Archibald Knox (designer)

Archibald Knox
Photo of Archibald Knox, c. 1900, at age 36
Born(1864-04-09)9 April 1864
Cronkbourne, near Tromode, Isle of Man
Died22 February 1933(1933-02-22) (aged 68)
Douglas, Isle of Man,
Known forDesign
MovementArts and Crafts Movement, Celtic Revival
Patron(s)Arthur Lasenby Liberty
A candle holder designed by Archibald Knox

Archibald Knox (9 April 1864 in Cronkbourne village, Tromode, Braddan,[1] Isle of Man[2] – 22 February 1933 in Douglas, Isle of Man), was a Manx designer of Scottish descent. He is best known as being Liberty's primary designer at the height of their success and influence upon British and International design.[3] Knox's work bridged the Arts and Crafts Movement, Celtic Revival, Art Nouveau, and Modernism. He is seen as a leading figure of the Modern Style movement.[4][5]

Knox's hundreds of designs for Liberty made his style widely known,[6] though not his name, as Liberty kept their designers anonymous. Most of his work for Liberty was for the Tudric (pewter) and Cymric (precious metals) ranges.[citation needed] The gravestone of Liberty founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, was designed by Knox.[7]

His design talent covered a wide range of objects, ornamental and utilitarian, and included silverware and pewterware, jewellery, inkwells, boxes, gravestones, watercolours, graphic designs,[8] calligraphy,[8] a house design, fonts and even bank cheques.[9]

Some sources estimate that he produced around 5,000 designs.[10]

  1. ^ "Archibald Knox 1864-1933". www.isle-of-man.com.
  2. ^ "About Archibald Knox". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Chronology: Archibald Knox 1864-1933". Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. ^ Laverack, Frances. "Archibald Knox, Liberty of London and Modernism".
  5. ^ Celtic Style exhibition celebrates 150th anniversary of the birth of Archibald Knox
  6. ^ Adrian J. Tilbrook, The Designs of Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co., 2000, p. 113, no. 95
  7. ^ "Arthur Lasenby Liberty's grave at St John the Baptist Churchyard, The Lee – Archibald Knox". www.archibaldknoxforum.com. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Castle Rushen by Armitage Rigby 1927 illustrated by Archibald Knox | Archibald knox, Handwritten letters, Unique words". Pinterest.
  9. ^ Archibald Knox - Isle of Man Government Manx National Heritage: Archived 2 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Archibald Knox: Liberty designer receives Manx honour". BBC News. 22 May 2019.