An excellent set of 6 Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Adzed Panel Back Dining Chairs. The chairs are all structurally solid and the frames have been cleaned of the usual stains, grime and spalshes, and re-waxed. They are a matched set, all six chairs made by the same craftsman as denoted by the same mouse carving to each chair.
There’s a small chip to the lower leg of one and a hairline around a rear dowel joint on one back panel, both of which we’ve photographed in the image gallery below. All chairs present with their original butterscotch hide which has been cleaned and conditioned and with good solid under foams.
Privately acquired from the original owners family in North Yorkshire.
The current new price for these 6 chairs is £ 6,360 from Robert Thompson’s Craftsmen Ltd.
Lancaster’s finest, a beautifully wax patinated Regency period Mahogany Chest of Drawers from our home City designers and manufacturers Gillow’s. Features three short drawers over three graduated long drawers below, each with cock beading around the drawer fronts and original brass escutcheons and locks, most with their original paper drawer linings intact. Original rosewood drawer knobs. The top centre drawer is stamped GILLOWS . LANCASTER, the right upper drawer is signed in pencil on the underside by the craftsman R Dixon. Standing on its original bun feet. The original pattern for this chest is recorded in the Gillows Estimate Sketch Books for 1821.
Presents in wonderful waxed condition with excellent patina, following a careful sympathetic clean and wax polish for us by the professional antique restorer David Podmore at Andrew Podmore & Son, York. Minor repairs were made to the original beading on the right side edge of the top which had split in two and there’s a small chip to one lower drawer knob. Elsewhere just the expected minor scuffs / scratches from normal usage in the last 200 years, but no staining, and the careful wax polishing has ensured a wonderful rich patina has been maintained. There’s no evidence of any woodworm in the past. The rear is all original… it still has the original hand forged large pin which would have held the price label in place.
Enclosed in the image montage are some images weve taken of the original Gillows office and workshops in use when this piece was being made, close to both the quayside and castle, together with their altogether larger and more impressive office, showroom and workshops opened in 1882 and in use until final closure. The latter premises have very recently been converted into very high end student accommodation for Lancaster University students.
Provenance: purchased from the grade II listed Wormington Grange, Worcestershire.
We believe it is most sensibly priced, some recent auction results for genuine and attributed Gillows pieces in this design are detailed below, some pieces requiring significant repair / refinishing:
An excellent glazed oak Corner Display cabinet by the Yorkshire Oak and ex Acornman craftsman Derek Slater of Crayke near Easingwold. The upper glazed and leaded display section features 4 fixed wooden shelves, the lower cupboard has 2 fixed shelves, complimented by traditional wrought iron fittings.
Excellent condition and colour throughout, newly re-waxed.
An excellent vintage example of the popular Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson solid oak Ashtray. Excellent condition and colour with no losses, display use only.
An excellent example of the popular Robert Mouseman Thompson Fruitbowl. 11 5/8″ diameter, adzed and tooled to the interior and exterior of the bowl with a signature carved mouse in high relief to the centre of the bowl.
An excellent solid english oak Magazine Rack from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger. Features tapered and shaped ends with slatted sides, carry handle and a trademark acorn carved in low relief to one end.
It presents in wonderful condition.
Examples seem to vary in size considerably, this is one of the largest we’ve had.
An excellent example of a pair of solid oak Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Bookends. Adzed tooling to all visible surfaces with large signature mice carved to each front sloped facet.
An excellent unusually sized 7 5/8″ diameter small bowl from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson. Adzed inner bowl with smooth outer side, a signature mouse carved to the centre of the bowl and baize lined to the base.
Excellent bespoke commissioned solid oak cartwheel designed six light ceiling chandelier with carved ceilingrose and traditional wrought iron hanging chains from the Acorn Industries trained Derek ‘Lizardman’ Slater of Crayke, near Easingwold.
Carefully cleaned and waxed, new drip sconces and the wiring checked for electrical continuity. BC22 bulb holders.
Size: 50.5(dia) x 7(h, cartwheel), max drop from ceiling rose and chains 53cm
An excellent 12 ½” circular turned oak Bowl from ex mouseman craftsman Lyndon ‘Catandmouseman’ Hammell of Harmby, Nr Leyburn. Carved from a solid block of English oak it presents with a golden oak colour and waxed condition. Lyndon’s carved signature is carved is incised to the outer side of the bowl. Lyndon died in 2015.
An excellent solid oak Magazine Rack by the ex Mouseman (1954-66) craftsman Albert Jeffray who retired in 2005. Of typical rectangular form with adzing to all external surfaces, a central handle and inner divider. Albert’s signature eagle is incised into a prominent front end panel.
Excellent clean condition and medium fumed colour.
