Antique & Collectibles University

This piece was designed by Archibald Knox(British, 1864-1933) for Liberty & Co. Circa 1901-05 as part of their “Tudric” line. Like most pieces made during this period it is in the Art Nouveau style.

Knox was born on the 9th April 1864 at Cronkbourne Village, Tromode (the small ‘model’ village constructed as part of the Moore’s Sail Cloth Works). Son of William Knox a master machine maker from Kilbernia Ayr. Educated Douglas Grammar School and Douglas School of Art. Main interest was in Celtic design - his work for Liberty’s is that for which he most widely known, although on the Island it is his watercolours and his graphic designs (and lettering) by which he is best known.

In 1897 he went to teach at Redhill (Surrey) School of Art where his friend A.J.Collister (another Manxman) was head, followed him to Kingston School of Art in Jan 1899, briefly returning to Island 1900-1904. He returned to Kingston, also taking evening classes at Wimbledon Art School 1906/7 again following his friend A.J.Collister.

He left Kingston following criticism by South Kensington Examiners in 1911, a number of pupils formed the Knox Guild of Craft and and Design to support his way of teaching (apparently at about this time he broke up with Collister). After an unsuccessful attempt to find work in the USA, he returned to the Island (where for part of WW1 acted as a censor of Internees’ letters) and in 1920 returned to teaching art at a number of schools on the Island. He Died from sudden heart failure 22nd Feb 1933 and was buried in Braddan Cemetery.

Mike Wilcox

Wilcox & Hall Appraisers