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The Mouse that Roars

Mouseman is the sobriquet of Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson (1876-1955) who signed his handcrafted oak furniture with a distinctive carved mouse.

The Signature Mouse
The Signature Mouse

Thompson was born and worked in Kilburn, Yorkshire where his descendants continue to make 'Mouseman' furniture in the same arts and crafts tradition to this day. The Mouse represents more than a unique signature, it represents high quality craftsmanship in English oak, with the results being furniture and household objects that are robust, honest and built to last.

Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson
Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson

Other than the carved mouse one of the distinctive features of his work is the ‘adzed’ finish - a soft, rippled effect to the surface and is used on the top of larger pieces such as tables and sideboards. To create this effect the craftsman stands on the wood, and wielding an adze (looks a bit like a hoe), he cuts broad slithers out of the surface. The skill in this is to do so evenly in depth but to have an almost organic ripple overall. Some of the copyists of his work never quite get this right and usually their ‘adzing’ looks more regimented.

Adze marks
Adze marks

Thompson's furniture spawned a whole school of other Yorkshire vernacular craftsman working in the same vein with nicknames (and appropriate signatures) including Gnomeman, Squirrelman and Acornman – some of which started out as Thompson’ apprentices.

Below are some of the Mouseman lots we have offered for auction in recent months. The market for Mouseman is as strong as it ever has been. If you have any item of Mouseman then now is an excellent time to sell, please contact our auction team for a no-obligation appraisal.

Mouseman Dresser

ROBERT "MOUSEMAN" THOMPSON (KILBURN) ADZED OAK 5ft DRESSER

£2700

Robert Mouseman Dresser SOLD 2700

Mouseman Sideboard

ROBERT "MOUSEMAN" THOMPSON (KILBURN) ADZED OAK 6ft DISPLAY SIDEBOARD

£4400

Robert Mouseman Oak Sideboard SOLD 4400

Mouseman Milking Stool

ROBERT "MOUSEMAN" THOMPSON (KILBURN) MILKING STOOL

£360

7b288f60 61b5 4f53 8419 aeca0097ede3

Mouseman Sideboard

ROBERT "MOUSEMAN" THOMPSON (KILBURN) ADZED OAK 6ft SIDEBOARD

£3800

Robert Mouseman Sideboard SOLD 3800

Mouseman Book Troughs

PAIR ROBERT 'MOUSEMAN' THOMPSON OAK BOOK TROUGHS

£500

78b4c5bc 2b50 4281 9b1f aed301006f68

Imminent Auctions

IMG 3803

Furniture & Interiors

5 November 2024 10:00 AM
Colwyn Bay Saleroom, North Wales

Browse & Bid

IMG 3748

The Club House including the Richard Shepherd Collection

6 November 2024 10:00 AM
Cardiff Saleroom, South Wales

Browse & Bid

Jewellery, Collectables & Fine Art

12 November 2024 10:00 AM
Colwyn Bay Saleroom, North Wales
Entries invited

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