Clarice Cliff

Q: My parents bought a set of Clarice Cliff dinnerware in 1940. It’s marked “The Biarritz” and “Bizarre by Clarice Cliff.” The dishes are in good condition considering their age and only a few pieces are missing.

A: Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) was a designer who worked at several English potteries and is best known for her brightly colored Art Deco designs. She worked at A.J. Wilkinson in Newport, Burslem, England, beginning in 1916. She had a studio at Newport Pottery beginning in 1927 and began decorating some of the imperfect pieces of white ware with her original free-hand designs. The first pottery shapes marked “Bizarre” were made at Newport Pottery in 1928. Later, several patterns were made on the Bizarre shape. The number on your dishes indicates the design was registered in 1933. Royal Staffordshire Pottery was owned by Arthur J. Wilkinson Ltd., which was bought by W.R. Midwinter Ltd. in 1964. Your dishes were made between 1933 and 1964. A 60-piece set of Biarritz with square plates and simple line border sold recently for $500.