J. Herbert MacNair
Born 23 December 1868
Died 22 April 1955
Active: 1888 - 1921
Country of birth and death: Scotland
Architect, designer of furniture, jewellery, silver, painter
Born in Glasgow. MacNair trained as an architect with the Glasgow firm of Honeyman and Keppie from 1888-95. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a fellow trainee and the two attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art between 1888-94. Here they met the MacDonald sisters, Margaret and Frances. MacNair later married Frances, and Mackintosh married Margaret. They became known as the Glasgow Four and were identified with the Arts and Crafts movement as well as European Symbolism and Art Nouveau.
MacNair set up his own studio in Glasgow (1895) working as a designer of furniture, book illustrations, water colours and posters. In 1898 he was appointed head of design at the School of Architecture and Applied Art in Liverpool. MacNair designed a number of interiors while he was in Liverpool working on several projects with his wife, Frances.
In 1905, when the School merged with the Municipal School of Art, MacNair joined with Gerard Chowne to set up the Sandon Society of Artists. When this venture failed Herbert and Frances returned to Glasgow. MacNair ceased to make art after his wife's death in 1921.
Institutional and Business Connections
Teacher of design at School of Architecture and Applied Art (Art Sheds), Liverpool
1898 - 1905
Also taught stained glass
Personal and Professional Connections
Friends with Charles Rennie Mackintosh
1890 (Circa) - 1928
Wife/husband/spouse of Frances Eliza Macdonald
14 June 1899 - 1921
Citing this record
'J. Herbert MacNair', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1281991109, accessed 26 Sep 2023]
