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'Crocus' Pattern Cup and Saucer

DesignerDesigned by Clarice Cliff (Tunstall, England, 1899 - 1972)

ManufacturerMade by A J Wilkinson Ltd. (Burslem, England, 1894 - 1964)

Date1930s

Object NameCup and Saucer

Mediumearthenware

ClassificationsCeramics

DimensionsHeight: 7.3 cm, Diameter: 9.4 cm
Saucer: 15.7cm

AcquisitionPurchased in 1997.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG011072

Keywords

About MeAfter a brief period at other Staffordshire potteries, Clarice Cliff started her creative career as a paintress at the A.J. Wilkinson factory in Stoke-on-Trent in 1919. She attended classes at local art schools and, later, briefly studied at the Royal College of Art. Encouraged by the company management, she began to try out new, colourful designs on poor quality wares at Wilkinsons' Newport Pottery. These wares were outrageously modern, designed to be easily decorated by her team of paintresses. By 1929 she had her own range of modern shapes, many bearing the 'Bizarre' tradename. Although still designing for Wilkinsons in the 1950s and 1960s, Cliff had passed the height of her creativity and later produced more traditional designs for the company.
The Crocus pattern was her best seller, in production from around 1928 until 1963. The flowers were easy to paint, using downward brush strokes. The piece was then inverted and the leaves painted with similar strokes.
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The Crocus pattern was Cliff's bestseller, long in production. The flowers were easy to paint in downward brush strokes, the piece then inverted to use similar strokes for the leaves