Clarice was born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, and began work at AJ Wilkinson's pottery factory in 1916. She was later given her own studio and in 1927 her famous ‘Bizarre’ wares were launched. Her works of this period were in the Art Deco style.
In 1940 she married her then boss Colley Shorter and subsequently moved to nearby Chetwynd House. The factory continues to sell Clarice’s designs until 1964.
In 1972 the first Clarice Cliff exhibition takes place at Brighton, East Sussex, for which she provides comments for the catalogue. Later that year Clarice died suddenly at Chetwynd House.
1999 saw the centenary celebrations of her life and work. This featured the ‘Bizarre Art’ exhibition at the Wedgwood Visitors Centre, Barleston, Stoke-on-Trent.
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