A pair of iconic Archibald Knox Cymric silver “Conister” candlesticks for Liberty
Price: Sold
A pair of “Conister” candlesticks by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co. This pair has unusual hand hammering to the base of both candlesticks. These elegant candlesticks are an iconic Knox design from around 1899. Featured in the Studio in March 1900, they were credited to Rex Silver who headed the Silver Studios for which Knox worked. We now know that these are certainly a Knox design, based on their style and the Manx name, “Conister”, given to the candlesticks on the original design drawing that survives at the V&A. Conister is a small island and folly off the coast of the Isle of Man. See images. One candlestick is dated Birmingham 1905, the other the date mark is rubbed. Both sconces are removable and unmarked.
This piece was exhibited 12th October to 13th January at the Manx Museum Douglas, Isle of Man, exhibition, “Archibald Knox – Artist, Designer and Teacher”.
Maker: Liberty & Co
Designer: Archibald Knox
Date: 1905
Marks: L & Co, Birmingham,”f” (one date letter rubbed)
Material: Sterling silver
Condition: Very good, one mark quite rubbed, sconces unmarked
Size: 24.5 cm height
Weight: 19.5 oz, 554 grams each (weighted)
Additional Information
Some very recent research I have undertaken shows that a pair of Conister candlesticks were displayed at the prestigious 1902 Turin International Exhibition of Decorative Arts. See image. They are wrongly described in the French Journal in which they were published as “etains” (pewter) no doubt because they were left unpolished, as was typical of the early Cymric pieces.
| Period | Art nouveau, Arts and crafts |
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