The "Bizarre" Workshop of Clarice Cliff

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The ceramics of Clarice Cliff are "bizarre." It is her wording, and this name became generic in her works, and also in her team.

This English artist produced vases of rare and flamboyant colors, in a very happy style with decorations close to the abstract art and to Art Deco.

For almost twenty years, a passionate collector gathered pieces produced by Cliff around 1930. Bonhams will sell this rare combination of a hundred lots on 18 March in London. Estimates range from 1.5 to 8 K £.

To accomplish my small way to present a specific lot of this sale, I choose the piece that illustrates the press release. It is a Sunspot vase estimated £ 7 K. It is axial, that is not always the case for Cliff works whose shapes may be very unexpected. Its body is decorated with a broad band of various geometric motifs, while the neck and the base are of a strident yellow that justifies its designation.

If you go through the Bonhams website, visit this catalog. It is surprising.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Overall, we find that the prices of sold lots met the expected price range. No bid has exceeded 7.5 K £.

As always in sales where homogeneous items are presented , the choice of buyers does not respect the preferences of the auction house. The vase Sunspot that Bonhams had chosen to illustrate the press release has not been sold.

On the art market, the best expert is always the buyer.