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Ink pot

Ink pot

  • Place of origin:

    Birmingham, England (made)
    London, England (retailed)

  • Date:

    ca. 1904 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Knox, Archibald, born 1864 - died 1933 (probably, designer)
    W. H. Haseler (maker)
    Liberty (retailer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Pewter, with a glass liner

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Martin Battersby

  • Museum number:

    CIRC.922&A-1967

  • Gallery location:

    British Galleries, room 125g, case 4

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Object Type
This pewter inkwell, with its spare, cast sinuous decoration, was probably designed by Archibald Knox (1864-1933) in 1904 for Liberty's 'Tudric' range of metalwork. It proved to be so popular that it was in continuous production until well into the 1920s.

Design & Designing
The designs for the 'Tudric' range, as with Liberty's 'Cymric' range of silver and jewellery, were supplied by the Silver Studio. The Studio had offices in Brook Green, Hammersmith, London. Attributing individual designs of Liberty's wares to particular designers was hampered by Liberty's policy of concealing their identities. Nonetheless, subsequent research has identified the principal contributors. From the Silver Studio they included Rex Silver (1879-1965), the head of the Studio after 1896, his brother Harry Silver (1882-1972), Harry Napper (1860-1930) and John Illingworth Kay. The most prominent, however, was Archibald Knox, a gifted designer from the Isle of Man who started working for the Studio in 1898.

Manufacturer
W.H. Haseler of Birmingham, a firm of manufacturing goldsmiths and jewellers, manufactured the 'Tudric' range. The firm had formed a partnership with Liberty's in May 1901 to manufacture the 'Cymric' range of silver and jewellery, which Liberty had launched in 1899.

Physical description

Round inkstand in the form of a shallow dome, the hinged lid has a curved thumbpiece. Decorated on either side of the hinge with a double knot design and circular flower forms.

Place of Origin

Birmingham, England (made)
London, England (retailed)

Date

ca. 1904 (made)

Artist/maker

Knox, Archibald, born 1864 - died 1933 (probably, designer)
W. H. Haseler (maker)
Liberty (retailer)

Materials and Techniques

Pewter, with a glass liner

Marks and inscriptions

[Inkpot] Stamped on the base: TUDRIC / 6 / 0521

Dimensions

Height: 4.5 cm, Diameter: 12.8 cm base

Object history note

Probably designed by Archibald Knox (born in Cronkbourne, Tromode, Isle of Man, 1864, died in Douglas, Isle of Man, 1933); made by W.H. Haseler Ltd., Birmingham

Descriptive line

Pewter with a glass liner, Birmingham, ca.1904, made by W.H. Haseler and Co. for Liberty & Co. Ltd., London, probably designed by Archibald Knox

Labels and date

British Galleries:
TUDRIC' PEWTER

This ink pot and dish are from Liberty & Co.'s range of less expensive domestic metalwork, called 'Tudric'. The name is thought to derive from two words, Tudor, and Teudoric, the name of a Welsh saint, representing tradition and reliability. They were probably designed by Archibald Knox and the designs supplied through the Silver Studio.The interlacing motifs show Knox's interest in Celtic design. [27/03/2003]

Categories

Household objects; Metalwork; Tools & Equipment

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O78107
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