In the world of Art Deco, few names carry as much weight as Clarice Cliff. Her vibrant 'Bizarre', 'Crocus' and 'Fantasque' ranges transformed British homes in the 1920s and 30s, bringing cubist shapes and bold, sunshine colours to the everyday tea table.
But at Hepburn & Hughes, our Clarice Cliff collection isn't just inspired by her work – it is literally made from it.
A Chance Encounter at Newport Pottery
The story of our jewellery begins nearly a century ago in Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of the British potteries. Every morning in the 1930s, a local worker would walk her daily commute past the Newport Pottery. As she passed the factory gates, she noticed small, discarded fragments of brightly painted ceramics lying on the ground – broken pieces of the very Bizarre, Crocus and Fantasque ware that was making Clarice Cliff an international superstar.
She began to collect these shards, keeping them as small tokens of the vibrant industry surrounding her. These pieces remained in her family for decades before being passed to a relative, who eventually entrusted them to us.
Clarice Cliff pendants, with fragments found at the Newport Pottery
|in Stoke-on-Trent in the 1930s.
Preserving a Legacy of Female Innovation
Clarice Cliff was more than just a designer – she was a pioneer. As the first female Art Director of a major pottery firm, she led a team of "Bizarre Girls" who hand-painted her revolutionary designs. By upcycling these original 1930s fragments, we are preserving a piece of that history.
Instead of these historic shards remaining hidden in a box, we carefully set them into hallmarked 925 sterling silver. Our goal is to stay as true to the found shape of the pottery as possible, ensuring that every pendant, ring, earring and cufflink is a one-of-a-kind artefact.
Quick Facts: The Hepburn & Hughes Clarice Cliff Collection
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Era: Original 1930s Art Deco.
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Origin: Newport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
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Materials: Authentic earthenware ceramic shards; high-quality sterling silver.
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Authentication: Every piece is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity detailing its provenance.
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Sustainability: 100% upcycled materials, repurposing damaged historical artefacts into wearable art.
Why Collectors Choose Upcycled Heritage Jewellery
Owning a piece from this collection is different from buying a modern reproduction. You are wearing:
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Genuine History: The actual clay and glaze handled by the Potteries workers in the 1930s.
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Sustainable Luxury: A commitment to the circular economy by giving new life to 'broken' heritage.
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Unique Artistry: Because no two shards are broken the same way, your piece of jewellery is the only one of its kind in existence.
Ready to find your piece of the Potteries? Explore our full Clarice Cliff Collection here.