Sought after Art Nouveau jewellery and other items designed by internationally renowned Archibald Knox more than 100 years ago and rarely seen in public will be on view at a celebration dinner marking the 150th anniversary of his birth.

The dinner is being held tomorrrow, June 25th, at the Sefton Hotel in Douglas when guests will be able to see a wide range of the Manx-born artist’s most brilliantly designed pieces.  Tickets for the dinner, organised by the Archibald Knox Society, cost ?40.

“His creations are as important today as they were a century ago and we are privileged to have some of his work on view at the dinner,” says Liam O’Neill, chairman of the Society.   “He is the only Manx artist famous worldwide, which puts him on a par with Charles Rennie Mackintosh as one of the most famous British designers.”

He added: “Archibald Knox was a designer ahead of his time and his designs are timeless and inspired pieces.  He is one of the most influential – but undersung – artists the island has produced.”

One of the exhibits on show will be a silver enamel brooch which started life as a button.  The description reads:  “The blue green enamels so typical of Knox, depicting the sea and land of his birthplace, are perfect despite being 104 years old.”

Other exhibits will include a pewter and enamel clock made between 1902-1905.  The same model clock recently sold at an auction on the island for ?9,500. Of particular interest is a   polished pewter lidded milk jug, its raffia handle adding to its rarity.

The 2014 winner of the Scholarship named after Knox, chosen from a shortlist of five creative students at Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education, will also be announced at the dinner. Worth ?3,000 as a travel bursary, the Scholarship is sponsored by marketing, design and public relations agency Home Strategic.

Tickets for the dinner, which begins with a 7.00pm reception in the Sefton Hotel’s atrium, go on sale on Monday June 23 from 11am and can be obtained from archibaldknoxsociety.com. Dress code is smart casual.