The Mouse that Roared!

The next day another little creature caught the attention of another Cardiff audience - this time at our Cardiff Monthly auction where one little squeaker made a significant sum.

George Tinworth (1843-1913)

This particular mouse was a stoneware model by the famous ceramicist George Tinworth - one of his Lambeth mice. These figures are very rare, and fought over by collectors. Born on 5th November 1843.

George Tinworth was an English ceramicist who worked at the Royal Doulton factory at Lambeth until his death in 1913. Growing up in extreme poverty, he was the only one of four sons to survive through infancy. He was the apprentice of his greengrocer-turned-wheelwright father, Joshua. He spent his spare time carving off cuts, which developed his blooming talent as a child and also allowed him to discover his passion for the craft. He started to carve butter stamps, which was noticed by a local foreman plasterer the street next to where he lived, who suggested he should go on to study art anatomy.

Coming from poverty, at age 19 he chose to pawn his overcoat to pay for evening classes at the local ‘Lambeth School of Art’ in Kennington Park Road, which is now known as ‘City and Guilds of London Art School’. He would hide these classes from his father as he was brought up to follow in his footsteps, whereas George wanted to focus on his craft. His mother assisted him in keeping this secret from his father, going as far to lie about his whereabouts in the evenings whilst he was at his classes.

Before he sold any of his work, Tinworth held down multiple jobs such as mending cartwheels, the same skill his father wanted him to chase. He also worked in a fireworks factory in which he earned half a crown per week. After this, he worked at a hot presser, working from 7am to 9pm, for 4 shillings a week. The year he began studying at Lambeth, he created the piece ‘The Mocking of Christ’, which to this day is displayed at the Cuming Museum. During his studies, he was a part of a group of students who assisted the headmaster, John Sparkes, in the creation of a terracotta frieze for an extension to the Doulton premises.

At age 21, after his studies at Lambeth, he went on to win a place at the Royal Academy Schools and won various medals for his work. After the death of his father, he struggled to support himself as well as his mother, which was noticed by former headmaster John Sparkes. Sparkes managed to persuade his friend Henry Doulton to employ Tinworth, and in 1886 went on to join Lambeth stoneware manufacturer Doulton. Initially, he made cases for water fillers, but soon moved on to producing the then new salt-glazed stoneware, ‘Doulton Ware’. Roughly 30 pieces went on to be shown at the 1987 Paris exhibition. In 1872, Tinworth created the ‘History of England’ vase. It went on to be shown at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Doulton sent in 1500 of their best pieces, and is considered to be the height and prime of Henry Doulton and Doulton Lambeth pottery.

Sadly in 1913, while on the way to work via Putney Railway Station, Tinworth died. He was buried in his mother’s plot at West Norwood Cemetery. Unfortunately, the monument on the tomb was destroyed in the 1980s by the London Borough of Lambeth as they reused graves for new burials. After a descendant protested, a plaque was issued commemorating those buried in the plot. Throughout his career, Tinworth regularly referenced religious and biblical beliefs and often produced pieces for churches. His work can still be found in the likes of York Minster, Truro Cathedral, St Gabriel’s Church, and many more.

Tinworth was known for various designs, such as vases, animals and comical figures. By far one of the most collectible sides to his work is his mice. Lighthearted and comical, they were initially designed as flower and menu holders. Some were modelled to be chess pieces, or even paperweights. 

The mouse that roared at our Cardiff Monthly the morning after his rodent cousin invaded the Cardiff City pitch was in the form of an Organ Grinder. With one mouse playing a barrel organ and his buddy holding a triangle. Both were raised on titled oval base, impressed and had the incised marks and stood at just 8.5cms high.

There were further exciting prices at the Cardiff Monthly including a pair of Howard Chairs which smashed their estimate of £800-1500 to hammer at £5400 and a rare silver askos that tore away to £4200 from an estimate of £1000-1500. 

Entries now invited for our November Cardiff Monthly.