Knee Touch
Robert Tait McKenzie (Almonte, Ontario 1867 - Philadelphia 1938)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1922
Materials
Bronze
Measurements
39 mm (Width) x 91 mm (Depth); 272 mm (Length)
Place of origin
Philadelphia
Order this imageCollection
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
NT 515105
Summary
Bronze, Knee Touch, Robert Tait McKenzie (1867-1938), 1922. A small bronze sculpture by Robert Tait McKenzie entitled ‘Knee Touch’, made in the form of a paperknife and designed in 1922. The handle of the knife is formed from the figure of a naked man, seated on the top of the knife’s blade, his head lowered, as if he is in pensive thought, left leg out in front of him and right leg drawn back. The man grasps each leg by the ankle, hence the sculpture’s title.
Full description
When exhibited at the Fine Art Society in 1927, the paper knife was part of a group of utensils entitled ‘Grotesques’, that also included knife rests, a doorknocker, candlesticks and a fountain head. In his monograph on the sculptor, Christopher Hussey described them as ‘among his most delightful creations. In their light-hearted spontaneity they are related to his athletic sketches already described, except that they aim primarily at cheerfully performing some homely purpose – knife rests, door knockers or candlesticks. None the less some of them are beautiful bits of modelling…’ (Hussey 1929, p. 98). These objects, which essentially all depict athletes performing physical feats, were sketch-like small sculptures made by Tait-McKenzie throughout his career, and characterised by ‘a light-hearted spontaneity’ (Kozar 1975, p. 32). The Anglesey Abbey paperknife may be the only cast in bronze currently known. Jeremy Warren 2020
Provenance
Acquired by Urban Huttleston Rogers Broughton, 1st Lord Fairhaven (1896-1966) before 1932; identifiable in the Anglesey Abbey inventory 1932, p. 13, The Oak Room, valued at £5 5s; bequeathed to the National Trust by Lord Fairhaven in 1966 with the house and the rest of the contents.
Credit line
Anglesey Abbey, The Fairhaven Collection (The National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
On side of blade: R. Tait-McKenzie
Makers and roles
Robert Tait McKenzie (Almonte, Ontario 1867 - Philadelphia 1938), sculptor
References
Exhibition of Sculpture, including Statues, Statuettes, Sketches, Portraits in Low Relief and Medals by R. Tait McKenzie, The Fine Art Society Ltd., London, July 1927, no. 39. Hussey 1929: Christopher Hussey, Tait McKenzie. A Sculptor of Youth, London 1929, p. 105. Catalogue of an Exhibition of Sculpture by R. Tait McKenzie, R.C.A., The Fine Art Society Ltd., 17 June – 5 July, London 1930, no. 42. Kozar 1975: Andrew J. Kozar, R. Tait McKenzie. The Sculptor of Athletes, Knoxville 1975, p. 88, no. 49. McGill 1980: Jean McGill, The Joy of Effort. A biography of R. Tait McKenzie, Bewdley, Ontario 1980, p. 220. ‘Anglesey Abbey, Lode, Cambridgeshire. An Inventory and Valuation of Furniture, Pictures, Ornamental Objects, Household Effects and A Collection of Miniatures.. prepared for Insurance Purposes’, Turner, Lord and Ransom, November 1932, p. 13. Christie, Manson & Woods 1971: The National Trust, Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge. Inventory: Furniture, Textiles, Porcelain, Bronzes, Sculpture and Garden Ornaments’, 1971, p. 136.