Circa 1990s
An excellent solid oak glazed bookcase by the ‘Yorkshire Critters’ craftsman Geoff Gell of Coxwold Cabinetmakers, established in 1987. Features twin doors with bevelled glass and brass handles, opening to reveal three adjustable shelves. Geoff’s signature unicorn to the lower right on the plinth base.
Excellent original colour and condition.
Size: 87(w) x 39(d) x 117.5(h)cm
Circa 1930s
A superb example of the extremely popular early made 9″ diameter solid oak fruitbowl by Robert Thompson, the ‘Mouseman’ of Kilburn. A particularly thick sided bowl, tooled all over with a wonderful signature mouse carved to the exterior side of the bowl. From about 1960 the bowls have been larger but shallower, and the mice have been carved to the centre of the bowl.
Excellent condition and patina with lovely darker fumes aged colour, no wood splits or repairs, just the usual expected minor fruit acid marking in the bowl from usage, adding to the character and patina of these sought after bowls.
Size: 23(dia) x 7.5(h)cm
Circa late 1920s
A rare very early domestic 6′ rectangular refectory style dining table, complete with a set of nine very early burr oak panel backed dining chairs with original interwoven leather upholstery.
The 6′ length table with a three plank adzed and dowelled top, supported on rare and unusual twin adzed cruciform legs with a floor set stretcher. A distinctive and prominent mouse carved to the front facet of one leg. The table prsents with wonderful colour and patina following a sympathetic clean and refinish to accentuate the rich darker fumed and aged colour tones of the wood.
There are nine chairs in total in the set, more than can comfortably be seated around the table, leaving one or more free for use elsewhere around the home. In our experience 6′ dining tables seat 6 in comfort, eight when required, as shown in the image gallery below. The chairs have been re-glued and re-pinned to ensure stability by our professional restoration partner David Podmore at A G Podmore & Sons, York. The frames then sympathetically cleaned and wax polished in-house, the interwoven seat leathers cleaned and re-conditioned, the aim always being to retain originality and patina. The burr oak inlaid back panels are superb and without any breakages.
Excellent provenance, from the estate of James Thompson-Schwab of Kingfield House, Penton, Cumbria whose parents and grandparents were very early clients of Robert’s and commissioned a significant number of pieces, several of which we have been fortunate to acquire and sell recently.
We have a preference to sell the table and chairs as a set, believing it would be a shame to have to split them. However, if it proves difficult to find a new home for the set we will consider offers for the table and chairs sold separately.
Circa 1980s
An excellent example of a solid oak Book Trough made by the former mouseman craftsman Peter ‘Rabbitman’ Heap of Wetwang, near Driffield with his signature carved rabbit carved prominently to the top right side panel. Finished in a medium fumed and wax polished with wonderful medullary ray graining to the book ledge.
Rarer to the market than the equivalent mouseman item.
Size: 47(w) x 20.5(d) x 22.5(h incl rabbit)cm
Circa 1950s & later
Currently in our showroom storage area, awaiting a full sympathetic clean and refinish which will include stripping the worn varnish from the top. It will make a fine and interesting piece when completed.
A most interesting 4’6″ kidney shaped coffee table by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson with a thick adzed single plank top and signature mouse carved to the side edge. Visible wedged joints in the table top confirm it originally stood on four splayed and tapered octagonally carved legs and the overall height would probably have been taller than the current height. It looks to us that one of the legs has broken at some point in the past, likely to be in the 1970s, and a decision was then made cut off the original legs and have a new shorter design of leg professionally made to turn it into a coffee table. It’s not known who made the replacement legs, it doesn’t look like Robert Thompson’s work to us, but is likely to be a well trained craftsman as the joints are typical Yorkshire school pegged and glued construction, the leg design very much in the arts and crafts traditional design.
Provenance: St. Martin’s Prep School at Kirkdale Manor, Nawton, near Helmsley. Gifted to a long standing teacher when the school closed in 2001 and sourced sourced directly from them recently.
Size: 138(l) x 57(w) x 48(h)cm
Circa early 1920s
A stunning and very rare bespoke commissioned early solid oak 5’5″ sideboard / cupboard by Robert ‘Mousman’ Thompson of Kilburn. Of adzed all over rectangular form with a twin planked top with curved tails carved to the front corner edges, standing on four legs with decorative chamfers to the inside front. To the front, a fixed central panel with ornate decorative carving and latched doors either side, again with intricate decorative scrolled carving, opening to reveal the inner storage areas. Complimented by wrought iron latches and hinges. Single adzed side panels with twin plank panels to the rear. An early signature mouse with raised head is carved to one side leg, likely to be one of the rare instances of being a later addition, when numerous other items where commissioned for the family and after Robert had developed his now famous mouse signature, thought to be in 1923/24, but not trade registered until 1931.
Beautiful colour and patina, some expected slight plank joint splitting to the ends of the top and in one of the rear planks. Slight traces of a bowl or large vase being placed centrally on the top which we decided to leave as removal may have been detrimental to the colour and patina.
The design inspiration for this unique piece is heavily influenced by a 15th century piece in Louth church, Lincolnshire, now known as ‘Sudbury’s Hutch’, so named having been donated to the church by vicar Thomas Sudbury. Robert clearly admired the medieval craftsmanship of this particular piece as he also went on to produce his own replica copy of ‘Sudbury’s Hutch’, possibly for another client, copying the original carvings of Henry V11 and Elizabeth of York in the door panels, together with the tudor roses of the Houses of Lancaster and York. Bought back many years later by Robert Thompson’s descendent’s, it now has pride of place in their workshop museum at Kilburn. Enclosed in the image montage below are photographs of the original 15th C piece and Robert Thompson’s replica from circa 1930; the design influences are striking.
Excellent provenance, from the estate of James Thompson-Schwab of Kingfield House, Penton, Cumbria whose parents and grandparents were very early clients of Robert’s and commissioned a significant number of pieces, several of which we have been fortunate to acquire.
Size: 165(w) x 59.5(d) x 80(h)cm
Circa 1960s /early 70s
An excellent solid oak blanket or storage box by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson of KIlburn, North Yorkshire. Of rectangular form with an adzed single plank top with cleated ends. Subtly adzed also to the framework and feet in line with earlier craftsmanship. Six Inlaid oak panels to the front, two to each side, two to the rear. Complimented by traditional wrought iron hinge fittings and a signature mouse, beautifully carved in high relief to one lower octagonal front foot.
Excellent condition and colour inside and out, sized slightly differently to more modern made pieces.
Size: 104(w) x 39(d) x 47(h)cm
Circa 1950s/early 60s
An excellent solid oak 4’6 1/2″ blanket or storage box by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson of KIlburn, North Yorkshire. Of rectangular form with an adzed single plank top with cleated ends. Subtly adzed also to the framework and panelling in line with earlier craftsmanship. Eight Inlaid oak panels to the front, two to each side, two to the rear. Complimented by traditional wrought iron hinge fittings and a signature mouse, beautifully carved in high relief to one lower octagonal front foot.
Excellent condition and colour inside and out.
Size: 138.5(w) x 40(d) x 46.5(h)cm
Circa 1940s/50s
A superb earlier made example of the sought after solid oak Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Horseshoe Pin Dish / Tray with a metal horseshoe nailed to the top. It presents in excellent aged condition with a signature mouse carving.
Size: 11.5(W) x 10(d) x 4.3(h)cm
Circa 1940s/50s
A beautifully coloured and patinated earlier made solid oak serving tray by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson of Kilburn. Of typical kidney shaped form with raised outer lip, adzed centre and twin carved mice handles.
Very minor splinter to the lower rear base, slight wear to the mouse handles from usage.
Size: 47.5(w) x 33(d) x 2(h)
Circa early 1960s
A wonderfully aged and patinated leather seated dressing stool by the ex mouseman craftsman Wilf ‘Squirrelman’ Hutchinson of Husthwaite, near Thirsk. Of typical rectangular form with upholstery studded leather seat supported on four octagonally carved legs, joined by stretchers. Wilf’s early signature squirrel carved to one leg.
The frame in excellent sound condition with no loose joints and excellent colour. The original leather hide seat is cracked to the edges but remains fully useable and has been conditioned and polished.
Size: 40(w) x 30(d) x 46(h)cm
Circa 1980s
An excellent example of a solid oak cheeseboard of kidney shaped form made by the former mouseman craftsman Peter ‘Rabbitman’ Heap of Wetwang, near Driffield with his signature carved rabbit carved prominently to the board.
Superb unused condition, finished in a medium fumed and wax polished with wonderful medullary ray graining
Rarer to the market than the equivalent mouseman item.
Size: 35.5(l) x 14(w) x 4.5(h)cm
