Circa 1950s/60s
An excellent pair of the sought after earlier made 1 3/4″ Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson of Kilburn solid oak Napkin Rings, more modern examples being a larger diameter and 2″ in height.
Excellent condition and colour with nicely detailed mice carvings to a facet of the octagonally carved napkin rings.
Size: 4.3 (h)cm.
Circa 1960s
A beautifully handcrafted bespoke made 4′ Walnut Double Wardrobe, in the Arts & Crafts Cotswold School design, made by George and Alan Grainger at Acorn Industries, Brandsby, for a close Grainger family member, and in their ownership from new. Features wonderfully matched walnut panelling and distinctive splayed feet. The lockable double doors open to reveal a hanging rail, full length mirror attached to one inner door and a bank of four inbuilt drawers. The lock is in working order with key.
Privately purchased from the original owners family.
Excellent original condition and colour.
Size: 124(w) x 53.5(d) x 170 (h)cm
Circa 1930s/40s
A most interesting unmarked piece, almost certainly made ‘out of hours’ by a Mouseman craftsman for their own family use. This was quite common and allowed in Roberts lifetime. This oak bedside / side cabinet has been constructed using top quality burr oak panels, adzed and pinned in the manner that the craftsmen were taught at Robert Thompson’s, even the inner backs are adzed. The only aspect of the piece that concerns us a little is that in our opinion the top may not be original to the piece, the fastening used to secure it looks somewhat crude and out of keeping with the jointing used elsewhere on the piece.
Nevertheless it’s a lovely piece with a rich depth of aged and fumed colour, and a bargain at this price.
Size: 37.5(w) x 36(d) x 65.5(h)
Circa late 1990s
A superb oak Magazine Rack by the ‘Yorkshire Critters’ craftsman Phil Langstaff ‘ Cartwheelman’ of Carthouse Furniture. Features a central divider with carrying handle and magazine storage either side with Phil’s cartwheel signature centrally placed on one end.
Excellent condition , warm medium oak finish.
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.
Size: 45.5(w) x 24(d) x 41(h)cm
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Circa 1960s
An excellent pair of 6″ hand carved oakleaf shaped dishes by the ex Mouseman craftsman Fred ‘Oakleafman’ Suffield, shaped and tooled in the form of his carved signature.
Exellent condition and colour.
Fred Suffield was a Robert Thompson’s craftsman in the 1930s – 50s, he later worked with Sid Pollard and on his own. His solo work is quite rare to the market and bears an Oakleaf signature. He died in the 1970s. His Oakleaf signature was later revived and adopted by David Langstaff when he set up his own business in 1986. Their respective work is often confused but there are differences in the design of their oakleaf carvings.
Size: 15(l) x 8.5(w) x 3(h)cm
Circa 1970s
A wonderful 8″ Textured Glass Nail Head Vase, pattern number 9808 in the rare lilac colour, designed by Geoffrey Baxter for the renowned British glass manufacturer Whitefriars.
Excellent except for a tiny ‘flea bite’ on the top rim, shown in the image gallery below.
Size: 5.5(w) x 5.5(d) x 20(h)cm
Circa 1970s/80s
An excellent unused example of a Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Ashtray of typical rectangular form with signature mouse carving.
Excellent condition and waxed colour.
Size: 10.4(w) x 7.8(d) x 3.8)h)cm
Circa 1960s/70s
An excellent example of Tom Whittaker’s rustic craftsmanship, this traditional oak Sideboard is adzed and panelled all over and features three cupboards enclosed by panelled doors,each above a drawer, one lined and carved linen fold uprights. His trademark gnome carved is intricately to the upper front edge. Wonderfully clean interior and complimented by tradiobnal wrought iron fittings.
Excellent condition and colour.
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: 155(w) x 44(d) x 86(h)cm
Circa 1960s/70s
A superb display use only Robert Mouseman Thompson solid oak Cheeseboard with subtly adzed upper surface and excellent signature mouse on the bridge between handle and board.
Superb uncut condition with no stains, clear waxed.
Size: 37(l) x 18.3(w) x 4 (h)cm
1930
A rare early bespoke commissioned Oak Pegged Coat Rack featuring 6 long and 5 shorter handmade pegged hooks set into a fully adzed 5’8″ long plank of oak. Possibly of longer length originally as it is known to have been made for Lord Rochdale as part of the fittings in the ‘Oak Room’ at Gunnerside Lodge, a commission undertaken by Robert in 1930. Brief details are recorded on page 143 of the book: Mouseman, The Legacy of Robert Thompson of Kilburn and fuller details are contained in Robert Thompson’s own historical ledgers.
All the pegs are structurally sound and the whole piece presents with a rich waxed dark fumed colour with a large very well carved early mouse to the top bevelled edge. There’s evidence on the rear of the original metal stud / nail wall fixings and several later drilled holes front to rear. New brackets have been fitted to the rear for wall hanging. There’s also some old minor inactive wood worm on the rear, particularly in small areas of sap wood which would naturally be more appealling for the beetle larvae.
Previously sold by us in 2019, we are delighted to have been able to buy it back privately from a significant Mouseman collector.
Size: 171(l) x 15(d) x 22.3(h)cm
Circa 1960s
A highly unusual bespoke made adzed oak block Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Table Lamp. We’ve not previously seen Mouseman table lamps in this design whilst we’ve been collecting privately, or in business. Of square base form and extensively tooled with a classic ‘port-hole’ mouse carved on two adjacent sides. It retains its brass light fittings but the original two core wiring has been replaced with a new earthed period braided wiring which we think suits all Mouseman table and standard lamps so much better than the pvc wiring.
Superb condition and rich depth of waxed colour.
Size: 11(w) x 10.8(d) x 15(h)cm , excl brass light fitting.
Circa 1980s
A superbly grained and coloured example of a more modern made Robert ‘Mouseman ‘Thompson solid oak Book Trough, adzed to the outer sides of the quadrant ends and a signature mouse to the right side front edge.
Provenance: Susan & Dennis Exley Collection, avid collectors of the Yorkshire craftsmen’s work from the 1970s to 2000s.
Size: 45(w) x 21(d) x 20.5(h)cm
