Stock ref: DS1147

Circa 1950

An early Mouseman 4′ Bookcase in excellent condition with a particularly distinctive fat and well defined mouse carved in high relief and 4 adjustable shelves held in place with wooden shelf supports which are of a different size to those used in more
modern made examples.  In line with early manufacture the side panels, top and bottom fixed shelves are all adzed to their visible surfaces. Many of the shelves contain natural burrs, filled  and smoothed with a mix of resin and sawdust as
was standard practise at the time. The bookcase also features a rare  and highly unusual bespoke made single panel back board  constructed in  1/2″ solid oak from 4 jointed and glued planks, the panel then glued and nailed into a recess
cut into the sides and top/bottom. It is more usual for the backs to be panelled into several sections with muntins inserted which accomodate and hide any natural wood shrinkage.

On acquisition the rear panel showed evidence of age related shrinkage  causing some detachment from the sides. After confirming the genuine provenance and 50’s date of the bookcase, Robert Thompsons have recently undertaken a repair to this panel,
firstly removing it then  letting in a new  1cm wide strip of oak before re-attaching it correctly. They also  bespoke made 4 new shelf support buttons, in keeping with the size and profile of the originals,  the invoice for all this
work is included with the sale.

The bookcase was acquired locally from the grandaughter of the original purchasers the Allick family, owners of the Buck Inn, Chopgate at the time. To aid its mobility around their home and the inn it stood on R. Thompson’s supplied Shepherd castors for
many years but these had rusted badly and seized so have been removed, they are not a standard fitment on the bookcases anyway, although new ones can still be purchased.

It now presents in a superb condition with minor expected natural hairline wood splits in the side panels and slight evidence of old water staining on the botton fixed shelf. The colour and patination  is everything Mouseman collectors would hope
for in an early piece, a wonderful naturally aged mix of deep honey and brown tones.  

Size: 83(w) x 26(d) x 122(h)

Sold

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