*S*U*M*M*E*R 2010 with the ORIGINAL Clarice Cliff Collectors Club On-line NEWS
W E L C O M E !
The ORIGINAL club is based in Clarice's home county Staffordshire, England and was founded in 1982 by Clarice Cliff writer Leonard Griffin, author of 6 books on Clarice between 1988 and 2008. Andrew Hutton, the website founder in 1997, has been a Clarice enthusiast and collector for 18 years. We also have the diverse skills of our editor, long-term collector Doreen Mann, ace-organiser Peggy Wilson, master hand-painter Terry Abbotts, membership secretary Shirley, our ever-patient Open Forum moderators and the background ‘team’!
The CCCC has held FIVE Clarice Cliff pottery auctions with Fieldings of Stourbridge, near Birmingham, and we are delighted to announce that the next is 2 October.
Will Farmer, the auctioneer and a long-term CCCC member writes:
"Well the summer is well and truly upon us, if not the weather at least the holidays! And for a month that is meant to be quiet, relaxing and a bit of a break, I'm running at full speed, all because we have the next sale to get ready. I'm pleased to confirm the details of the next sale, it will be on October the 2nd.
This one will be slightly different to the previous sales as this will be united with our annual "Decades of Design" sale. We have decided to make a slight change to the running of the Clarice sales making the May a full dedicated event with the October integrated into the design event.
The "Decades of Design" sale has become one of the largest design sales outside of London featuring art, ceramics, glass, furniture, metalwork etc from leading artists and designers from 1880 to the present day. The sale is presented by means of a historical time line with Continental Art Nouveau & Secessionist, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Post War and Contemporary.
The Clarice Cliff lots will be featured in the catalogue around the Art Deco section and I can confirm that the presentation of the lots will be exactly the same as the previous sales with the usual Landscapes, Geometrics, Fruit & Florals and of course 'Having a little fun' chapters!
I'm really pleased to announce that I have some REALLY big surprises to unveil! In a few weeks time I anticipate having some truly amazing pieces to show you. I'm hoping that if all comes to fruition we should be looking in the region of 150 plus fresh and new lots for you all including some absolute stunners!
In the event that anyone would like to consign items for the sale we still have another month to go before the catalogue deadline. Last time I offered a Clarice Amnesty to all CCCC members++ with a commission free rate on one piece valued at over £100. I shall be offering this once more as last time it yielded some fantastic pieces. So with a repeat of this amazing offer now really is a great time to consider being part of what promises to be a fantastic sale.
As always if anyone has any queries or questions please don't hesitate to contact me. I hope you all have a great summer and all I'll say is spare me a thought while you sit pool side (hopefully reading my book!) All the best and roll on sale number 6."
Will Farmer - Fieldings Auctioneers
Will can be reached on: 01384 444140
or: will@fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk
++ You need to be a CCCC member (see below) to take advantage of this offer
█▀█▄█ an on-line magazine
█▀█▄█ An 'open' discussion forum
█▀█▄█ Conventions and Socials
█▀█▄█ An annual enamel Clarice Cliff pattern badge since 1987
█▀█▄█ Professional Membership - this allows collectors who are dealers or sellers a voice on the Open Forum
█▀█▄█ Fieldings Auctioneers of Stourbridge, Great Britain:
Fieldings stage Clarice Cliff auctions in association with the CCCC – see our special topic below!
█▀█▄█ 2 complimentary catalogues a year (worth £20)for the Fieldings & CCCC auctions ~ the most recent was May 22, the next is 2 October
If you join the CCCC you can read and participate in the Open Forum. There are over 500 members of the Forum and often 10-20 on-line at the same time. It is a discussion forum to share opinions, views and news, where you can post jpg images, take part in regular Polls, and get to know other ‘Cliffies’.
Our NEW 'trial membership' - you can now join the CCCC with full benefits for 3 months for just £7!
This is to enable newer collectors to get a 'taste' of the club features in the members only Clarion. You can enrol HERE :
three month membership
█▀█▄█ At the beginning of February our ‘Stoke Weekend’ in 2009 was featured on BBC tv’s Priceless Antiques Roadshow leading to many new Cliffies joining the club. You can see details of the weekend below and in the Open Forum (members only).
█▀█▄█ This year is the centenary of the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley, Stoke, Fenton, Longton, Tunstall and Burslem) and the local authority are celebrating it with a number of different events throughout the year. One of the most prestigious events of the year was a Federation Dinner where Clarice Cliff was nominated as one of ten local people for the 'Citizen of the Century' award. The CCCC was delighted to be contacted over this and advise the city's 'Communications Team, PR & Communications'.
(Our thanks to Terry Abbotts and Maureen & Harold in assisting the CCCC.)
On our Open Forum the year has continued very buoyantly with several topics in particular catching the attention of collectors.
POLLS Our recent Polls on member's opinions have already had surprising results and members can see results and analysis of these, including your favourite Clarice Cliff book.
We hope you will be able to join the CCCC and are sure membership will help you add to YOUR collection of Clarice Cliff in 2010 !
Len
E X C I T I N G NEWS ~ we were featured on a BBC 'Antiques Roadshow' special on Tuesday 2 February. 'Will Farmer meets the Cliffies, fanatical members of the Clarice Cliff Collectors Club'.
If you missed it here is a report on the event it covered, our 'Stoke Weekend'. This is typical of 50 features always available for members in the Clarion.
| A Photo Journal
..by long-term CCCC member Brian Phillips
Here is the full Photo Journal to record and commemorate our 2009 CCCC event.
Having commemorative plaques unveiled in Edwards Street, Meir Street, and the Newport Pottery site in one day is a tremendous achievement ~ well done to Adam, Terry, and Peggy.
Special thanks to Professor Flavia Swann, Will Farmer, and the BBC Antiques Roadshow film crew.
The amazing weekend the Original Clarice Cliff Collectors Club held in Stoke on August 1 and 2
The images are Strictly copyright Brian Philips 2009
The Clarice Cliff Collectors Club Celebrates 30 years in 2012
Members can comment on this story in the Open Forum
Or, just e-mail us : clarion@claricecliff.com
Thank You
I M P O R T A N T
The ORIGINAL Clarice Cliff Collectors Club ~ founded 1982. Registration of Business Names Act (number 2803197 registered 2 February 1982). We are proud to be the only club to provide a full service to Clarice Cliff collectors: an on-line magazine, a twice yearly printed Newsletter, two auction catalogues a year, an 'open' discussion forum, and the ONLY club to have staged Meetings, Conventions and Socials in Stoke on Trent and around the World for ALL Clarice Cliff collectors
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New features are added to the Clarion regularly, to see these you need to be a member, some examples are below.
We are delighted that Fieldings of Stourbridge have now staged FIVE All Clarice Cliff auctions in conjunction with the original CCCC.
'Cliffie' auctioneer, Will Farmer staged No.5 on 22 May 2010 and it had a good 70% sold rate. In May 2009 he sold an 18 inch 'charger' in May Avenue for £20,500 hammer.
Will Farmer can be reached on:
01384 444140
or: will@fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk
| AUCTION REPORT
by CCCC Editor Doreen Mann
A comparative analysis
Bizarre – Fantasque – Latona - My Garden - Le Bon Dieu - Celtic Harvest - Kang - Raffia - Gloria - Artists in Industry - Joan Shorter Ware - Appliqué
Never before in my collecting journey of 20 years have all the ranges Clarice Cliff conceived, appeared en masse in one auction. Such was the diversity of the Saturday 31 October sale. It would be not over-working the phrase to coin it a ‘something for everyone’ sale. Price estimates ranged from a mere £30 to virtually £3,000 with prices realised similar, and of course, there were a few surprises along the way!
Auctioneer and Clarice Cliff collector Will Farmer always has a friendly, welcoming style on the podium, and he is to be congratulated on his blistering pace throughout – no mean feat with 351 lots. Fieldings hold a considerable number of sales throughout the year (their glass sales are fast becoming famous) and Will observed that recently ‘there has been a marked improvement with auction sales and even amidst this recession, people are buying’. He pointed out that ‘sensible estimates yield good sales, and that throughout the sale jugs, cups and saucers, sifters, vases, and preserve pots, all sold well.’
Will was very pleased with the sale outcome of 70 per cent sold including after-sales, as this sale had contained a considerable number of ‘starter lots’. In fact, 55 lots sold at just £50 or under, an encouraging price for beginner collectors and even those entirely new to Clarice Cliff. He also noted that there was an increase in the price of floral patterned items, often, but not strictly the domain of female buyers. Several new/young faces were in the auction room ready to bid, with a few obviously new to the world of bidding!
As to the overseas market, the majority of telephone bidding abroad came from Australia where the Aussie exchange rate is very good at this time (and no VAT!). Australian bidding was strong in all sections, with collectors going for predominantly top lots in each category. Bidders from Canada and the USA were pretty quiet this time round, but some bidding also came from South Africa.
Three quite exceptional chargers took 3 of the top positions of items sold price-wise, two in Inspiration - Asters and Clouvre Waterlily - yet a world apart in description terms, along with a strong Latona Tree charger. Several other ‘top lots’ didn’t sell, mainly I suspect because of condition, which has in recent years mattered much more to collectors than in the late 80’s when virtually any item in any condition sold. Collectors are noticeably demanding better value for their money if they enter the £1000-plus price range, and certainly at £2000 or more.
The most flyaway lot of the sale was the Mountain Bon Jour sifter which sold for £2000, and those auction ‘favourites’ a pair of Teddy Bookends realised £1550. Surprisingly, as they were sought-after in past auctions, none of the figurines sold – the Collier, and the Dutch man and woman, the Le Bon Dieu teapot fetched a surprising £190 considering it wasn’t a favourite then, or isn’t now amongst teapot collectors, and the Joan Shorter ware results were limp.
An interesting folio of 1920 Pochoir prints designed by Edouard Benedictus and formerly owned by Clarice Cliff and autographed by her, sold at the bottom estimate of £500, yet the Sliced Fruit twin-handled Lotus was an absolute steal at £520!
A couple of Secrets patterned items well exceeded expectations, not unexpected, as it is another universally loved Clarice pattern.
Doreen
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The Clarice Cliff Collectors Club has now co-staged FIVE all Clarice Cliff auctions thanks to Fieldings, Stourbridge
You can comment on this story in the Open Forum
Or, just e-mail us : clarion@claricecliff.com
Thank You
The ORIGINAL Clarice Cliff Collectors Club ~ founded 1982. Registration of Business Names Act (number 2803197 registered 2 February 1982). We are proud to be the only club to provide a full service to Clarice Cliff collectors: an on-line magazine, a twice yearly printed Newsletter, two auction catalogues a year, an 'open' discussion forum, and the ONLY club to have staged Meetings, Conventions and Socials in Stoke on Trent and around the World for ALL Clarice Cliff collectors
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Joining the CCCC and sample features from the 'Clarion'
Posted Wednesday, June 04, 2008 - 13:34 GMT by adhutton:
to join the CCCC
in this our 28th Year
from the team at claricecliff.com
In 2008 the CCCC ‘came of age’, as we held our first two auctions courtesy of Fieldings, Stourbridge. We appointed a network of 'reporters', a team of ardent collectors, and also announced our Patron, Professor Flavia Swann, owner of Clarice's former home, Chetwynd House.
The 'Fantasqueflash' presentation above gives you an idea of the depth and quality of our coverage for members in the Clarion.
Will Farmer of Fieldings was just a young collector at one of our Conventions in the early 1990s but is now staging ALL Clarice Cliff auctions. Fittingly, these are in conjunction with the CCCC. This means we have now ACHIEVED many of the things we know collectors seek: a weekend auction making it available to everyone, not a select few; a more sensible lower rate for buyers and sellers, and a full club event alongside the auction.
Despite the changing and unstable nature of the financial markets 2009 proved to be a good year for club members. Diversifying capital out of investments may offer a long-term solution to the current uncertainty. However, to buy WISELY you really do need a great deal of knowledge, and THAT it what the CCCC offers. There is more news for CCCC members in the Clarion.
For club membership details please check our front page.
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The Clarice Cliff Collectors Club
The CCCC logo device and portrait of Clarice Cliff are Copyright 2008 to the Clarice Cliff Collectors Club
You can comment on this story in the Open Forum
Or, just e-mail us : clarion@claricecliff.com
Thank You
I M P O R T A N T
The ORIGINAL Clarice Cliff Collectors Club ~ founded 1982 ~ Registration of Business Names Act (Registered number 2803197 registered 2 February 1982). We are proud to be the only club to provide a full service to Clarice Cliff collectors around the World: an on-line magazine updated weekly, an 'open' discussion forum, regular Conventions and socials, and we now stage ALL Clarice Cliff Auctions thanks to our friends at Fielding's Auctioneers
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Will Farmer talks about the new Fielding's and CCCC ALL Clarice Cliff Auctions (story first published exclusively for CCCC members in December)
Posted Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 12:36 GMT by adhutton:
Will Farmertalks about the new Fielding’s sales and his 20 years of collecting Clarice
The news in December that Fielding’s Auctioneers of Stourbridge, Birmingham were to hold 2 dedicated Clarice auctions in 2008 caused a sensation amongst collectors and was front page new in the Antiques Trade Gazette. Significantly, the man behind the auctions is a collector of Clarice Cliff and was a member of the CCCC when he was just 11 ! Will Farmer is now well known from the BBC Antiques Roadshow which he has appeared on for four years, and his enthusiasm for the auctions was clear when he was interviewed
Will, you have been involved in ceramics since you were a child, how did you manage to turn a hobby into a career?
'I’m honestly now sure how I did it, it may have been something in my genes! I grew up around antiques with both my mum and gran being avid collectors and part time dealers. I had collected from the age of 6 with an interest in silver, then German toys, but the discovery of a wonderful Art Deco coffee service at the back of my gran's sideboard catapulted me into the world of Art Deco! Shelley was all well and good but all too soon the punch of Clarice was to take over! I was in the unusual and privileged position as a ‘youth’ of not only being able to study Clarice’s amazing work but actually acquire some pieces. This was thanks to a mother who thought it quite natural that an 11 year old should want to own Art Deco pottery!
I clearly remember my first ever purchase, I was about 11 years old and we were at Newark Antique Fair where I stumbled across a Conical cup, saucer and plate banded to the borders in rainbow colours. With great excitement I parted with my hard earned £15 and took that cup and saucer home. Today, long after the my original collection has changed, that cup, saucer and side plate sit on one of my display stands.'
What first fired your interest in Clarice Cliff?
'I had begun to read around the subject of Art Deco however the discovery of the Bizarre Affair opened a whole new world of incredible shapes and patterns which led me to want to handle the real pieces. I have to say it was the freedom I was given to go down to London and visit Clarice dealers at an age most mothers would not let their son to do that which turned an interest into a passion! Also, somehow even though I think you were meant to be 16 I went to my first Clarice Cliff Collectors Club Convention weekend in Stoke when I was 14 and managed to fit in with all the older collectors. I remember Len pointed out on the charabanc tour that there was a rather young collector ‘on board’, and it was great that the Newport manager Eric Grindley was there when we went down to see the Bizarre shop; he was about 65 years older than me! Of course a young mind absorbs everything, so after that there was NO turning back.'
What made you decide to launch Fielding’s in Stourbridge?
'Establishing a new business in a market which already had many good and successful auction house both nationally and locally, was of course a challenge, but I thrive on challenges! My co director Nicholas Davies and I had both worked for existing auction houses in Birmingham however we were both hungry to go out there and create something different, new and exciting. The whole belief was that we could create a business that could deal with the pressures of modern dealing and furthermore move forward into the 21st century with a fresh and young approach. The ever growing cost, time and difficulty of getting to and around London, meant local auctioneers gradually had more and more advantages over London based ones. Establishing a quality auction house near Britain’s second city seemed the obvious choice to us and we were proven right, since our launch in 2001 we have grown from strength to strength as we have concentrated on providing a quality service concentrated around dedicated and specialist sales.'
The big question! HOW did the idea for doing an ALL Clarice Cliff auction come about?
'Our ceramic auctions have always been closest to my heart and when pieces of Clarice Cliff were consigned it always took me instantly back to my first and longest passion in ceramics. I had followed the Open Forum on claricecliff.com avidly. The debate about ever increasing charges made me realise Fielding’s and I would be able to give CCCC members an exciting sale they could actually afford to buy and sell at without spending the cost of a vase on a train and hotel. There are many good auction houses and our service and standards are as good as any of them. But our location, overheads and sensible staffing levels mean we can be extremely competitive for our clients. Of course as I LOVE and know Clarice Cliff well I’m handling this sale personally, so you won’t get put onto an assistant who knows nothing about the pottery - you will get me at the end of the phone and that’s a guarantee.'
What rate will you be offering buyers?
'We are able to support collectors by offering a buyer’s premium of only 17.63% TOTAL! Collectors will also be surprised when they see the catalogue as it will be much more than just a list of the lots. We have contributions by Leonard Griffin, the dealer Andrew Muir, and collector ‘tips’. We feel the catalogues will build into a further source of good information on Clarice's pottery.'
The London Clarice Cliff auctions have had ever decreasing numbers of lots for years. What size do you think your sale is likely to be?
'I’d be happy with 200 lots for our first sale; I think some collectors may wait to see how good it really is? But, I also feel it’s possible we might get as many as 300 lots.
(Will 'went out on a limb’, and offered exclusive special terms to the first FIVE members of the Clarice Cliff Collectors Club who contacted him. The lucky 5 were able to consign pieces to the sale for a total charge of 10 %! )
Have you any pieces already consigned?
'Well it’s too early to give away too much but we already have pieces coming in from around the world and we will reveal these in the Clarion for CCCC members only in March . I can say we have a Yo Yo vase in a GREAT 1929 pattern, some brilliant plates and a nicely painted early sifter.
Most importantly the sale will have something in everybody’s price bracket; I remember from 20 years ago what it felt like collecting on a small budget and I’m determined to cater for ALL collectors; the newer enthusiast are particularly important.
We will not be accepting post 1937 ware (except Crocus) or badly damaged ware. Any restored pieces will be clearly catalogued as such and I will personally check them.'
We gather you still buy ceramics. Do you still collect Clarice?
'I DO ! The bug never left me, I also put together a collection of Poole Art Deco pottery and a collection of Lenci figures bought and collected together with my mum but the Clarice thing has never left me. I have most recently bought a SUPERB House & Bridge Stamford milk sugar and teapot and I have some great plates and vases!
I’m looking forward to chatting with all the CCCC members about the auction, I’m only a phone call away, and I’ll be at the May Convention everyday as well. It will be very special and nostalgic being there again 20 years on.'
Will Farmer was interviewed by Jenny on 29 January
Will can be contacted about the sale on:
01384 444140
OR
will@fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk
The text of this article is strictly copyright the CCCC and may not be reproduced in whole or in part, without the written consent of the CCCC
The Clarice Cliff Collectors Club ~ founded in 1982
You can comment on this story in the Open Forum
Or, just e-mail us: clarion@claricecliff.com
Thank You
'The Clarice Cliff Collectors Club' was founded in 1982 and is based in Clarice's home county, Eccleshall in Staffordshire, England. We are proud to be the only club to provide a full service to Clarice Cliff collectors around the World: an on-line magazine updated weekly, an 'open' discussion forum, regular Conventions and socials, and we now stage ALL Clarice Cliff Auctions thanks to our friends at Fielding's Auctioneers
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Collecting Clarice Cliff on a Budget
Posted Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 20:33 GMT by adhutton:
| (part 1 of a series)
..by CCCC Editor Doreen Mann
In this extensive feature some advice for newer collectors, and a large FantasqueFlash presentation to demonstrate one of Clarice’s collectable shapes.
We are currently being told in some quarters that ‘the recession is over” - not! And whilst we have to acknowledge financial times are tight for many around the globe, the collecting hobby has in general been affected by these times. Whilst “top end” items will always be sought after, we’ve seen from key Clarice Cliff auctions this past 12 months, her pottery continues to sell at all levels, unlike many other collectables, and certainly other pottery. For many, it is exactly the right time to buy, yet if you’re about to start collecting Clarice Cliff it may seem a little daunting.
I’m assuming that you’ve seen examples of Cliff’s ware in newspapers or magazines, in books, on the internet, or at your local antiques fair. She produced hundreds of patterns in hundreds of shapes; her entire output so vast you’ll need to do some research before deciding which is the most appealing.
If you prefer Clarice Cliff in a ‘gentle’ style from the late 1930’s, perhaps in subdued patterned tableware, or embossed or moulded ware, prices are relatively inexpensive, with pieces priced at around £20 to £40, in distinct contrast to Cliff’s more flamboyant art deco ware which costs several hundreds, and often, thousands of pounds. Alternatively, you may prefer Cliff’s “country” style of pottery such as her moulded Celtic Harvest range priced at around £40 to £200, dependant on the item and its condition. All of these ranges mentioned so far are readily available on the internet, antique fairs and at auction rooms all over the country.
Even if you love the more stylish or sharper defined lines of her ‘art deco’ pottery, if your budget is limited, say £20 to £200, you could opt for a collection of the many reproductions from Wedgwood. This option though, would only offer you a limited range of shapes in comparison to Cliff’s enormous output. The upside is that this way you could buy pieces in the combination of shape and pattern that more serious or long-term collectors can only dream about, as either they weren’t made in these pattern/shape combinations or they are yet to be discovered! Quite an interesting selection of art deco shapes and patterns can be acquired as the original Clarice Cliff Collectors Club specially commissioned Wedgwood to produce hand-painted limited edition reproductions for their members. Larger quantities were also produced with different backstamps and were not hand painted. Again the internet, dealers, antique fairs and auction houses are your route.
But what if you want to start collecting her very highly collectable Bizarre ware? I hope that this series on ‘Collecting Clarice on a Budget’ will inspire and widen your collection as my intention is to cover several price ranges, including stratospheric!
If your budget is £250 and under, you can actually start your Clarice Cliff collection by buying one of her smallest items – a coaster, alternatively known as a pin dish or pin tray. As they are roughly around 3 inches/8cms in diameter that also means you’ll only require a relatively small space to display. More importantly, these items don’t have to “break the bank” as many coasters, dependant upon pattern, can be purchased from as little as £60 to £250; with exceptional ones costing more. You can collect these by either ‘armchair shopping’ on various internet sites, or buying from other collectors, art deco or general antique dealers direct, or at antique fairs or auction houses.
Some ‘smalls’ as dealers call smaller pieces, can be quite affordable, but occasionally, very expensive. It all depends on the type of item, e.g. coaster, tea plate, cruet set, preserve pot, ashtray, etc. and also that pattern/shape combination. Coasters or pin dishes seem to be a perfect example of where to begin this series, as when times get better they can become ‘a mini-collection’ within a collection of larger items.
Here are some examples, ranging from Crocus to Red Roofs to Goldstone Florette, Aurea to Appliqué (expect to pay over £250 for any Appliqué example, unless, of course, you ‘get lucky’). There’s an example of Gloria ware, see Gloria Bridge, in a more subdued glaze, quite unnoticeable on a coaster as opposed to a larger item and much less expensive than say Carpet, which is also featured.
What I should point out from the outset, is that on coasters you rarely get the full pattern in miniature; only a small detailed section of the pattern is usually represented. This can sometimes be the pattern’s focal point, the ‘reverse’ of a pattern, or any aspect from the overall pattern (say) a cottage, a tree, or a flower. If the coaster is in Original Bizarre or a geometric/ abstract pattern it can look quite striking! Take a closer look at this selection - landscape, floral, and abstract, all are represented here in sizes that vary between 2-1/2” to 3-1/4” in diameter. If you wish, you could even have a theme within your collection, whether it’s a ‘mini’ one or not.
Good hunting!
Doreen
The Clarice Cliff Collectors Club Celebrated 25 years in 2007
You can comment on this story in the Open Forum
Or, just e-mail us : clarion@claricecliff.com
Thank You
I M P O R T A N T
The ORIGINAL Clarice Cliff Collectors Club ~ founded 1982. Registration of Business Names Act (number 2803197 registered 2 February 1982). We are proud to be the only club to provide a full service to Clarice Cliff collectors: an on-line magazine, a twice yearly printed Newsletter, two auction catalogues a year, an 'open' discussion forum, and the ONLY club to have staged Meetings, Conventions and Socials in Stoke on Trent and around the World for ALL Clarice Cliff collectors
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