Collecting Articles and Features

Clarice Cliff’s Most Expensive Pattern May Avenue

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Clarice Cliff’s May Avenue pattern is a stunning reflection of her growth as a designer and her ability to blend various artistic influences into her ceramic pieces. Introduced in 1933, May Avenue captures the essence of the Art Deco movement and the beauty of the natural world while showcasing her evolution as an artist. This feature delves into the history, techniques, and inspirations of Clarice Cliff’s Most Expensive Pattern May Avenue.

Clarice Cliff May Avenue a Rare Large Eighteen Inch Charger
Clarice Cliff May Avenue a Rare Large Eighteen Inch Charger. Sold for £39,950 at Christies, May 2003.

The May Avenue pattern has consistently achieved high prices at auction with a charger being sold at Christies in 2003 for £39,950 and another charger sold at Fieldings Auctioneers in 2009 for £20,500. A Lotus Jug featuring the pattern sold for £8,200 in 2022 and most shapes with the pattern sell for between £1,000-£3,000.

May Avenue A Clarice Cliff 18 inch ribbed charger circa 1933
May Avenue – A Clarice Cliff 18″ ribbed charger circa 1933 hand decorated with a tree lined road with red roofed cottages before turquoise bushes with black spade trees together with a large black trunk tree with Cafe Au Lait style tonal green stippled foliage all within black and blue banding, Bizarre mark, width 45cm. Condition – No chips, cracks or restoration. Sold for £20,500 at Fieldings Auctioneers, May 2009.

The Evolution of May Avenue
By 1933, Clarice Cliff had already made a name for herself in the world of ceramics with her bold and innovative designs. The paintresses at the Wilkinson Royal Staffordshire Pottery had become adept at interpreting her vision, and the introduction of finer ‘pencil’ brushes allowed for greater detail and precision in her work. This newfound ability to combine multiple painting techniques on a single piece paved the way for the creation of the May Avenue pattern.

Clarice Cliff May Avenue A single handled lotus jug circa 1933
Clarice Cliff – May Avenue – A single handled lotus jug circa 1933, hand painted with a stylised tree lined avenue with spade shaped trees before red roof cottages with a large green stippled black boughed tree to the reverse, Bizarre mark, height 29.5cm. Sold for £8,200 at Fieldings Auctioneers, October 2022.

The May Avenue pattern demonstrates Cliff’s mastery of various painting techniques. The flowing trees are created using a mix of outline, enameling, and Cafe Au Lait style stippling, achieved with a special stippling brush. This complex approach gives the pattern its unique appearance and intricate details.

Clarice Cliff May Avenue A shape 450 Daffodil bowl circa 1933
Clarice Cliff – May Avenue – A shape 450 Daffodil bowl circa 1933, hand painted with a stylised tree lined avenue with spade shaped trees before red roof cottages with a large green stippled black boughed tree to the reverse, Bizarre mark, height 12.5cm. Sold for £2,200 at Fieldings Auctioneers, October 2022.

After experimenting with pastel shades in 1931-32, Cliff returned to using stronger colors for May Avenue. The pattern features an unusual vivid blue for the banding and sky, along with a copper-colored blue for the bushes. These striking colors, combined with the intricate painting techniques, make May Avenue a standout design in her portfolio.

Inspirations and Artistic Influences
The genesis of the May Avenue pattern can be traced back to an oil painting Landscape at Cagnes (Cagnes Landscape) by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. She drew inspiration the Modigliani oil painting, showcasing her ability to transform fine art concepts into her own unique pottery designs. This incorporation of high-art influences highlights her journey from her humble Staffordshire roots to becoming a celebrated designer in the world of ceramics.

Modigliani Cagnes Landscape 1919
Modigliani Cagnes Landscape 1919

While the May Avenue pattern represents the pinnacle of Clarice Cliff’s artistic development, the name of the pattern connects her back to her origins. The pattern’s name was inspired by a road located just a few streets away from her birthplace in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. The May Avenue pattern by Clarice Cliff is a remarkable display of her artistic growth, technique, and ability to fuse various influences into her work. As a perfect representation of her skills, May Avenue remains a beloved and sought-after pattern by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Wedgwood have issued the May Avenue pattern on a number of modern pieces including small charger and conical sugar sifter. So if you see a May Avenue piece at a flea market or auction be sure to check the back stamp for the Bizarre mark.

Clarice Cliff related
A look at Clarice Cliff


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