This October, one of the most important private collections of Mouseman to appear at Tennants will go under the hammer in the 20th Century Design Sale. Comprising over forty lots of Mouseman and ten lots by other Yorkshire Critter Carvers, the collection was carefully curated by Colin and Doreen Stott of West Yorkshire, and every piece has been immaculately cared for. Colin and Doreen Stott, farmers by trade, began their collecting journey in 1987 during a visit to North Yorkshire. It was there they discovered the renowned furniture maker Robert Thompson. This sparked a keen interest in finely crafted woodwork, which grew into a remarkable collection of rare and distinctive pieces. Their passion led them to explore the work of the Yorkshire Critters influenced by Thompson’s legacy, each with their unique hallmark. Over the years it became more than a hobby but a source of great pleasure and pride of ownership.
Leading the collection is a very rare pair of English Oak Panelled Double Wardrobes, offered with an estimate of £20,000-25,000 (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). Beautifully patinated, each wardrobe is inscribed to the top with a Yorkshire rose, a Scottish thistle, and the date 1934. An English Oak Panelled Dressing Chest and Mirror of small proportions from the 1930s is expected to sell for £6,000-8,000, and a very rare English Oak Carving of Fighting Stallions carved by Stan Dodds, one of the master craftsmen working at the Workshop of Robert Thompson carries an estimate of £12,000-14,000. Oak is extremely difficult to carve, and the intricate and delicate work is a testament to the skill of Dodds, who later went on to carve under his own signature critter of a Woodpecker.
In addition, a host of rare and early pieces of Mouseman from other private vendors will be on offer, too, the earliest of which is a very rare ‘Pre-Mouse’ English Oak 7’6” Refectory Table, which was commissioned by the Clay family of worsted manufacturers in Huddersfield in the 1920s (estimate: £2,000-3,000). In contrast to this imposing table is a possibly unique diminutive English Oak Octagonal Table measuring just 29.5cm high, likely made for a child (estimate: £1,000-1,500). A 1929 English Oak Bureau commissioned by Thomas Mallen (1901-1982), owner and manager of R.C. Mallen Gentleman’s Outfitters in Vine Place, Sunderland (estimate: £4,000-6,000), an English Burr Oak Club Fender dated 1951 and inscribed with the original owners’ initials (estimate: £2,000-3,000), and a circa 1980s English Oak Mantel Clock carved to either side with elephants (estimate: £3,000-5,000) are also expected to attract high-levels of interest.
Aside from Mouseman, other outstanding lots in the sale include the last ever pot made by Monica Young, master potter. Measuring almost 1.5m high, the pot will be offered with an estimate of £2,000-3,000 (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). Monica Young (1929-2004) was an extraordinary potter; self-taught, she created monumental sculptural pots from her studio in Reeth, in the Yorkshire Dales.
An important Electroplated Decanter designed circa 1880 by the ‘Grandfather of Modern Design’ Dr Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) will be offered with an estimate of £5,000-7,000; made by Hukin and Heath, the decanter has an ivory handle and is sold with a CITES certificate deeming it a ‘pre-1918 item of outstanding high artistic value, cultural or historical value’ in accordance with the Ivory Act 2018. Christopher Dresser is considered the first industrial designer, who sought to produce beautiful, practical domestic ware for the machine age. Working as an independent designer for numerous manufacturers, he designed an extraordinary range of products from ceramics to metalware, which had key roles in the development of design in the 20th century.
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