When a Secrets advertising plaque sold on Ebay recently for over £1700 it bought a further example of this rare shape ‘out of the woodwork’! Surprisingly, it is in a design not found on the shape before, and another landscape.

Advertising plaques were made to go on stockist's shelves to show alternate colourways or patterns designs were available in. They are only found in designs issued from 1933 onward as that was when the shape appeared.

The new example is in the 1935-1936 Chalet. It combines very finely-painted detail with stippling for the sky, some freehand flowers, and even hatching. Such a complicated design must have been even more difficult to execute on the plaques as they are just three and a half inches, by two and a half!

On this example the backstamp has been completely hand-painted. The small triangular foot that supports the plaque  can be seen in the picture also.

We are used to Clarice’s small Fancies selling for higher prices than her larger pieces, but this really is the smallest piece of Bizarre you will find. With the Secrets example making over £1700, on a size basis it is the most expensive Clarice Cliff you can buy!