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Designed by Jarilo Design
£595.00
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Description
Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co pewter butter dish. Honesty leaves decoration for the Tudric range. Fine condition. Marks to the base read: ENGLISH PEWTER MADE BY LIBERTY & CO 0163
Circa 1902/3
A major exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Archibald Knox is being held on the Isle of Man, until 1st March 2026.
Archibald Knox (1864–1933) was a Manx designer renowned for his significant contributions to the Arts and Crafts Movement, Celtic Revival, and Art Nouveau. Born in Cronkbourne, Isle of Man, Knox was deeply influenced by the natural beauty and Celtic heritage of his homeland. He began his artistic education at the Douglas School of Art and later worked with prominent figures like M.H. Baillie Scott and Christopher Dresser. Knox’s designs, characterized by their intricate Celtic motifs and modernist sensibilities, gained widespread recognition through his association with Liberty & Co. . His work for Liberty’s Tudric (pewter) and Cymric (precious metals) ranges made his style iconic, even though Liberty kept their designers anonymous.
Knox’s legacy extends beyond his commercial success; he was a pivotal figure in the Celtic Revival, blending traditional motifs with contemporary design. His creations spanned various mediums, including silverware, jewellery, textiles, and ceramics, and he is credited with producing around 5,000 designs. Notably, he designed the gravestone of Liberty’s founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty. Knox’s work remains celebrated for its timeless elegance and innovative fusion of historical and modern elements
The exhibition, “Knox: Order & Beauty” features silverware, paintings and furniture from collections across the British Isles. More than 200 pieces can be seen at the Manx Museum in Douglas, including 100 owned by Manx National Heritage (MNH); it is jointly organised by MNH and the Archibald Knox Forum.
Knox taught at the Redhill School of Art and then at the Kingston School of Art in Kingston upon Thames. He joined the faculty in 1904 and continued to teach there until his resignation in 1912. His students rescued over 100 of his designs from the wastepaper bin and founded the Knox Guild of Design and Craft in his honour, with a shop and exhibitions that ran for around 20 years.
The Design Gallery© All rights reserved
Designed by Jarilo Design