Earthenware Inkwell by Clarice Cliff

This Clarice Cliff Art Deco earthenware inkwell showcases a distinctive decorative style from her renowned “Bizarre” range.

Here’s a detailed description:

Description of the Inkwell:

• Form: This piece features a stepped, architectural, and geometric form. It is a double inkstand with two inkwell housings at different heights, and a lower, rectangular front section that serves as a pen tray. The overall shape is cuboid with deliberate, clean lines and angles, typical of the Art Deco aesthetic.
• Material: Earthenware pottery, characteristic of the production from Newport Pottery.
• Glaze and Decoration:
  • “Café-au-lait” Pattern: This inkwell is decorated in the specific “Café-au-lait” pattern, named for its base color and the overall warm, earthy tones. The background color is a mottled, speckled, or sponged pale orange/brown/cream, reminiscent of milky coffee, which gives the piece a unique texture and warmth.
  • Geometric Motif: Over this “Café-au-lait” base, bold, abstract geometric patterns are hand-painted. These include:
    • Circles: Prominent, solid orange-red circles of varying sizes are a key feature, often overlapping or intersecting, creating a sense of movement and depth.
    • Color Blocking: The design uses strong color blocking, where large areas are filled with single, vibrant colors, characteristic of Art Deco.
  • Contrast: The rich, deep orange and the dark contrasting color (blue/black) stand out dynamically against the lighter, textured “Café-au-lait” background.
• Inkwells and Stoppers: The inkstand features two distinct ink pots. Each opening is topped with a complementary square stopper, which also carries the “Café-au-lait” speckled glaze on its upper surface.
• Functionality: Designed as a practical desk accessory, it offers two ink receptacles and a lower tray for holding pens or other small items.

Markings on the Bottom:

The markings provide crucial information about the piece:

• “Café-au-lait – Hand painted – Bizarre by Clarice Cliff – Newport Pottery England”: This comprehensive backstamp confirms the specific pattern name (“Café-au-lait”), the hand-painted nature of the decoration, its association with Clarice Cliff’s famous “Bizarre” range, and the manufacturing location at Newport Pottery in England.
• Gold Lawleys Stamp: The presence of a “gold Lawleys stamp” indicates the retailer. Lawleys of London was a prominent high-end department store and ceramics retailer in the UK. Their stamp signifies that the piece was sold through their establishment.
• Raised Shape No. 462: This impressed number refers to the specific mold used for this particular inkwell shape, allowing for precise identification within Clarice Cliff’s extensive range of forms.

Clarice Cliff’s “Café-au-lait” Pattern:

The “Café-au-lait” pattern is one of Clarice Cliff’s less common but equally striking designs. It moved away from the more overt landscape scenes towards a more abstract, textural background upon which bold geometric motifs could be superimposed. This pattern demonstrates her continuous innovation and willingness to experiment with both surface texture and abstract design elements, further cementing her status as a leading figure in Art Deco ceramics.

About Clarice Cliff (1899–1972):

Clarice Cliff was an iconic English ceramic artist and designer, best known for her highly distinctive and colorful Art Deco pottery produced between the late 1920s and the mid-20th century.

• Early Life and Career: Born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, one of the famous “Potteries” towns, Cliff began her career at a young age, initially as a decorator, then as a modeler and designer. She studied at the Royal College of Art.
• Art Deco Pioneer: She rose to prominence in the late 1920s and 1930s with her bold, geometric, and often abstract designs. Her work was a radical departure from the more traditional floral patterns of the time, embracing the new Art Deco aesthetic characterized by strong lines, simplified forms, and vibrant color schemes.
• “Bizarre Ware”: This was the brand name given to her most famous and distinctive range of brightly colored earthenware, launched in 1927. It was an instant success, appealing to a public eager for modern, affordable, and cheerful designs during the Great Depression. Her designs were often hand-painted by a team of young female decorators known as “Bizarre girls.”
• Influence and Legacy: Cliff’s work had a profound impact on British ceramic design. She brought art into everyday objects and made modern design accessible to a wide audience. Her pieces are celebrated for their artistic merit, historical significance, and enduring appeal.

About “Bizarre Ware”:

“Bizarre Ware” is the generic term for the range of brightly colored, hand-painted earthenware designed by Clarice Cliff.

• Launch: Introduced in 1927.
• Characteristics: It’s characterized by bold, often geometric or abstract patterns, vibrant and unusual color combinations (e.g., strong greens, yellows, oranges, blues, and reds), and simplified landscape or abstract floral motifs.
• Hand-Painted: A key feature was that each piece was hand-painted, which added to its unique charm, even though it was a factory production.
• Popularity: It was incredibly popular during its heyday, making Clarice Cliff a household name. The term “Bizarre” was chosen because the designs were considered eccentric and unconventional for their time.

About Newport Pottery (England):

• Location and History: Newport Pottery was a ceramic factory located in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, within the heart of the historic “Potteries” region. It was part of the A.J. Wilkinson Ltd. group.
• Association with Clarice Cliff: Newport Pottery became synonymous with Clarice Cliff’s work because it was the factory where her “Bizarre” and other famous ranges were produced. She worked for A.J. Wilkinson Ltd. (which owned Newport Pottery) for virtually her entire career, eventually becoming Art Director.
• Production: The pottery produced a wide range of earthenware, but its fame largely rests on the innovative and highly successful designs of Clarice Cliff.

In summary, this inkwell is a charming and authentic piece of Art Deco design by one of Britain’s most celebrated ceramic artists, Clarice Cliff, made at the Newport Pottery during her most influential period.