Circa 1980s/90s
An excellent hand adzed solid oak curved X framed Coffee Table from the ex mouseman craftsman Peter ‘Rabbitman’ Heap of Wetwang. The rectagular subtly adzed adzed tree plank top is supported on curved tooled legs joined by stretchers, his trademark rabbit carved prominently to one leg.
Beautiful condition with a lighter warm honey / golden oak colour.
Size: 91(w) x 48.5(d) x 45.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2303{/gallery}
Circa 1970s
A wonderful example of a solid English oak 4’6″ x 3′ Dining Table from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger and family. The four plank hand adzed top is supported on a very unusual leg design which features four adzed ‘cat’s paw’ burr oak legs standing on cross framed feet. Presents in original condition with a fumed medium oak colour.
Size: 137(w) x 90.5(d) x 74.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2317{/gallery}
Circa 1960s
A rare bespoke commissioned set of 2 Carvers and 6 Dining Chairs from the ex Mouseman craftsman Don ‘Foxman’ Craven who established and operated his Aldborough Woodcrafts business with Bob Hunter (later Wrenman) in the 1960s and early 70s. Featuring high backs handcarved with the highly popular interwoven lattice back and, unusually for ‘Yorkshire Critters’ chairs, drop-in leather seats.
Beautiful original condition and excellent medium fumed honey oak colour with tight frame joints on all the chairs. The leather remains in excellent usable condition but as is typical of chairs of this age the underfoam and webbing has now hardened. However, it is easily and cheaply replaced by any local upholsterer as the seats are of the drop-in style, the seat frame held in place by 4 screws.
Sizes: Carver Chairs 56.5(w) x 53(d) x 106(h)cm, Dining Chairs 44(w) x 49(d) x 106(h)cm
{gallery}DS2286{/gallery}
Circa 1970s/80s
An excellent example of a traditional solid English oak Dressing Table and Mirror from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger and family. Of typical rectangular form, adzed and panelled to all visible surfaces with 5 drawers, traditional wrought iron drawer fittings and a trademark acorn signature.
Excellent original condition, solid joints and free from ring stains, rich medium fumed colour, just very minor light splash marking to the lower legs.
The mirror section is easily unscrewed at the rear if you wish to use the piece as a desk or side table.
Size: 106.5(w) x 51.5(d) x 127(h)cm
{gallery}DS2318{/gallery}
Circa 1960s/70s
A wonderful example of a solid English oak Sideboard from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger, darker fumed with a nutty brown / dark oak colour. Adzed to all visible surfaces with a two plank top, three drawers over three cupbords with inner shelves and four panelled doors.
Presents in wonderful original condition, free from ring stains with very minor age and usage related surface scatches to the top and slight staining to the inside of the top left drawer.
Size: 160(w) x 47(d) x 88.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2319{/gallery}
Circa 1980
An excellent example of a 2’6″(w) x 2’6″(h) oak Chest of Drawers from former Robert Thompson’s craftsman Sid pollard with a 2 short over 3 long drawer arrangement. Panelled and adzed to all visible surfaces in line with early mouseman craftsmanship, standing on four octagonally carved legs and with traditional wrought iron fittings. The two upper banks of drawers are 10.5cm deep, the two lower ones are 11.5cm. As is typical of Sid’s work it is unsigned, he preferred to let his craftsmanship speak for itself. Excellent condition with a golden / honey oak colour.
Previously sold by us in early 2016, it was originally privately sourced from a former family friend of Sid’s, from whom we’ve sourced a number of pieces in the past.
Size: 77(w) x 43.5(d) x 76.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2314{/gallery}
Circa 1980s/90s
A superb hand adzed solid oak small bookcase with an upper shelf and upstand and two glazed doors which open to reveal two height adjustable shelves to allow storage for books or ornaments / collectables. Peters signature rabbit is beautifully carved prominently to the top right side.
Beautiful condition with a warm honey / golden oak colour.
Size: 68(w) x 30(d) x 102(h) cm.
{gallery}DS2306{/gallery}
1999
An excellent oak 4 drawer chest handcrafted by ‘Yorkshire Critters’ craftsman Graham ‘Swanman’ Duncalf at his Bagby, Thirsk workshop and home. Traditional adzing to the front frame and drawers, wrought iron handles and fully oak panelled sides and back. The 3 upper drawers 15 cm height, the bottom drawer larger at 18 cm. Lovely colour and completely stain free, just slight evidence of a minor knock in the past to the upper drawer front. Graham’s trademark swan is carved to the lower side rail.
Known to have been made in 1999 for a Bagby resident, a cousin of Sid Pollard’s.
Previously sold by us back in 2015.
Size: 61.5(w) x 51.5(d) x 91(h)cm
{gallery}DS2313{/gallery}
1957
A wonderfully coloured and patinated example of Thomas Whittaker’s rustic artisan craftsmanship, this highly unusual bespoke designed solid oak and burr oak Sideboard is adzed all over, including the rear, and features twin shelved cupboards with burr oak inlaid panels to each side and two drawers centrally. It stands on adzed and shaped trestle legs with sledge feet joined by a traditional pegged stretcher. Complimented by tradional wrought iron fittings and his trademark gnome carved intricately to the front corner edge.
Cleaned and sympathetically re-waxed in our workshop it presents in a wonderful condition and rich colour with just some usual natural wood shrinkage, splitting and minor usage marking to the adzed oak top.
Privately purchased from the original owners family, the piece made in 1957 as a wedding present.
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 indenify 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
Size: 119(w) x 46(d) x 93.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2290{/gallery}
1982
Rare solid mahogany coffee table from Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger at Acorn Industries. Alan, his father George before him, and Bob Hunter the ‘Wrenman’ are amongst the few Yorksire makers who have offered items in other solid hardwoods, alongside the oak ranges for which they are better known. Double swept tripod legs with the trademark carved acorn incised to one end, joined by a carved and pierced stretcher. The single piece top is inlaid with a single ilay line. In wonderful condition, just a small surface nick shown in the image gallery below.
Recently bought back having originally been supplied by us in 2014 and known to have been made in 1982 with other pieces including a table lamp and standard lamp.
Handmade to the same exacting standards as the oak ranges. Originally costing the same prices as the equivalent oak items the mahogany pieces now represent great value compared to the currently more fashionable oak pieces.
Size: 106.5(w) x 45.5(d) x 46(h) cm
{gallery}DS2275{/gallery}
Circa 1960s / 70s
Rare 4′ tall Mahogany Chest of Drawers from Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger at Acorn Industries. Alan, his father George before him, and Bob Hunter the ‘Wrenman’ are amongst the few Yorksire craftsmen who have offered items in other solid hardwoods, alongside the oak ranges for which they are now better known. Of rectangual form, the top inlaid with an ilay line, with two short over five long drawers also inlaid with a single ilay line, standing on shaped carved feet with their rademark incised carved acorn to one side panel. Complementary period style brass drawer fittings.
In wonderful condition, just a few minor usage marks on one side. There’s evidence of some old and inactive woodworm visible in one rear panel where there is a small section of sap wood, always preferred as it’s naturally softer and more moist. Shown clearly in the image gallery below.
Handmade to the same exacting standards as the oak ranges. Originally costing the same prices as the equivalent oak items the mahogany pieces now represent superb value compared to the currently more fashionable oak pieces, being less than half the price.
Size: 76(w) x 47(d) x 122(h)cm
{gallery}DS2280{/gallery}
Circa 1970s/early 80s
A superb example of the no longer made Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Table Lighter. Octagonal solid oak base with excellent signature mouse carved to one facet, inset with period Japanese piezo ignited gas lighter. It presents in superb colour, condition and full working order when gassed.
Size:7.5(dia_ x 7.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2162{/gallery}
