Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Archibald Knox (1864-1933)

Archibald Knox was a well known Manx designer made famous by his Liberty designs. He was of Scottish descent and many items had influences of Celt. His designs for Liberty's made him a household name, as did his watercolours, graphic designs and fonts. His design talent covered a wide range of objects, ornamental and utilitarian, and included silver and pewter tea sets, jewellery, inkwells, boxes, gravestones and even bank cheques, much for Liberty's Tudric pewter and Cymric (precious metals) ranges. The gravestone of Liberty's founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, was designed by Knox.
 
Lyon and Turnbull's Decorative Arts Sale on the 16th April 2014 has a fantastic selection of Knox's Tudric designs. Here below are examples:
 
 
 
Lot 136 * ARCHIBALD KNOX (1864-1933) FOR LIBERTY & CO., LONDON 'TUDRIC' PEWTER AND ABALONE INLAID CLOCK, CIRCA 1902 36.5cm high

Estimate: £6000  - 8000
 
 
 
Lot 145
* ARCHIBALD KNOX (1864-1933) FOR LIBERTY & CO., LONDON
LARGE 'TUDRIC' BULLET SHAPE PEWTER & ENAMEL VASE, CIRCA 1900
cast with stylised entwined foliage on three strut supports, stamped marks ENGLISH PEWTER/ MADE IN ENGLAND/ 0927
29.5cm high
Estimate £500-700
 
Check out the link below for the rest of the online catalogue...
 
 
I just really think that Knox was a fascinating designer and he worked across so many mediums. He came from a small island and had vision. His pieces fetch great deals of money nowadays so go and hunt and see what you can find!
 
I shall leave you with a few images of his works. Don't forget to check out the links below for the Knox society!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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