In the exhibition ‘Currents & Forms; jewelry and silver from art nouveau to art deco’, a prominent role is reserved for the British art nouveau style. This style, known in Great Britain as ‘modern style’, made its appearance around 1880 on ‘the largest island of Europe’ and was in fact an evolutionary continuation of the Arts & Crafts Movement, which also originated in England. The modern style formed the basis for art nouveau movements in many other countries and played a significant role in the spread of this elegant art movement, among other things through the department store Liberty & Co, for which the designer Archibald Knox was a leading figure.

Photo: buckle by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co | 1905 | sterling silver & enamel.