Often thought to be a Clarice Cliff early pattern ‘Flaming June’ has recently been revealed to be a stunning pattern by her much overlooked younger sister Dolly Cliff. Only now in 2024 she has been given overdue recognition in a new Dolly Cliff book by Greg Slater, Australian author of the well known large volume Comprehensively Clarice Cliff. All are stamped Wilkinson England / Honeyglaze / Hand Painted, with the pattern no. 8687 hand painted in red. Measurements approx: Compote 8cm H 14cm W Side Plates 14cm Fruit Bowl 19cm Dia Plate 20.5cm x 15cm Cake Plate 22cm x 22cm Good condition

Dolly was also a designer and ran the decorating shop at Newport Pottery from 1926 which specialised in the difficult style of underglaze painting, executing complex designs that had to be right first time, prior to glazing. Greg Slater: ”Dolly’s work was so successful that many of her imaginative designs are mistaken for the work of Clarice Cliff …these hand-painted patterns …cause most confusion…because she was never given her own backstamp. …many show greater flair and better execution than seen in the contemporary Bizarre ware”. Producing over 400 designs much of Dolly’s records were lost or destroyed after she died young in 1935. One of Dolly’s paintresses was interviewed and said “her skill with the paint brushes was well ahead of Clarice’s…(but) …because of her special relationship with the pottery owner Clarice had more freedom to experiment”.

The Flaming June (pattern no. 8687) has striking bursts of purple and orange flowers, very eye catching and on unusual octagonal bowls elongated sideways. Only a few of Dolly’s designs were continued into the 1930s and decorated on glaze as these are.