William Jabez Muckley [also known as W.J. Muckley] was born in Wordsley, Kingswinford, Staffordshire, England, on 23 March 1829. His father was a craftsman in the glass industry, and he began his career as a glasscutter with W.H. B. & J. Richardson, a local firm, subsequently becoming the chief designer and engraver. Following the closure of the company in 1852, Muckley enrolled at Birmingham Scholarship of Art, where he was awarded a scholarship to study in London and Paris. In the late 1850's he was appointed Head of Burslem School of Art after which he was Headmaster of Wolverhampton School of Art. In 1862, he became principal of Manchester School of Art. Muckley participated in the first exhibition of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society at the New Gallery in London in 1888, at which he showed a frieze entitled "The Chrysanthemum" designed for Jeffrey & Co.