A superb solid oak Two Tier Trolley or Side Table from from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger. Of rectangular form with two fixed adzed shelves supported on four adzed square legs with original Shepherd castors, a trademark acorn carved to one leg. For added versatility the top section is detachable allowing usage as two small tables.
Excellent structurally and presented in a wonderful rich medium oak colour, free from any stains or damage.
An excellent solid oak Dressing Table and Mirror from the Acorn Industries workshop of Alan ‘Acornman’ Grainger and his family. The mirror and supports are easily detached from the rear and it can also be used as a Chest of Drawers or TV / Entertainment unit. The rectangular mirror above two short over one long drawer with beautiful macassar ebony drawer handles, each carved with the acorn signature. Traditional panelled sides and back. There’s also a trademark signature to the lower right leg.
Excellent condition, flat planed oak planks, honey oak colour.
Size: 106.5(w) x 47(d) x 108(h)cm, 45(d) x 61.5(h) without the mirror.
A superb example of the popular Troika Pottery 8″ Wheel Vase of typical moulded and decorated rough textured form with geometric shapes in shades of green, grey, brown and black. Signed to the base with the artist mark for Linda Taylor who worked at the Newlyn site from 1965-75
Excellent condition with no apparent losses or faults.
An excellent solid oak four legged Side Table by the ex mouseman craftsman Gavin ‘Lilyman’ Kirkbride of Brompton, Northallerton. Rectangular form with adzed top with drawer below, standing on four octagonally carved legs with Gavin’s trademark arum lily carved to one.
Excellent 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.
An excellent miniature elephant footed vase from the Ruskin Pottery in a lovely vibrant orange lustre glaze. Marked and dated to the base. Retailed by Liberty & Co, London.
Excellent condition with no chips, hairlines or previous repairs, just a tiny natural firing blemish at one point near the foot of the vase.
Size: 4.5(dia) x 6.5(h)cm
Provenance: Peter Myers Collection 2021
The Ruskin Pottery was founded in 1898 by Edward R Taylor, later run by his son William H Taylor. The business was named after the influential artist, arts & crafts exponent, writer and social thinker John Ruskin who was much admired by the Taylor family. The pottery was famous for their lustre glazes and high fired reduction glazes. They continued in business until 1935 at which point they destroyed all the formulae for their processes to ensure they were not copied.
A very rare Stan Dodds ‘Rabbitman’ 12″ Breadboard, an early example of Stan Dodds’ solo work, made whilst he was still working full-time at Robert Thompson’s, and before Peter Heap later trademark protected the rabbit in 1970 as his own carved signature. Of rectangular form with a wonderfully carved rabbit to one shaped corner edge.
We think it’s been made in lime wood, a very blonde tight and straight grained hard wood. Wonderful condition, ready to use or display.
Stan Dodds (1928-2012) worked at Robert Thompson’s from 14 years of age in 1942 up to retirement in 1994, taking over the role of master carver from his mentor George Weightman in the 1960s, and responsible for most of their best carvings in recent decades. His unique skill and craftsmanship is increasingly being recognised by collectors who seek out his distinctive mouse signature, as well as his own rabbit and later woodpecker signature. In retirement he undertook regular part-time carving work for a number of the Yorkshire Critters craftsmen, most notably Wilf and Trevor at Squirrel Furniture.
Stan married his wife Norma in 1960. Norma was the niece of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s granddaughter-in-law. The newly married couple were given the use of a Thompson’s owned house in nearby Osgodby. Here Stan set up his own small workshop ‘out the back’ where he made fine carvings in his spare time. The carvings that Stan produced under his own name with either a rabbit or woodpecker signature, both during his years at Kilburn and after his retirement, are particularly fine. The level of detail and refinement in Stan’s carving is testament to his skill and deep understanding of wood. Today, he and George Weightman are regarded as Robert Thompson’s best ever carvers, their work appreciated by avid collectors of Mouseman around the world, whether produced for Robert Thompson’s or in their own spare time for personal use or resale.
An excellent large solid oak and leather seated Stool from the ex mouseman craftsman Robert (Bob) ‘Wrenaman’ Hunter of Thirlby near Thirsk. Of four legged rectangular form with original dark green leather seat secured by upholstery pins and Bob’s signature wren carved in low relief to the centre of one upper rail.
Excellent condition and colour to the wood and upholstery.
Provenance: Susan & Dennis Exley Collection, avid collectors of the Yorkshire craftsmen’s work from the 1970s to 2000s.
An excellent oak and leather seated Dressing Stool by the ‘Yorkshire Critters’ craftsman Phil Langstaff of Carthouse Furniture. Of typical design with deep green leather seat, held in place with upholstery pins. Phil’s cartwheel signature centrally placed on one stretcher.
Excellent condition , warm medium oak finish. The leather has been cleaned and conditioned and retains some slight colour scuffing from usage.
Carthouse Furniture was founded in 1995 by Phil Langstaff, a relative of David ‘Oakleafman’ Langstaff. They moved to their current premises at Glebe Farm, Carleton Minniott near Thirsk in 2003 where they continue to produce handcrafted hardwood furniture, mostly in oak.
A wonderful 6 3/4″ Textured Glass Nail Head Vase, pattern number 9683 in the popular meadow green colour, designed by Geoffrey Baxter for the renowned British glass manufacturer Whitefriars.
The only known fault is what looks to be a restoration to the underside base as shown the images below.
An excellent framed single tile, tube lined with two opposing love birds perched on a tendril in a pale yellow heart, centred with a pale red flower head, on a pale green tube lined leafage background.
Excellent condition and colour, the usual expected slight glaze crazing, no cracks or breakage to the tile.
Size: 26(w) x 2(d) x 26(h)cm framed. Tile: 20cm x 20cm / 8″ x 8″.
An excellent set of 6 Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson solid oak Napkin Rings. 2″ in height, octagonally carved and shaped with signature mice carved to one facet. No longer made, they are increasingly popular on the vintage market with prices rising rapidly.
