Details

Name

Alexander Ritchie

Brief Biography

1856-1941, Scottish

Occupation

silversmith

Description

Alexander Ritchie was a key figure in the Scottish Celtic Revival. Ritchie originally trained as a marine engineer and worked for the British India Steam Shipping Company for over twenty years, travelling extensively around the world. In the 1890's, during his spare time, he undertook classes at The Glasgow School of Art, where he met Euphemia Thompson (1862-1941). They married in 1898 and moved to Shuna Cottage on the island of Iona in about 1899. The couple had a workshop built there, in which they designed and made a range of finely wrought silver jewellery and decorative items in brass, copper, enamel, wood, leather and linen. Much of their work was inspired by Celtic carvings and patterns on the island, which they sold as souvenirs and artworks in their shop 'Iona Celtic Art'.