The patterns date from 1934 or 1935, and both were produced using the same colourset, yellow, blue and coral enamelling, with brown lining. One was named Meadow Tree to in the catalogue for Christie’s May 1999 sale. Clarice’s original notes show that it was actually called Florette. The water-colour examples of Florette show how it was to be painted on a coaster/ashtray, but we know it was issued on a range of shapes. Although not a full design it was lavishly painted on Lynton shape ware it was found on: a coffee and teaset, a biscuit barrel and an egg cup set.

The second new name is for a design produced at the same time. This featured a similar image, but with a simpler branch, more widely-spread flowers and more coloured dots, and Clarice called this Daphne.

The way the patterns are laid-out in the reference books suggests that these two patterns, plus two similar ones which we have no names for at present, were created to be launched together, as a themed set of designs in similar colours and  styles.

We will never finish classifying Clarice’s work, there is so much diversity because of the easy adaptation of hand-painted work, but one thing YOU can do is research the original names. Avid collectors all around the world have local Thirties magazines to go through. If you do this you may just find an original name if you are lucky!