The estate of the late Marie Hartley MBE, who died in May 2006 includes an impressive collection of authentic period Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson Arts and Crafts English Oak furniture, which is to be auctioned in Tennants’ Decorative Arts Sale on 23rd September 2006.

Marie Hartley MBE is famous for creating a unique record of the past way of life in the Yorkshire Dales. She devoted her life to conserving the history of the Yorkshire Dales, and co-wrote many books, several of them pioneering works.

From Marie Hartley’s estate there will be eight ‘Mouseman’ pieces of furniture including an Oak Solid Dish-top Cow Stool (with a 7cm thick top) (estimate £300-£500), an Oak 1930’s Refectory Table (estimate £1,200-£1,800), a 1930’s Oak Bench (estimate £400-£600) and a Chest of Drawers (estimate £500-£700).

Tennants is the place for Authentic, Period ‘Mouseman’ Furniture and other ‘Critters’

Tennants is becoming known as the place to buy and sell genuine period pieces of this popular and collectable furniture from the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Diane Sinnott, Head of Decorative Arts for Tennants Auctioneers says “I am delighted that we are seeing so much of this fine quality period furniture which is local to the area and which sells so well at auction.  It is a favourite for its timeless appeal, simple lines, wonderful colour and practical function. Buyers should always be mindful of fakes which are entering the market at low prices from the Far East, and which will have no residual value in the future.  However, at Tennants, genuine pieces, especially from the 1920’s and 1930’s, are bringing good prices in today’s market and I would recommend buyers only use reputable auction houses or buy direct from the craftsmen themselves to ensure they are buying the genuine article.”

At their last sale in May, Tennants saw some high prices being made on a large collection of period ‘Mouseman’ furniture and accessories.  A post 1945 Oak Chest of Drawers sold for £4,800 (estimate £800-£1,200), a 1920’s/1930’s Oak Monks Chair sold for £2,300 (estimate £600-£800) and a pre-1945 Oak Standard Lamp went for £900 (estimate £700-£1,000).  Also, a very desirable carved figure of an Oak Owl holding a mouse in its talon (post 1945) sold for £1,300 (estimate (£700-£1,000).  All had the carved mouse signature of the makers, Robert Thompson of Kilburn.

Items in the forthcoming Decorative Arts Sale

Some of the ‘Mouseman’ pieces coming up for sale on 23rd September are a large Bishop’s Chair with a carved crest of the College of York (estimate £800 - £1,200) and a specially commissioned small refectory table dating from 1935 (estimate £800-£1,200).  Also, there is a pair of reading chairs dating from 1937 (£800-£1,200) and a standard lamp of the same period together with period photographs showing their provenance (£700 -£1,000).  An unusual oak carved Shire Horse (estimate £700 -£1,000) will also be included in the sale.

Where the mouse came from and why its so popular

The reasons for the popularity of ‘Mouseman’ furniture are manifold and it has a wonderful history. Born in 1876, Robert Thompson started this family business in the village of Kilburn in the North Yorkshire Moors and through the carving of a small mouse on every piece of furniture he made, he became known as the ‘Mouseman’. The story told by Robert Thompson himself is that one of his craftsmen remarked “We are all as poor as church mice”, whereupon Robert carved a mouse on the church screen he was working on. That particular mouse has never been found but it has continued as a trade mark of quality and the dedication of his craftsmen ever since.

Fashions in furniture come and go, but demand for ‘Mouseman’ furniture has remained incredibly strong. Perhaps one of the reasons the period pieces are so popular today is that the seasoned oak from which the furniture is made has a wonderful patina and colour which has darkened with age to a rich warm brown.  The furniture is also very practical to use, being ideally proportioned for today’s homes and its style and clean lines appeal to all generations.

Other ‘Critters’

In addition to ‘Mouseman’ furniture, the sale includes a number of items from other craftsmen who work in oak and use other ‘critters’ as their trade marks.  These include a table (estimate £500-£700), 6 chairs (estimate £800 - £1,200) and a dresser (estimate £700-£1,000) dating from the 1960’s to 1970’s by Thomas ‘Gnomeman’ Whittaker.  From Wilf ‘Squirrelman’ Hutchinson there is a set of bedroom furniture including a wardrobe (estimate £700-£1,000), 2 dressing tables (£400-£600 each), a bed (estimate 250-£350) and various stools (estimate £70-£100 each), and from Martin ‘Lizardman’ Dutton, a desk dating from 1937 (estimate £200-£300).

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Mouseman chest of drawers

Mouseman bench

Mouseman cow stool

Mouseman refectory table

Mouseman Shire horse

Mouseman reading chair