramic artists of the twentieth century, and her work is collected worldwide.

Art DecoCeramicsEarthenware potteryFloral motifs (e.g., Crocus, Appliqué patterns)Geometric and abstract landscape designs

Common works and media

Clarice Cliff's output includes hand-painted and printed earthenware tea services, jugs, vases, plates, bowls, conical sugar shakers, and decorative wall plaques. The 'Bizarre' range encompasses brightly colored geometric and landscape patterns, while the Crocus line features individually brush-painted floral motifs. Other recognized patterns include Appliqué, Fantasque, and Tall Trees. Shapes produced range from everyday tableware to more sculptural Art Deco forms such as the Lotus and Stamford shapes. Later post-'Bizarre' production adapted her style to broader commercial and export markets. Collectors most frequently encounter tea cups and saucers, plates, jugs of various sizes, and small vases at auction.

Market and appraisal context

Clarice Cliff ceramics form a well-established and liquid auction market spanning nearly two decades of recorded sales. Appraisily's auction index tracks 831 lots with 687 priced results dating from May 2007 through April 2026. Realized prices range from $12 at the low end to $15,600 at the top, with a median of $350 and an interquartile spread of $150–$900, reflecting wide dispersion driven by pattern rarity, form, and condition. The market is supported by a diverse bench of specialist and general auction houses, with the most active being Shapiro Auctioneers (Australia), Bonhams, Lyon & Turnbull, Potteries Auctions (Stoke-on-Trent), Mallams, McKenzies Auctioneers, Sworders, Chiswick Auctions, Freeman's, and Kinghams Auctioneers. Liquidity remains steady: 98 lots were recorded in the trailing twelve months against 117 in the prior period, indicating a modest softening in volume but continued healthy turnover. Hand-painted Bizarre-period pieces (1927–1936) anchor the upper end of the market, while later printed wares and smaller items such as pin dishes and sugar bowls cluster at the lower end. Multi-piece sets and rare patterns (e.g., Football, Appliqué Lugano, Forrest Glen) consistently outperform single common-form items.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • 20th Century Decorative Art
  • Art Deco Ceramics
  • British Pottery and Porcelain
  • Ceramics
  • Earthenware pottery

Value drivers

  1. Pattern and range: 'Bizarre'-period pieces (1927–1936) are generally the most sought-after by collectors
  2. Hand-painted vs. printed decoration: individually brush-painted items such as Crocus pieces carry collector interest
  3. Condition: chips, cracks, restoration, and paint loss significantly affect value
  4. Shape and form: unusual or rare shapes (e.g., Stamford, Lotus, and Conical shapes) may command stronger interest
  5. Provenance and maker's marks: authentic Clarice Cliff marks and documented provenance support attribution
  6. Pattern and range: Bizarre-period hand-painted patterns (1927–1936) such as Crocus, Appliqué, Fantasque, and Blue Firs command the strongest collector interest; later printed wares trade at lower levels

Appraisal caveats

  • Reproductions and later reissues exist in the market; specialist knowledge or expert appraisal is recommended for attribution
  • Market values vary widely by pattern rarity, condition, and shape; comparable auction records should be consulted rather than relying on broad estimates
  • Price distribution is wide ($12–$15,600); no single figure is representative. Appraisal opinions must be anchored to pattern-, shape-, and condition-specific comparables rather than broad averages.
  • Recent lots are denominated in multiple currencies (USD, GBP, AUD, EUR); cross-currency comparison requires conversion and awareness of regional market dynamics.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Clarice Cliff

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Clarice Cliff worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Clarice Cliff artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.