Circa 1960
An excellent example of an early made solid oak Fruitbowl by Wilf ‘Squirrelman’ Hutchinson who left Robert Thompsons and set up his own workshop in 1957. Adzed and tooled inside and out with a beatifully carved Squirrel and arts and crafts thumbnail carving to the centre of the bowl. Wonderful warm aged medium fumed finish, sympathetically cleaned and clear waxed in our workshop.
Size: 23.5(dia_ x 6.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2248{/gallery}
Circa 1930s/early 40s
A wonderful example of the highly sought after early Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson solid oak Cheeseboard. These very earliest made cheeseboards are distinguished not only by the mouse being carved on the azed chesseboard itself, but by the very high and slim curved handles, this being 2 1/4″ (5.7cm) in height. This would have produced considerable wastage of wood as they are carved from a solid block of oak and later made pieces, even those made in the 40s/50s with the mouse on the board, are considerably lower in the overall height of the handle. These handles were prone to breakage so their height was gradually reduced and by 1960 the mouse was moved onto the neck of the handle, and it was widened, to help strengthen it.
It’s a used ‘as intended’ piece so displays some light cut marks to the adzed upper surface and was oiled by its original owner. We’ve sympathetically washed and cleaned it before giving it a wax which has imparted the nutty brown colour to the piece. It has an excellent mouse carving which has sustained only the very slightest of ear nibbles over the years of usage and washing / drying.
Size: 37(l) x 18(w) x 5.7(h)cm
{gallery}DS2246{/gallery}
Circa 1960s/70s
A rare example of a Gated Oak Letter Rack from the ex Mouseman craftsman Sid Pollard, of Bagby. With a curved back and detailed bar gate to the front, a design that is similar to and now more synonemous with the later 1980s onwards made Bob Hunter ‘Wrenman’s ‘ wren carved letter racks. In excellent original condition with a baize lined base, just a very minor wood chip to the front left corner edge of the base.
Sid was one of Robert Thompson’s early apprentices and craftsman and his work is increasingly highly regarded by collectors. As with almost all his work it is unmarked, he always preferred to let his craftsmanship speak for itself.
Size: 33(w) x 13(d) x 17.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2250{/gallery}
Circa 1960s
A superb example of a sought after Mouseman burr oak table lighter inset with a chrome Ronson Varaflame lighter. The highly prized burr oak block is in superb condition, heavily tooled with the natural burrs contributing to the character of the piece.
Introduced to the UK in 1957 the Ronson Varaflame gas filled lighter fitted is in full working order when gassed and the flint is in place, following refurbishment with a new gas inlet valve and outlet burner unit.
Size: 10(w) x5(d) x 6(h)cm
{gallery}DS1976{/gallery}
Circa 1970s
A rare to market piece by ex mouseman craftsman Richard (Doug) Collinson. A bespoke commissioned freestanding large oak Bookcase with carved moulding along the top, two adjustable shelves and a fixed shelf below. The original owners commissioned an oak veneered back panel in order to contain the original cost price. His beatifully carved labrador’s head has been prominantly carved to one side panel.
Sympathetically cleaned and waxed in our workshop, very minor edge plank splits on the adjustable shelves, as shown in the image gallery below. The upper /lower sections are screwed together, so it will split if necessary for transport.
Great value for a large Yorkshire Critters bookcase.
Size: 130(w) x 29(d) x 160(h)cm
{gallery}DS2224{/gallery}
Circa 1970s
A wonderfully coloured and patinated solid oak Coffee table by ex mouseman craftsman ‘Labradorman’ Richard (Doug) Collinson. It’s a substantial piece with a 4’2″ long, 3 plank adzed top, supported on four carved legs joined by an under-shelf. Richards trademark labrador is carved in high relief to one lower leg.
Excellent rich fumed and aged colour, lovely condition following a careful clean and re-polish. There are some original resin infills to some natiral surface knots / burrs.
The only repair we can see is a small wood splinter on one edge which has been reglued into place historically, shown in the image gallery below.
Great value, a similarly designed and sized 4′ Coffee Table by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson is currently £ 2,660 new.
Size: 127(w) x 50(d) x 45(h)cm
{gallery}DS2223{/gallery}
Circa 1960s /70s
A wonderful demonstration of craftsmanship and attention to detail inside and out. Sid Pollard’s blanket /storage chests are rarer and more unusual than those made by Robert Thompson’s as the lid also features the same distinctive individually selected oak panelling, pegging, chamfered edges and adzing as the front, back and sides. Not only is the entire framework adzed, each individual panel is too, which harks back to the earliest construction techniques learn’t and used by Sid when he trained at Thompson’s. To contain costs most modern made blanket boxes by R. Thompson’s and others now only feature adzing to the lid section, which itself is more cheaply made from a plain single or double planked top.
Superb condition, wonderfully clean internally, wax polished externally.
Sid Pollard lived in Bagby, near Thirsk, and was one of Robert Thompson’s early apprentices, together with his brother. His solo work is almost always unmarked, preferring to let his craftsmanship speak for itself. After leaving Thompson’s he combined his solo work with the family building firm, Pollard Builders. His solo work dates from the late 40’s through to his death.
Size: 109 (w) x 40(d) x 52(h)cm
{gallery}DS2226{/gallery}
Circa 1960s
An excellent vintage example of the popular Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Oak Standard Lamp. Stands on a tooled octagonal stepped and shaped base with an adzed central column, a nicely carved mouse carved in high relief to the base. Fitted with new brass BC bulb holder, 3 core earthed period braided wiring and 3 amp plug.
Excellent condition and rich darker fumed depth of colour.
Size: 31.5(dia) x 136.5(h) excl brass fitting
{gallery}DS2168{/gallery}
1993
A superb ‘mint’ condition solid oak Rocking Chair from the Kilburn workshop of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson with twin interwoven lattice back panels and a signature mouse carved to one front leg. Original cow hide upholstery in superb unmarked condition. Fire safety label to the underside webbing confirming it was made and dated 27/5/93. Wax polished and the hide conditioned in our workshop as part of our usual sales preparation.
Privately purchased, with other pieces, directly from the original owners family.
Size: 53.5(w) x 73(d) x 96(h)cm
{gallery}DS2237{/gallery}
Circa 1940s/50s
An excellent example of the earlier made solid oak Ashtray by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson. Clearly little used it presents in excellent condition with a particularly large and well carved mouse and the typical larger bowl and smaller canted corners and cut-outs seen on earlier made examples.
Size: 10(w) x 7.5(d) x 4.5(h)cm
{gallery}DS2221{/gallery}
Circa 1980s
Excellent overall condition, adzed top, sides and shelves. One of a pair…. available singly or as a pair.
Cleaned and wax polished as part of our usual pre-sale refurbishment.
Size : 91(w) x 29(d) x 92(h)cm
{gallery}DS2214{/gallery}
Circa 1980s
Excellent Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Glazed Oak Corner Display Cabinet with tradional leaded glazed panels in the upper section, single door with three fixed glass shelves internally. Pegged and panelled cupboard below with fixed inner shelf, tradional wrought iron fittings and teademark signature mouse in high profile. Exceptionally clean throughout, medium fumed finish. Cleaned and wax polished as part of our usual high standard of sales preparation.
Single Northallerton, North Yorkshire family ownership from new.
Size : 74(w) x 48(d) x 188(h)cm
{gallery}DS2232{/gallery}
