The announcement follows the protests made by members of the CCCC regarding the 29.375% buyer’s premium (inc VAT) charged at Christie’s, whose dedicated Clarice sales have been a regular fixture for many years.
As reported in ATG No 1813, November 3, Leonard Griffin, who founded the Clarice Cliff Collectors’ Club in 1982, recently resigned as a consultant to Christie’s South Kensington, a position he had held for 18 years, in the wake of the premium hike.
He will now perform a similar role for the Stourbridge auctioneers who, in association with the club, have two sales planned for 2008. The first event will be on Saturday, May 31 as part of the 2008 CCCC convention weekend in Birmingham.
Will Farmer, director of Fieldings, a decorative arts specialist who has been actively involved with Clarice Cliff for over 20 years, first began collecting Clarice Cliff at the age of 11. Leonard Griffin recalls he was among the youngest members of the CCCC attending the early club weekends in Stoke-on-Trent.
“In Will we shall have someone who is passionate, understands the market and appreciates the needs of the collector,” he told ATG. That includes plans for an extensive catalogue, a buyer’s premium of 17.63% and reduced and competitive rates for CCCC members who have pieces to sell.
Leading Clarice Cliff dealer Andrew Muir, himself based in the West Midlands and a regular at the Birmingham NEC Antiques for Everyone fairs for over ten years, has also agreed to assist with the sale and its development.
“I see this sale as mutually beneficial; it reinforces the West Midlands as the premier area to buy and sell Clarice,” he said.
Clarice Cliff collectors defect to the Midlands over buyer’s premium hike
Midlands auctioneers Fieldings and the Clarice Cliff Collectors’ Club (CCCC) are to join forces to hold sales of the avidly collected Art Deco pottery.
