This beautiful Art Nouveau teapot was made in around 1903-10 by Liberty of London. Originally part of a complete tea service, it is a fine example of their pewter Tudric range.

While Liberty had a policy of keeping their designers anonymous, it is widely thought that the Tudric range was designed by Archibald Knox. A native of the Isle of Man, Knox worked for Liberty as principal metalwork designer from 1901-04, producing hundreds of designs. He taught art, design & craft in both London and on the Isle of Man; one of his main beliefs was that “Art is in everything if we choose to put it there”.

The diamond shaped body of the teapot is enhanced by an elegant spout and handle on opposite corners. The handle is covered in cane to prevent it from becoming too hot to hold when pouring. But the real beauty in this piece rests with the relief cast decoration on each side – the flowing lines of the vine leaves are typical of the Art Nouveau period.

Using the natural forms and sinuous, interlacing lines so popular in Art Nouveau and Celtic art, Knox designs covered everything from tableware to inkwells, from jewellery to gravestones. In his work we can see the influence of William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement from the 19th century, with the emphasis on handcrafted techniques and organic forms. But we can also see inspiration for the geometric shapes of the Art Deco movement, still to come in the 20th century.