It was always my intention to write short reviews of some of the books in my personal library. Time restraints have prevented this so far. Instead, I thought it might be interesting to share some favourites in the form of book list with 'thumbnail' descriptions. Some of these are out of print but will be available on eBay or second hand on Abebooks.co.uk.

Subject: Clarice Cliff

Comprehensively Clarice Cliff
It goes without saying this is THE book for Christmas, Easter, Birthdays and anything else requiering a gift, see my review.

Clarice Cliff by Peter Wentworth-Sheilds & Kay Johnson, L'Odeon, London 1976
More than just a book, a collectors item. Two editions were printed, the first edition of 1501 copies are numbered, the second edition has the number missing. The dust jacket shows the design "House and Bridge". You will sometimes see the design "House and Bridge" referred to as "Front Cover" for this reason.

The Rich Designs of Clarice Cliff Shapes Book by Terry Darrington & Richard Green, Rich Designs, 2000
Clearly set out drawn outlines of most of the shapes issued by the Wilkinson factory in Clarice Cliff's time. Includes shape numbers and heights. Easy to find your shape, great to carry around in your pocket.

The Rich Designs of Clarice Cliff Pocket Book by Richard Green, Rich Designs, 1998
Even smaller pocket book with clear photos of of most of the Clarice Cliff designs. Handy for the new collector who is hoping to spot an unmarked Clarice Cliff or to confirm an item is genuine, or for anyone interested in naming a pattern away from base.

The Rich Designs of Clarice Cliff by Richard Green and Des Jones, Rich Designs, 1995
Still a fabulous book to browse and and read, although some information is not particularly correct. Very readable. Massive hard back book.

The Bizarre Affair by Leonard Griffin, Louis Meisel and Susan Meisel, Thames and Hudson, 1988
Readable but won't fit in a stocking.

Clarice Cliff by Lynn Knight, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2005
A proper review for this newly published book is well overdue by myself, but I must confess to be still reading it. Three quarters of the way through, I have to admit to a difficult journey fraught with pencilled in exclamations in the margins, constant references to check the sources of information and frequently retreiving the book from the garden where I throw it each time the subject changes so abruptly I have to scream. Apart from that there are a few quite brilliant passages where I forget I am even reading. Buy it if you must, but read it when you can concentrate.


Subject: Ceramic Design

20th Century Ceramic Designers in Britain, Andrew Casey, Antique Collectors' Club, 2001
This is an important publication if your interests extend beyond Clarice Cliff. From Daisy Makeig-Jones of Wedgwood, Susie Cooper, and Eve Midwinter, to Susan Williams-Ellis of Portmerion, each beautifully illustrated chapter is more like a book in itself with highly readable and extensive analysis.

British Art Deco Ceramics by Colin Mawston, Shiffer Publishing Ltd, 2000
Published and available in the USA. UK buyers can try the author's web site for copies - www.decodance.com
With an extensive chapter on Clarice Cliff, and useful chapters on Keith Murray and Susie Cooper, the author includes interesting sections on the designs of other factories including Carlton, Shelley and Barker Brothers. A respectable and easy to read book aimed at the newer collector.

Art Deco and Modernist Ceramics by Karen McCready, Thames and Hudson, 1995
A world wide fast-track survey of ceramics of the period written in an historical style. Not for the die-hard 'Cliffie' as the extensive A-Z of international designers will give them a well-deserved jolt - the world doesn't begin and end with Clarice Cliff.

Miller's Twentieth-Century Ceramics by Paul Atterbury, Ellen Paul Denker and Maureen Batkin, Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, 1999
Great authors. But this has to be for the dealer rather than collector. A page for each pottery, nicely illustrated, it works best for the collector if you come home with something you like and need to find out more about it.

Subject: The Historical Viewpoint

Thirties: British art and design before the war, Arts Council of Great Britain, 1980
Highly recommended readable book that deserves a more extensive review. It was produced for an exhibition at The Hayward Gallery. The introduction to the 1930's by A. J. P. Taylor is just the start of a high quality evaluation of the era from studio pottery to rail travel, from book illustration to postage stamp design. A must for your bookshelf but read it first. Black and white illustrations.

Art Deco 1910 - 1939, edited by Charlotte Benton, Tim Benton and Ghislaine Wood, V&A Publications, 2003
Fabulous book worthy of coffee table and bedside table as well as for serious study. The deco period is surveyed internationally and if you missed the exhibition get a taste from the Victoria and Albert Museum web site here.

The Encyclopedia of Decorative Styles 1850 - 1935, William Hardy, Steven Adams, Arie Van De Lemme, Qunitet Publishing Limited, 1988
How did design evolve into what we now call the Art Deco period? This book is written by art historians and is highly readable and well illustrated. The three sections - "The Arts & Crafts Movement", "A Guide to Art Nouveau" and "A Guide to Art Deco" - discuss ceramics and also open your eyes to the influences outside of that small area. Don't be put off by the authors being art historians, it is well written and easy to follow.

Twentieth-Century Ornament by Jonathan M. Woodham, Rizzoli, NY, 1990
A wider remit than the above book. Very little on ceramics but interesting nevertheless, particularly on the deco and 1960's sections. Well illustrated.


Subject: The Female Viewpoint

Potters and Paintresses: Women Designers in the Pottery Industry 1870 - 1955 by Cheryl Buckley, The Women's Press, 1990
No need to go any further if you want to find out how a woman such as Clarice Cliff may have experienced life and attitudes in her journey to Chetwynd. You can put her life into context using the book as a framework.

Beautifully detailed, intelligently discussed and easy to read, it discusses the parts played by designers such as Millicent Taplin, Star Wedgwood, Charlotte Rhead, Jessie Van Hallen, Freda Beardmore, Susie Cooper and Clarice Cliff in the pottery industry of this country.

Potters and Paintresses also challenges the concept of intrinsic feminine sensibilities and demonstrates how women acted out the roles expected of their gender within the economic and political necessities of the time. There is no need to read it as a feminist tract, however, the history itself is fascinating and unearths more about the general life of Clarice Cliff and her paintresses than other books that attempt to "...draw a vivid portrait of Britain between the wars, and in particular the lives of women."

A Woman's Touch: Women in Design from 1860 to the Present Day, Isabelle Anscombe, Elisabeth Sifton Books, 1984
Ms. Anscombe's approach in this book is to demonstrate how the female sensibility came to the forefront in design. Written 6 years before Cheryl Buckley, the newly revived women's movement was still in it's infancy and so understandable.

A Woman's Touch excells in highlighting important women designers in all walks of life and within the context of their political and economic situations. However, there is very little in the way of ceramic design and the author does not have a very high opinion of Clarice Cliff. The accounts of the other important art and design movements taking place outside the UK are very interersting and readable. Probably of interest only to the more specialist reader.

Designing Women: Cinema, Art Deco, & The Female Form by Lucy Fischer, Columbia University Press, NY, 2003
If you like black and white movies, Greta Garbo and Demetre Chiparus figures, this is the book for you. This book describes and explains the aesthetic of the deco era. Never mind Clarice Cliff, light me a cigarette daaaaahling.

I think this would qualify has an excellent list for any seasons reading.

What a lovely list and I agree with you about the Lynn Knight book although it is the conservatory in my case.

A couple of the books on the reading list are available on eBay now. I don't know anything about the sellers, but the books are very reasonable.

The Rich Designs Of Clarice Cliff, Bizarre

CLARICE CLIFF BY PETER WENTWORTH-SHEILDS/.KAY JOHNSON

A title to add to your list if I may although sadly out of print.

Art Deco Tableware: British Domestic Ceramics 1925-1939 by Judy Spours.

Published (1988) in both hard and soft cover the book remains as excellent and informative today as it was when first published.

isbn: 0847809919

I think the Judy Spours book still rates as one of the very best general books on ceramics published to date.

I agree that the Judy Spours book is excellent. It was certainly one of the early books that inspired me.
Colin www.decodance.com

I was lucky enough to buy the book in hard back and still think it one of the very best titles on Art Deco Ceramics.
Great shame it has not been reprinted.

quote:

Clarice Cliff by Peter Wentworth-Sheilds & Kay Johnson, L'Odeon, London 1976
More than just a book, a collectors item. Two editions were printed, the first edition of 1501 copies are numbered, the second edition has the number missing. The dust jacket shows the design "House and Bridge". You will sometimes see the design "House and Bridge" referred to as "Front Cover" for this reason.

Another very good book from Mrs Neele's list and I would be interested to know why it has not been reviewed in this forum.

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Moderator's note: It is up to members to submit reviews on Clarice Cliff publications past and present, to date non have been received for this title.

I cut my teeth on the Judy Spours book and still think one of the best general Ceramics books going. I also like Andrew Casey's books and of course the fab Comprehensively Clarice Cliff which is the only Clarice Cliff book worth having.

I agree with you about the Judy Spours book but Andrew's book is in many ways better and of course more up to date.

quote:

20th Century Ceramic Designers in Britain, Andrew Casey, Antique Collectors' Club, 2001
This is an important publication if your interests extend beyond Clarice Cliff. From Daisy Makeig-Jones of Wedgwood, Susie Cooper, and Eve Midwinter, to Susan Williams-Ellis of Portmerion, each beautifully illustrated chapter is more like a book in itself with highly readable and extensive analysis

I rather enjoy Andrews style of writing and am looking forward to his new book on CC.

Have we any idea on price or publication dates for the new AC book?

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Moderator's note: We understand under £20.00 but do not have a note on publication date yet.

I bought Andrews book 20th Century Ceramic Designers earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is full of information and great pictures too. I also bought the Lynn Knight book but found it very hard going and haven't picked it up since my first attempt to read it. I managed to get a copy of the L'Odeon which I found very interesting and an easy read. Of course my fave book has to CCC which I use every day, I'd be lost without it.

Thank you for supporting my mention of Andrew's excellent book Judith.

Hi
Thanks for your very kind comments on my book-that is very much appreciated.

The new Clarice Cliff book is finished and is currently being edited. Its a very different sort of book from my 20th century book. The Clarice Cliff book will be a price guide with individual chapters covering: a brief biography, patterns, shapes,top twenty patterns, artists and industry, reproductions, fakes and a resource file of backstamps, dealers etc. The main part of the book is a sixty page price guide with individual images of pots jugs, plates, Conical wares etc with actual auction prices rather than made up prices.It is aimed at the beginner. It will be published by Gemini Publications hopefully before Christmas and will retail at something like £17. I can send more news when I get it.

My other new book is out now called Starting to Collect Twentieth Century ceramics published by the Antique Collectors Club priced at £14.95. It covers British, Scandanavian, European and North American ceramics.

British Art Deco Ceramics
A new book that I have edited that includes about 25 individual essays on the many factories working in the industry during the thirties. The book is seperated into four sections: 1 Looking at the European art deco influence with chapters by Stella Beddoe and Greg Stevenson. Section 2: This is about how the established factories such as Spode, Moorcroft and Wedgwood responded to art deco. Section 3 looks at the smaller factories such as Grays, Susie Cooper, Wilkinsons etc. Section 4 consists of small essays on the factories that were operating in the industry that have not been discussed before but produced good art deco designs. Factoris including Adderleys, Mayer and Sherrat etc Eric Knowles is writing the forward. Shoud be good!
thanks
andrew

quote:

British Art Deco Ceramics

Could we have more information on British Art Deco Ceramics please, price/ISBN.

Hello Paula. You can buy it on Amazon. They start at about £25 for a used copy.

Hi
Im not sure what information you require but the book will be published by the Antique Collectors Club next year. The book will retail at about £30-but Im not sure.It covers the following factories : Wedgwood, Spode, Minton, Royal Doulton, Moorcroft, Shelley, Poole, Susie Cooper, Myott, E.Brain, Burleigh, Grays, Wilkinsons, Grimwades, Crown Ducal,Maling, Empire,Crown Devon, Paragon, Royal Venton, Carlton ware and many other contextual essays.Also mini essays by me -about 35 in total with contributions by a number of experts.Does that sound good?
andrew

Isn't there already a book called "British Art Deco Ceramics", regards, Colin www.decodance.com ... Oh and Author of British Art deco Ceramics!