Stock ref: DS1324

Circa early/ mid 1920s

An amazing local barn find, the most exciting of my trade career to date – thought to be one of the earliest pieces of ‘Mouseman’ domestic furniture to have been made at Robert Thompson’s featuring  carved mice.

A unique, extremely early and rare  ‘Mouseman’ draw-leaf table  from Robert Thompson’s workshop, believed to have been a bespoke made piece as  this is not thought to have ever been a  design that has featured in their standard portfolio.  The table is 3′ square in standard folded form, extending to 5′ in length when the two extension leaves, which slide in and out, are in use. Even the cleated and panelled table top design and construction is unique. It stands sturdily on 4  large octagonally carved baluster legs, joined by diagonal stretchers which meet centrally in an octagonal central boss with a decorative finial top. The boss also acts as an additional central leg.  The outer facets of two diagonally opposing  legs  feature very prominently carved mice, extremely unusual and large, with front paws and upfacing whiskers, quite different to the  more standard design that was adopted from the 1930’s onwards. A similar mouse carving from the same craftsman can be found on a very early reading chair with lecturns currently in the Thompson’s museum. 

In the same local family ownership for two generations, although it is currently unclear  if it was originally made for the sellers in-laws or if they acquired it from another source. Although barn stored for a number of years it remains in remarkably sound condition, all the joints are solid, any deterioration is largely cosmetic to the exposed table top surface. Traces of it’s original waxed colour and  ‘former glory’  can be seen on the two  table extension sections which have remained under the top during storage. There’s the odd expected patch of old woodworn visible to small areas of the underside, but this is easily treated and it is not structural in any way. 

Size: 91.5 to 152.5(w) x 91.5(d) x 76(h)cm 

Grateful thanks to colleague Gavin Kirkbride for alerting me to the existence of the piece. We’ve worked together on a number of projects, he  was a  mouseman craftsman  from 1993-2007 and now has his own handcrafted furniture business –  Lily Furniture. www.lilyfurniture.com.

Thanks also to Ian Thompson Cartwright at Robert Thompson’s for his time spent with me authenticating the piece.

The pictures in the image gallery below are of the piece exactly as acquired, complete with dead spiders, cobwebs and straw ! 

Please contact me to discuss restoration and the price of the piece.

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Stock ref: DS1287

Circa 1960

A wonderful solid oak Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson chest of drawers  with  two short over three long drawers. Presented in superb condition and features the sought after adzing to the drawer fronts, frame and top that is only found on pre 70s
made pieces, more modern made examples are only adzed to the top. Free from any staining, with a rich deep aged colour and a clean interior.

Size: 91(w) x 45.5(d) x 93(h)cm

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Stock ref: DS1299

Circa 1930s/40s

A rare early  Robert Thompson ‘Mouseman’ burr oak topped octagonal coffee table which presents with an exceptionally rich and deep chesnut colour and patina.  The adzed burr oak top adds immense character to the piece and is larger than  is
found on most octagonal coffee tables – 21 3/4″ diameter. In line with early manufacture the cruciform base and feet are also extensively adzed.

Size: 55.5(w) x 49(h)cm

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Stock Ref: DS1311

Circa mid/late 1960s

One of the earliest grandfather clocks made by Robert Thompson’s and presented in superb condition. These grandfather clocks were only ever made to special order at Thompson’s and are always rare to the market. It’s rarer still to find a very early one
with a sought after  adzed all over case, production of which appears to have ceased in the early 70s in favour of the less costly to make plain cased version. All the grandfather clock cases were made by Malcolm Pipes (now Foxman) and Len Haw (recently
retired).

This example retains its original 8 day, twin weight driven Schmeckenbecher movement with a brass clock face  which we’ve had stripped, cleaned, oiled, re-assembled and time regulated prior to re-fitting. The brass weights have also been re-polished
and lacquered, all the work completed and guaranteed by the Horologist who installed the later  English movements for Thompson’s in the mid/late 70s. The clock gives a single strike on the half hour and full strikes on the hour. The case has also
 been cleaned and re-waxed. A trademark mouse is carved in high relief to the side of the door accessing the clock face and mechanism.  

(Please note the images shown below with the movement in place were taken after cleaning, those with the movement missing were taken earlier, before cleaning.)

Size: 46(w) x 35(d) x 196(h)cm

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