What is the estimated value of this Clarice Cliff vase?

This Clarice Cliff 'Sunray' Pattern Yo-Yo Vase, Shape 378, has an estimated market value between $500 and $2,500 USD. This valuation considers its rarity, excellent condition, and desirability as a premium Art Deco piece. The range reflects the uncertainty due to an illegible maker's mark and the known existence of high-quality reproductions, making physical authentication by a specialist highly recommended to confirm its period origin and maximize its value.

What era or period is this Clarice Cliff vase from?

This Clarice Cliff 'Yo-Yo' Vase dates to the Art Deco era, specifically circa 1929-1931. This period represents the height of Clarice Cliff's creative output, during which she launched her revolutionary 'Bizarre' and 'Fantasque' ranges. The 'Sunray' pattern and 'Yo-Yo' shape are iconic examples of her bold, modern designs that perfectly embody the spirit of the Art Deco movement, making it highly sought after by collectors.

What condition is this Clarice Cliff 'Sunray' vase in?

The Clarice Cliff 'Sunray' Yo-Yo Vase is in excellent overall condition for its age. The hand-painted decoration is remarkably well-preserved, with vibrant, unfaded colors and no visible chips, cracks, or significant scratches. Minor surface scuffs are present on the unglazed footring, consistent with shelf display. Fine, uniform crazing on the underside's cream-colored glaze is a natural sign of age for earthenware and does not detract from its value.

Where should I sell this Clarice Cliff Yo-Yo vase?

For selling this Clarice Cliff Yo-Yo vase, the United States market is recommended due to its strong demand for Art Deco pieces. Optimal platforms include curated online marketplaces like Chairish for targeted buyers and facilitated shipping, or specialist auction houses such as Rago Arts and Auction Center or Wright, which offer excellent exposure to serious collectors. These options balance reach, expertise, and reasonable seller costs for items in this valuation range.

Is this Clarice Cliff 'Sunray' Yo-Yo Vase authentic?

Based on visual evidence, the Clarice Cliff 'Sunray' Yo-Yo Vase exhibits all characteristics consistent with an authentic piece from 1929-1931. However, the maker's mark is illegible, and high-quality reproductions of this specific shape and pattern are known to exist. While signs of age like crazing are present, definitive authentication requires physical examination by a recognized Clarice Cliff specialist to rule out any alterations or modern manufacturing.

A Clarice Cliff 'Fantasque' Bizarre 'Sunray' Pattern Yo-Yo Vase, Shape 378, Circa 1929-1931

Estimated value: $500 - $2,500. A Clarice Cliff 'Fantasque' Bizarre 'Sunray' Pattern Yo-Yo Vase, Shape 378, Circa 1929-1931 (Art Deco (c. 1929-1931)) — a researched valuation with cited comparable sales in Decorative Art, from findthevalueof.com.

About this item

This vase is a superb example of the work of Clarice Cliff (1899-1972), one of Britain's most influential ceramic designers. In the late 1920s, from her studio at the Newport Pottery in Staffordshire, she launched her 'Bizarre' and 'Fantasque' ranges, which revolutionized the conservative ceramics industry with their vibrant colors and bold, modern patterns. This piece, dating to the height of her creative period around 1929-1931, perfectly embodies the spirit of the Art Deco era. The vase's 'Yo-Yo' form (shape 378) is one of Cliff's most architectural and innovative shapes, while the 'Sunray' pattern is a celebrated abstract design inspired by the modern cityscape. The combination of a rare, desirable pattern on a strong, sought-after shape makes this a premium piece for collectors. The market for Clarice Cliff's work is well-established, with the highest values consistently achieved by rare, abstract patterns on iconic Art Deco forms, such as this example.

How the value was reached

The valuation is based on an analysis of the market for authentic Clarice Cliff pottery. No recent, direct comparable sale for a 'Sunray' pattern 'Yo-Yo' vase was found, necessitating a valuation based on related examples. A 2020 sale of a conical bowl in the same 'Sunray' pattern achieved $421, providing a baseline for the pattern's appeal. A 2017 sale of a different vase shape in a less complex pattern sold for approximately $466. The wide estimate reflects the significant uncertainty posed by the illegible mark; the lower end reflects the risk and lack of direct comparables, while the upper end reflects the potential value if its authenticity is physically confirmed by a specialist. A modern reproduction of this shape sold for under $100, establishing a floor value. We recommend a conservative reserve price of $400. Net proceeds after a typical seller's commission of 10-15% would be approximately $425 - $2,250.

Comparable sales

A Wedgwood for Bradex Clarice Cliff reproduction Yo-Yo vase, Cubist pattern, limited edition, 23cm, printed marks. — sold for £80 (Bamfords Auctioneers & Valuers), 2023-02-15
Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) 'Bizarre' Conical Footed Bowl, 'Shark's Teeth' pattern, impressed shape number '382' and marks to base, 'Hand Painted, Bizarre by Clarice Cliff, Newport Pottery England' (A/F glaze flecking). Dimensions: height 12.5cm, diameter 23.5cm. — sold for $2,500 AUD - $3,500 AUD (Estimate) (Shapiro Auctioneers), 2013-12-08
A Clarice Cliff Fantasque Picasso flower pattern vase, with wide rim and tapering cylindrical body, on a circular foot, printed factory mark and gilt printed retailer's mark 'Lawleys, Regent St' to base, height 20.2cm (minor rim restoration). — sold for £360 (Toovey's), 2017-07-13
A footed shape 383 conical bowl, hand painted with a stylised city landscape with birds in flight and large sunray motif with matched decoration to the feet. — sold for $421, 2020-03-07

Expert notes

While this vase has all the visual characteristics of a genuine and valuable Clarice Cliff piece, a significant risk exists. The maker's mark is illegible, and high-quality reproductions of this exact shape and pattern are known to exist. Before offering this piece for sale at a premium, we strongly recommend physical examination by a recognized specialist in Clarice Cliff pottery. They can perform tests, such as using UV light, to detect signs of restoration or modern manufacturing that are not visible in photographs.