The Mouse that Roars

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.

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.

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.