Clarice Cliff Jersey Lily (Magnolia) Plate
A delightful Art Deco hand painted plate designed by Clarice Cliff and made in Staffordshire at the "A. J. Wilkinson" pottery.
The pottery was owned by the Shorter family and used the "Royal Staffordshire" label.
Clarice Cliff joined the firm of A. J. Wilkinson as an apprentice lithographer in 1916 and rose to be the head designer. She was both a modeller of shapes and a pattern designer.
From 1927 to 1936 she had her studio located at the Newport Pottery which had become the main workshop for design and decoration.
Under her direction they produced a huge array of novel and immediately recognisable shapes and patterns which were colourful, free, innovative, and very quickly gained massive popularity.
They produced an enormous output which was condensed into a relatively short period from the launch of the ‘Bizarre’ range in 1927 to the beginning of the Second World War in 1939.
The mark on this plate was used after 1930 but probably pre-dates the "Newport Pottery" marks which were used post 1938.
This example is made in a fine earthenware pottery so it has no translucency.
The shape has a subtle wavey contour which is very satisfying. This would have been quite a radically modern design in its time, bringing in the notion of "less is more" and the power of the understated which underpins much design in the modern era.
The flower is hand painted but rather than painted in enamels ontop of the glaze it has been painted under the glaze. This makes the design less vunerable to scratching from knives during use and is a very good design decision for a functional rather than merely decorative object.
Maker's marks:
Printed mark "Genuine Handpainted JERSEY LILY Royal Staffordhsire, Dinnerware by Clarice Cliff, MADE IN ENGLAND
This mark probably dates the plate to between 1930 and 1938
Dimensions:
226mm diameter
Weight:
408g
Age:
95 years
Condition:
Very good condition: No chips cracks or restoration. Minor wear commensurate with its age.
Maker:
A. J. Wilkinson Burslem Staffordshire, under the label Royal Staffordshire
