Manx National Heritage Library
Select Bibliography No. 2, March 2003
From Manx Schoolmaster to Liberty's Designer
Knox was born at Tromode on the outskirts of Douglas and was educated at the Grammar School before attending the Douglas School of Art. Encouraged by his headmaster, a noted archeaologist, he became fascinated by the island’s ancient Celtic and Norse carved crosses, and their complex interlace patterns which were to remain a seminal influence for the rest of his life
Knox left the Island to teach in the London area from 1897-1912, and during this period began an association with Liberty & Co. which was to see him recognised as one of the foremost designers in the English Art Nouveau movement.
The Museum has an extensive collection both of original designs and examples of jewellery, fabrics, papers, Liberty ‘Cymric’ silverware and ‘Tudric’ pewterware and also a large number of watercolour paintings, very much the product of his native landscape.
Towards the end of his life, living and working once more in the Isle of Man as an art teacher, Knox was in great demand locally as a book illustrator and designer of illuminated addresses and public memorials-several examples of these commissions are held in the Museum’s collections. The international repute of Archibald Knox has never waned.
Amaya, Mario
Art Nouveau
London: Studio Vista, 1966.
pp 27-66 on Great Britain mention Liberty's and Knox with some illustrations. More of a background work than a main source.
Library Ref C20
Arwas, Victor
The Triumph of Liberty Style
In Catalogue for the Liberty Style Exhibition pp. 194-198
Japan: Japan Art & Culture Association 1999
A summary background on the development of Liberty products. This article is included in a liberally illustrated catalogue in Japanese and English produced for the exhibition which toured Japan in 1999/2000 pp. 194-198
Library Ref C20/15q
Centenary Exhibition of the work of Archibald Knox, Manx Artist and Designer
Douglas: Manx Museum, 1964.
12 page catalogue of the exhibition which gives some idea of the range of his work.
Library Ref C20/2x
Cottle, Valerie
The man who could paint the wind
In Manx Tails January 1988, pp 37 & 39
Brief account of Knox's life and influence.
Library Ref L6/A4
Harrison, Stephen
100 years of Heritage
Douglas: Manx Museum and National Trust. 1986
ISBN 0 948308 04 4
pp 106-110 give a short summary of Knox's life and work with illustrations of items in the Museum collections.
Library Ref A365/14q
Haslam, Malcolm
Arts and Crafts Carpets
London: David Black Oriental Carpets. 1991
ISBN 0 9505018 7 5
pp 129-133 illustrate sketch designs for Donegal carpets by Knox.
Library Ref C18/32q
Isle of Man Victorian Society Newsletters 1-54
These contain various references to Knox:
No 11 . . . Memorial Plaque unveiled pp 1-2
No 20 . . . Alfred Collister and Archibald Knox pp 7-10
No 39 . . . A chip of the Old Block,
Quayle Monumental Masons & Knox pp 12-15
No 42 . . . Some hard Knox - cautionary review of Martin book about Knox pp.6-7.
Jones, Anthony
Liberty, The Celtic Revival and Archibald Knox
In Catalogue for the Liberty Style Exhibition pp. 194-198
Japan: Japan Art & Culture Association 1999
This article is included in a liberally illustrated catalogue in
Japanese and English produced for the exhibition which toured Japan in 1999/2000 pp. 194-198 Summarises Knox links with Liberty in the peak Celtic Revival years of the early twentieth century
Library Ref C20/7
Jones, Anthony
Knox of Manx and Liberty's of London: In the Ministry of the Beautiful
In Imagining an Irish Past: The Celtic Revival 1840-1940 edited by T.J.Edelstein.
Chicago: David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, 1992 pp 44-63.
ISBN 0 935573 12 7
Library Ref C20/7
Kneen, Kim
Archibald Knox - the inestimable legacy
Bradford: 1995
Undergraduate essay from a textile design course at Bradford giving a Manx person's viewpoint of the significance of Knox today.
Archive Ref 9871
Knox, Archibald
The Isle of Man as a sketching ground
In The Studio, 1896 pp 142-147.
Includes pencil sketches of Manx scenes.
Library Ref C18/6x p.23
Knox, Archibald
Pages from an illuminated version of Deer's Cry or St.Patrick's Hymn / designed and executed by Archibald Knox
Douglas: Manx Museum and National Trust, 1983.
Published to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Knox this is a selection from the original in the Museum collections.
no ISBN
Library Ref c20/2q
Knox, Archibald
Scrapbook of items relating to him
Containing a number of articles, catalogues for Knox Guild exhibitions and examples of his work.
Library Ref C18/6xq
no ISBN
Library Ref c20/2q
Levy, Mervyn
Liberty Style, The Classic Years: 1898-1910
London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1986.
ISBN 0 297 78872 8
Numerous references to Knox in this illustrated account which includes colour pictures.
Library Ref C20/3
Liberty and Co. Ltd. Illustrated Catalogues
These include examples by or in the Knox style.
1. Cymric Gold and Silver Work
undated, 28 pp.
Headed Yule Tide Gifts it includes some Tudric Pewter designs.
Library Ref C20/8
2. English Pewter
undated, 11 pp
Library Ref C20/11
3. Jewellery and Silverwork
undated, 36 pp.
Subtitled a development of the ancient Cymric type of ornament.
Library Ref C20/10
Liberty Style
Japan: Japan Art & Culture Association 1999
This beautifully illustrated descriptive catalogue in Japanese and English was produced for the Liberty Style Exhibition which toured Japan in 1999/2000. It includes many examples of Knox's work.
Library Ref C20/15q
Martin, Stephen A.
Archibald Knox
London: Art Media Press, 2001
ISBN 1 902889 02 9
Illustrated compilation of essays by Knox scholars writing on varied themes; an expanded and revised edition first published in 1995.
Library Ref C20KNO
Moore, Ramsey B.
Archibald Knox: A Memoir
Douglas: Manx Museum and National Trust, 1959.
A concise 13 page illustrated account with portrait.
Library Ref C120KNO
Morrison, Sophia
Manx Fairy Tales, illustrated by Archibald Knox.
Douglas: Manx Experience, 1994
ISBN 1 873120 01 X
A reprint of the second edition of 1929. Each story is illustrated by Knox.
Library Ref E244/33
Nichols, Sarah
Arthur Lasenby Liberty: A Mere Adjective?
In Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts 1875-1945
Summer 1989, pp 76-93.
ISSN 0888-7314
Includes background information on Knox's work for Liberty's with some illustrations.
Library Ref C20/6
O'Neill, Liam
Archibald Knox: A Manx Celtic Artist
Lampeter, University of Wales 2002
Illustrated dissertation submitted for MA in Celtic Christianity.
From clarifying terms such as 'Celtic' and 'Celtic Art' it then moves onto review the Isle of Man and its cultural nationalism before describing Knox's background, life, career and influences. The illustrations include colour images of art work in private hands.
Archive Ref MS 10609
PHOTOGRAPHS:
We have a selection of photographs filed under the following headings:
Persons - Knox
Paintings and Drawings - Artists - A. Knox
- I. Monumental Inscriptions
- II. Misc
Silver and Pewter
Quaggin, Edith
The Memorial Designs of Archibald Knox
Extended college essay received in 1998 which includes colour photographs of gravestones, war memorials and the Douglas Secondary School Roll of Honour.
Please note restricted photocopying applies to this item
Archive Ref MS 09947
Quayle, W.T.
Archibald Knox: an appreciation of a Manx Artist
Includes illustrations of his paintings, silverware and pottery designs.
In Manx Life January/February 1973, pp 17-19.
Library Ref L6MLq
Quayle, W.T.
The Cymric Silver Designs of Archibald Knox
In Manx Museum Journal Vol. 6 No. 76 1959/60 p 73 and plate 238.
Brief comment on these designs which includes 3 photographs of Cymric ware.
Library Ref L6
Sayle, Norman
Archibald Knox - a modern artist
In Manninagh, No.1 May 1972 pp 23-25
Short article on how Knox fits in 20th century art.
Library Ref L6MAN
Silver Studio Collection: A London Design Studio 1880-1963
London: Lund Humphries in association with Middlesex Polytechnic, 1980.
ISBN 0 85331 431 4
This Studio produced designs for manufacturers such as Liberty's and this exhibition catalogue includes designs for Liberty Metalwork 1898-1910 with some of Knox's work.
Library Ref C20
Sykes, Marjorie
The Influence of an Island Home: Archibald Knox
In Country Life, February 14 1980, pp 454-456.
A brief illustrated account by a former pupil of his from when he taught at Douglas High School for Girls
Library Ref C20f
Taggart, Paul
Archibald Knox
Typescript, 1983
Address given by Canon Paul Taggart at a service of thanksgiving for Knox's life and work at St. Matthew's church, Douglas on the 50th anniversary of his death in 1983.
Library Ref C18/6x
Tilbrook, A.J.
The designs of Archibald Knox for Liberty and Co
Somerset: Richard Dennis, 1995
ISBN 0 903 685 37 X
Second edition of Adrian Tillbrook's standard work with additional colour llustrations and pewter listings by Peter Gooday.
Library Ref C20/15
Tuckfield, Winifred
Archibald Knox
In Mannin, No. 7. May 1916, pp 381-384.
Douglas: Manx Language Society.
A brief recollection by the former secretary of the Knox Guild who was a student of Knox when he worked in London.
Library Ref L6/M
Turner, Kate
The Memorial work of Archibald Knox in the I.O.M.
Thesis for Chelsea College of Art, 1987
An 172 pp illustrated account of nearly forty memorial stones designed by Knox and his association with the Quayle family of masons.
Archive Ref MD15155 Acc 8675
Turner, Mark
Art Nouveau Designs from the Silver Studio Collection 1885-1910 / by Mark Turner with others
London: Middlesex Polytechnic, 1986.
ISBN 0 904804 51 8
The official illustrated catalogue for the exhibition held in Glasgow in 1986. Some mentions of Knox but more useful for the studio's contribution to Art Nouveau.
Library Ref 709.0349TURq
Wren, Rosemary D.
The Knox Guild and its background
The Author: 1997.
A scrapbook of recollections and pictures with an archival appendix.
Archive Ref 9972
OTHER CONTACTS:
City of Westminster Archives Centre–
10 St. Ann’s Street, London, SW1P 2DE
Tel: 020 7641 5180 Fax: 020 7641 5179
email: archives@westminster.gov.uk
–have a collection of papers relating to Liberty and Co with Knox references. A handlist can be consulted in the MNH library.
Library Ref C20
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London also have a Knox collection of drawings and objects.
website: http://www.vam.ac.uk
The Manx National Heritage Library holds a wealth of various and extensive source material.
Staff at the library and throughout Manx National Heritage, are always pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in Manx history.
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AGF rev. ed 09.03
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