Jeff Quirke and his wife, Ursula, can't really help themselves: they just love to collect ceramics. Art Deco and mid 20th century ceramics, that is.

Their collection, which amounts to several hundred pieces, has become too large to store (the attic of their Dublin home is full) and they have decided to sell off a large portion at the Antiques & Collectables Fair this weekend at the Hilton Hotel on Charlemont Place, Dublin 2.

Jeff's career as a commercial artist fuelled the couple's passion for graphic, colourful ceramics by Clarice Cliff, Shelley and Susie Cooper. These names will be familiar to those with an eye for this kind of thing: they are among the most prominent English exponents of ceramics between the two world wars. Think hand-painted jugs, vases, tea sets, jam pots - everyday, useful objects but decorated in a way that was revolutionary for the time.

"I first started to buy them in Belfast during the 1970s," says Jeff, "pieces were few and far between back then but you could pick them up for between £5 and £10."

Now, however, anything stamped with Clarice Cliff's logo has become much sought-after. Christie's in London now hold an annual sale of her work, which began in about 1928 when she was hired by a factory in Stoke to decorate some dud ceramics and continued until the mid-1930s, by which time the factory employed dozens of "painters" to complete her designs. Many were inspired by the Cubist art of the day and feature geometric patterns, often with diamond shapes and horizontal bands and strong colour combinations such as black and orange.

Prices continue to rise, particularly among the young affluent clientele who are snapping up art deco furniture.

At the Quirke's stand it will be possible to pick something up at almost any level; from €50 for a small salt cellar to several thousand for a large, rare vase.

For example, an orange flower patterned cake stand by Clarice Cliff c 1932 will cost €550, a very attractive biscuit barrel painted with a deco interpretation of Japanese-style trees will sell for €650 and a single handle lotus pattern vase will have a price tag of €675.

The trend, Quirke says, is away from tea sets, which are awkward to display, and more focused on statement pieces that will stand alone on a sideboard.

What's next for the Quirkes? "Ceramics from the 1950s by the Norwegian artist Stig Lindberg - we'll always be on the look-out for more things," says Jeff.

The Antiques & Collectables Fair, Hilton Hotel, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2, is on Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Admission: €3. Contact Jeff Quirke at 085-1513220