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
Circa 1980s
Rare to market solid oak four legged Stool from the little known ex Acorn Industries (Acornman) craftsman Andrew ‘ Butterflyman’ Conning who set up his own workshop in 1983.
Features a twin plank adzed seat with his signature carved butterfly in low relief, visible wedged tennon leg joints through the seat, supported on four splayed, tapering octagonally carved legs.
Wonderful medium colour, clean condition with tight leg joints.
One of two we’ve purchased.
Size: 23″ / 58.5 cm (h)
Circa 1980s
Rare to market solid oak four legged Stool from the little known ex Acorn Industries (Acornman) craftsman Andrew ‘ Butterflyman’ Conning who set up his own workshop in 1983.
Features a twin plank adzed seat with his signature carved butterfly in low relief, visible wedged tennon leg joints through the seat, supported on four splayed, tapering octagonally carved legs.
Wonderful medium colour, clean condition with tight leg joints.
One of two we’ve purchased.
Size: 23″ / 58.5 cm (h)
Circa 1960s
An excellent large 14 1/2″ (l) hand carved oakleaf shaped dish 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: 36.5(l) x 22(w) x 5(h)cm
Circa 1960s
A beautifully patinated early three legged cow / milking stool by the ex mouseman craftsman Colin ‘Beaverman’ Almack. Features a carefully selected, well figured 4cm thick kidney shaped solid oak top supported on three octagonally carved, tapered and splayed legs, wedge jointed through the seat. Colin’s signature beaver is carved in high relied into the side eadge of the seat.
Excellent condition and rich depth of colour with tight leg joints, slight minor natural grain splitting visible in the seat top.
Size: 37(w) x 33.5(d) x 33.5(h)cm
Circa 1900
An excellent figurative cast bronze sculpture of an Art Nouveau Maiden by the Austrian artist Hans Müller, mounted on a thin base. Signed to the lower side.
Hans Müller ( 1873-1937). Born in Vienna, Austria and a graduate of the Vienna Academy of Art. Best known for his figurative sculptures and for his portraits and bust sculptures of Viennese high society.
Size: 14(w) x 9(d) x 12.5(h)cm
Circa 1980s/90s
An excellent pair of the 2″ Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson solid oak Napkin Rings, octagonally carved with a signature mouse to one facet.
Excellent condition and colour.
Size 5(h)cm
Circa 1970s
An excellent solid oak wall hung Display Rack by the ex Museman craftsman Albert ‘Eagleman’ Jeffray. 4’10” wide, with shaped and adzed sides and three graduated shelves, each shelf double routed to display plates safely.
Wonderful condition and re-waxed golden medium fumed colour, original securing brackets to the rear. Privately sourced from the original owners family.
Size: 147.5(w) x 13.5(d) x 84(h)cm
Circa late 1950s/early 60s
A very rare Stan Dodds ‘Rabbitman’ Cheeseboard, 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 curved handle and an exquisitely carved rabbit to on end.
We think it’s been made in lime wood, a very blonde tight and straight grained hard wood. Excellent unused condition.
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.
Size: 30.5(l) x 15(w) x 3.8(h)cm
Circa 1960s/70s
An excellent example of Tom Whittaker’s rustic craftsmanship, this traditional oak spinning chair features a shaped and adzed back with an inset yorkshire / tudor rose. Peg jointed to a single plank adzed seat, supporte on three tapered and chamfered legs, his trademark gnome carved intricately to the upper edge of rear back.
Super rich deep colour, the pegged rear back rest and legs are solid with no loose joints, the two front legs having recently been reset, wedged and re-glued.
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: 37(w) x 60(d) x 93.5(h)cm
Circa 1990s
A lovely Arts & Crafts styled Hall / Side Table by the former Mouseman craftsman Nigel Dixon at his English Hardwood Furniture business, Topcliffe, near Thirsk. The oblong table with a single drawer with an Arts and Crafts design pewter handle, standing on four square legs joined by a lower shelf, carved with his signature woodworm.
Presents in very good original condition and colour, just a very feint ring mark to the top.
Size: 50.7(w) x 40.2(d) x 68(h)cm
Circa 1980s/90s
An excellent 3′ solid oak coffee / occasional table from the Squirrel Furniture workshop of Wilf ‘Squirrelman’ Hutchinson and his son Trevor. Features a wonderfully grained and adzed single plank rectangular top, supported on trestle sided legs with sledge feet, supported by a central pegged stretcher. Trademark squirrel carved to the lower of one trestle leg.
Excellent condition and medium oak colour, cleaned and wax polished in our workshop.
Size: 92(l) x 40(w) x 43.5(h)cm
