An excellent solid oak Table lamp by the acorn industries ( Acornman) trained craftsman Derek Slater whose solo work can be seen carved with either a fish, or latterly a lizard. Of tiered octagonal form, like the pieces he would have made for Alan Grainfer at Acorn Industries but with his lizard signature to the front central facet. Newly re-wired with period braided 3 core earthed wiring and a new brass bulb holder.
An excellent solid oak four legged Side Table by the ex mouseman craftsman Gavin ‘Lilyman’ Kirkbride of Brompton, Northallerton. Rectangular form with adzed top, drawer and undershelf, panelled sides and rear, standing on four octagonally carved legs with Gavin’s trademark arum lily carved to one.
Superb condition and colour, following a gentle clean and re-wax.
Provenance: Susan & Dennis Exley Collection, avid collectors of the Yorkshire craftsmen’s work from the 1970s to 2000s. Sue supported Gavin in his early solo days so these pieces represent some of his earliest commissions. This is one of three side tables of differing configurations / sizes we have acquired.
Having had a keen interest in woodwork from a young age Gavin went to work as an apprentice at Robert Thompson’s after leaving school in 1992. His career at Thompson’s spanned 15 years and saw him qualify as a highly skilled craftsman. He established his own business in Northallerton in 2007, the business name inspired by the birth of his first child, daughter Lily. As an ex mouseman craftsman and inspired by the ethos and traditions acquired there, Gavin now makes bespoke hand crafted solid oak furniture and joinery to clients specifications, each piece carved with an Arum Lily, a symbol of peace and serenity. Personally recommended by David, Gavin is also generous of his skills and time to our own business. Having known each other well for over 12 years, he’s the ex mouseman craftsman David turns to when repair work or restoration advice is needed on our own stock pieces.
A superb small Moorcroft Pottery Vase decorated in the Finches, Fruits and Berries pattern. Signed to the base with date cipher for 1993. No known faults.
Size: 7.5(dia) x 7.5(h)cm. Top rim diameter 5.5cm.
Without doubt the best carved figure we’ve seen come to market in many years from Thomas ‘Gnomeman’ Whittaker of Littlebeck, near Whitby. Purchased privately from the original owner who bought it directly from Tom’s workshop in 1979, although it is believed to have been made much earlier. Tom was appartently very reluctant to sell it and named it ‘The wood Carrier’. It’s a most impressive and well observed piece standing 37.5(cm tall, all tool carved in the ‘Yorkshire Critters’ tradition from a solid block of oak in Tom’s typically rustic style with a signature gnome carving to the rear of the plinth section which has a leather base. We’ve photographed it next to a Mouseman 10″ Table Lamp so that clients can put it’s size into context.
Superb condition and colour, cleaned and re-waxed in our workshop, just the expected minor evidence of natural wood splitting in the oak.
A top collector’s piece.
Thomas Whittaker (1910 -1991) lived and worked in York and later in Littlebeck, near Whitby, North Yorkshire. His trademark gnome is carved onto most of his post war work and was inspired by a German jewish refugee he met shortly before the outbreak of war who was judging a piece he had entered into the North of England Craftsmen’s Exhibition in Newcastle. He was asked to identify the piece in some way and the judge suggested the ‘german oak spirit’ the legend being that a gnome is born each time an acorn germinates and will guard that tree throughout its life. His work is now highly regarded and nearly as well known as Robert Thompson’s. His business ceased on his death and his former home and workshop is now a private residence. For those interested in learning more about his life and work i attach a link to a British Pathe newsreel from 1961. Gnomeman Thomas Whittaker
A very rare 16″ wide solid oak wall hung Gated Letter Rack by the ex mouseman craftsman Robert (Bob) ‘Wrenaman’ Hunter of Thirlby near Thirsk, with extra fencing either side of the gate. Collectors will know they are usually 12″ wide.
Wonderful condition and colour just a slight chip to the end of the carved wren’s beak. Original label to the rear with early phone number confirming it as one of Bob’s early pieces.
Provenance: Susan & Dennis Exley Collection, avid collectors of the Yorkshire craftsmen’s work from the 1970s to 2000s.
A rare and beautifully patinated example of a solid oak Book Trough by ex mouseman craftsman Colin ‘Beaverman’ Almack, made in the early 1960s, shortly after he established Beaver Furniture. Wider than more modern examples at 21 1/8″ and adzed all over including the rear and underside, in-line with very early Mouseman construction. Also has a very detailed Beaver signature with chiselling to denote the fur and tail pattern.
A superb example of the Troika Pottery 6 3/4″ tall Slab Vase of typical moulded and decorated rough textured form with geometric shapes in shades of blue and cream. Signed to the base with the artist mark for Anne Lewis who worked at the St Ives and Newlyn sites between 1969 -1972.
Excellent condition with no apparent losses or faults.
Excellent solid oak two tier Serving Trolley or Side Table by the ex Mouseman craftsman Wilf ‘Squirrelman’ Hutchinson of Husthwaite near Thirsk. Of typical rectangular construction with the well grained tops supported on four carved corner legs standing on original Kenrick Shepherd castors. A beautiful early signature squirrel is carved to one lower end rail.
Excellent condition, rich aged medium fumed colour and patina, very little usage marking or staining on both shelves.
An excellent 14″ tall three legged calf / milking stool from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson of Kilburn, North Yorkshire. Typical dished and kidney shaped seat with three octagonally carved, splayed atapering legs wedge jointed through the seat and signature mouse to the middle side edge of the seat.
Excellent condition with tight leg joints, medium fumed honey colour, characterful natural burr in the oak to one edge.
A superb solid oak Sideboard of compact 3’6″ wide proportions from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger of Brandsby, near Easingwold. Rectangular form with two drawers over two shelved cupboards with panelled doors. Adzing to all visible surfaces, brass fittings and trademark acorn carved to the left front leg.
Good colour and exceptionally clean inside and out with no staining to the top, or elsewhere.
An excellent set of 1960s made Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson solid oak and leather hide seated Lattice Back Dining Chairs. The frames in excellent condition, solid and recently cleaned and re-waxed in our workshop. The chairs were re-leathered at Robert Thompson’s in 2001 and remain in excellent condition, the hide cleaned and conditioned in our workshop.
This set of chairs originally accompanied the early 1960s dowel topped dining table DS2690, now sold but viewable in our sold archive.
An excellent example of the highly popular solid oak 6′ Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Refectory Style Dining Table. The adzed 4 plank rectangular top is supported on two octagonally carved baluster legs with swept feet, joined at floor level by a stretcher. A good signature mouse is carved prominently to the facet of one leg.
Wonderful original condition, the top retaining its original workshop applied heat / stain resistant polyurathane finish which displays little wear or evidence of usage, save for some very light surface scratching at one end that is shown in the image gallery below.
