ARCHIBALD KNOX (1864-1933) FOR LIBERTY & CO., LONDON
'TUDRIC' CRUCIFORM CLOCK, CIRCA 1902
£12,600
Auction: 19 April 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
pewter, with abalone inlay, stamped TUDRIC/ 097
Dimensions
36cm high
Footnote
Literature: Stephen A. Martin (ed.), Archibald Knox, London, 2001, p. 235
Note: Archibald Knox’s designs for Liberty & Co. are very well documented, especially his designs for their ‘Tudric’ and ‘Cymric’ ranges. Knox was known to have produced only a few very large clocks during his Liberty period and, at a towering 36cm, this is one such example.
His work draws on the rich cultural heritage of his native Isle of Man. As with many of the larger clocks that are known to exist, their monumental and minimalist forms are reminiscent of the standing Celtic stones which populate the island’s countryside and that Knox spent a lifetime exploring. The decoration on this example, stripped of superfluous ornament, incorporates abalone shell inlay as a repeating series of roundels; a stark and striking visual effect that signals a modernist approach to the design. This impressive clock fulfils Knox’s desire to bring together two worlds which he valued deeply: the ancient Celtic tradition and the new, modern world of design, which was undergoing the development of a new and innovative aesthetic.