ARCHIBALD KNOX | "Cymric" Clock, Model No. 5431

Victor and Gretha Arwas, Editions Graphiques, London
Roy and Sarita Warshawsky, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1983
Sotheby's New York, The Warshawsky Collection, May 19, 2015, lot 96
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Imagining an Irish Past: The Celtic Revival 1840-1940, The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, February 6-June 16, 1992
The Liberty Style, Metropolitan Teien Museum of Art, Tokyo, June 12-July 25, 1999, followed by a tour to six different museums in Japan through June 2000

Liberty Silver Sketch Book, Westminster City Archives, n.d., p. 199, no. 5431
Stephen Martin, Archibald Knox, London, 1995, p. 90
The Liberty Style, exh. cat., Japan Art & Culture Association, Tokyo, 1999, p. 111, no. 163 (for the present example illustrated)
Victor Arwas, Art Nouveau from Mackintosh to Liberty: The Birth of a Style, London, 2000, p. 99
Adrian J. Tilbrook, The Designs of Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co, London, 2000, p. 142, no. 126
Victor Arwas, Art Nouveau, From Mackintosh to Liberty, the Birth of a Style, London, 2000, p. 99
Stephen A. Martin, Archibald Knox, London, 2001, p. 233 (for the present example illustrated) This example will be published in Dr. Stephen Martin's forthcoming publication on Archibald Knox.

Overall in very good condition. The elegantly modeled organic border motif beautifully frames a vibrant and saturated enamel face. The silver surfaces present with a few very minute abrasions, very light tarnish and a few minute scattered surface scratches, consistent with age and gentle handling. The front of the clock presents with faint discoloration of the silver adjacent to the decorative elements, visible on the catalogue illustration. A few very minute, shallow dings along the edges of the clock. Minor surface dirt between the edges of glass face and the dial. Two hairline scratches to the reverse of the clock. Functionality of the movement is not guaranteed and it could need service at the buyer's discretion. A rare clock, displaying a brilliant range of strongly saturated vibrant colors to enamelwork, and exquisitely rendered decoration to the surrounding leaves and foliage.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

One of two known examples, this silver clock is an elegant example of Art Nouveau design.  In it Knox incorporates a classic element of that style in the flattened leaf and tendril motif that defines its gently curving shape.  Unlike Continental Art Nouveau, Knox here is more restrained, less dramatically linear, allowing the sheen of the silver and the richly enameled dial to help carry the design as a whole.  Adding a particularly Manx touch, Knox ‘paints’ into the dial a tetraskelion, that is a four-armed medieval design highly reminiscent of the triskellion, the national symbol of the Isle of Man.

DR. STEPHEN A. MARTIN