Robert (Mouseman) Thompson (7 May 1876 – 8 December 1955), also known as 'Mousey' Thompson,[1] was a British furniture maker. He was born and lived in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, England, where he set up a business manufacturing oak furniture, which featured a carved mouse on almost every piece.[2][3]
Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson in his workshopThompson's trademark carving on the altar rail in Kilburn Parish Church, North Yorkshire
It is claimed that the mouse motif came about accidentally in 1919 following a conversation about "being as poor as a church mouse", which took place between Thompson and one of his colleagues during the carving of a cornice for a screen.[citation needed] This chance remark led to him carving a mouse and this remained part of his work from this point onwards.
The workshop, now being run by his descendants, includes a showroom and visitors' centre,[4] and is located beside the Parish Church, which contains "Mouseman" pews, fittings and other furniture. The company is now known as "Robert Thompson's Craftsmen Ltd – The Mouseman of Kilburn."
Fr Paul Nevill, a former Headmaster of Ampleforth College, asked Thompson to make the Ampleforth Abbey's furniture;[2] the school liked it so much that Ampleforth kept asking Thompson for more work, including the library and most of the main building. Most of Ampleforth College's houses are now decorated with Robert Thompson's furniture.
Others, including former apprentices who continued in his style working in Yorkshire oak, adopted similar identifying marks and nicknames. These makers include Thomas "Gnomeman" Whittaker (1910–1991), Derek "Lizardman" Slater, Colin "Beaverman" Almack, Robert "Rabbitman" Heap, Graham "Swanman" Duncalf, Alan "Acornman" Grainger, Wilf "Squirrelman" Hutchinson, Albert "Eagleman" Jeffray, Malcolm "Foxman" Pipes, and Shaw & Riley "The Seahorsemen of Hessay".[5]
^Walker, Sarah (22 May 2020). "Discovering North Yorkshire's other Scotch Corner". Darlington & Stockton Times. Darlington. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
^ ab"The History of Robert Thompson – Mouseman® of Kilburn". www.mousemanfurniture.com. Vintage Mouseman Furniture. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^"History – The Visitor Centre". www.robertthompsons.co.uk. UK: Robert Thompson's Craftsmen Ltd. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^Judith Miller, Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2022-2023 (London: Octopus, 2022), p. 554: Judith Miller, Miller's Arts & Crafts: Living with the Arts & Crafts Style (London, 2017).
^"Collection Stories: Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson". Skipton Town Hall. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Thompson (designer).
Company homepage
How do you tell if it is a genuine 'Mouseman' item?
Dedication board in Old Malton War Memorial Hall, quite close to Kilburn
November 23, 2023
robert, thompson, designer, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, october, 2019, template, removal, help, robert, mo. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2019 template removal help Robert Mouseman Thompson 7 May 1876 8 December 1955 also known as Mousey Thompson 1 was a British furniture maker He was born and lived in Kilburn North Yorkshire England where he set up a business manufacturing oak furniture which featured a carved mouse on almost every piece 2 3 Robert Mouseman Thompson in his workshop Thompson s trademark carving on the altar rail in Kilburn Parish Church North YorkshireIt is claimed that the mouse motif came about accidentally in 1919 following a conversation about being as poor as a church mouse which took place between Thompson and one of his colleagues during the carving of a cornice for a screen citation needed This chance remark led to him carving a mouse and this remained part of his work from this point onwards Thompson was part of the 1920s revival of craftsmanship inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement led by William Morris John Ruskin and Thomas Carlyle More specific to furniture making in this genre and era include Stanley Webb Davies of Windermere The workshop now being run by his descendants includes a showroom and visitors centre 4 and is located beside the Parish Church which contains Mouseman pews fittings and other furniture The company is now known as Robert Thompson s Craftsmen Ltd The Mouseman of Kilburn Fr Paul Nevill a former Headmaster of Ampleforth College asked Thompson to make the Ampleforth Abbey s furniture 2 the school liked it so much that Ampleforth kept asking Thompson for more work including the library and most of the main building Most of Ampleforth College s houses are now decorated with Robert Thompson s furniture Others including former apprentices who continued in his style working in Yorkshire oak adopted similar identifying marks and nicknames These makers include Thomas Gnomeman Whittaker 1910 1991 Derek Lizardman Slater Colin Beaverman Almack Robert Rabbitman Heap Graham Swanman Duncalf Alan Acornman Grainger Wilf Squirrelman Hutchinson Albert Eagleman Jeffray Malcolm Foxman Pipes and Shaw amp Riley The Seahorsemen of Hessay 5 Gallery edit nbsp Mouseman lychgate at Greenhow North Yorkshire nbsp Mouse on the Greenhow lychgate nbsp Mouseman Visitor Centre in Kilburn North YorkshireWhere to see Mouseman furniture editMouseman Visitor CentreAll Saints Church Allesley Bangor Cathedral 6 St Mary s Church Beverley Craven Museum amp Gallery 7 The Museum of North Craven Life The Folly Settle North Yorkshire St Nicholas Church Stevenage pews 1964 The Peacock at Rowsley Derbyshire Ampleforth AbbeyReferences edit Walker Sarah 22 May 2020 Discovering North Yorkshire s other Scotch Corner Darlington amp Stockton Times Darlington Retrieved 12 September 2021 a b The History of Robert Thompson Mouseman of Kilburn www mousemanfurniture com Vintage Mouseman Furniture Retrieved 28 October 2019 Robert Mouseman Thompson 1876 1955 www sworder co uk UK Sworders Retrieved 28 October 2019 History The Visitor Centre www robertthompsons co uk UK Robert Thompson s Craftsmen Ltd Retrieved 28 October 2019 Judith Miller Miller s Antiques Handbook amp Price Guide 2022 2023 London Octopus 2022 p 554 Judith Miller Miller s Arts amp Crafts Living with the Arts amp Crafts Style London 2017 Geograph Thompson mouse in Bangor cathedral c Meirion www geograph org uk Retrieved 16 May 2022 Collection Stories Robert Mouseman Thompson Skipton Town Hall Retrieved 1 October 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Thompson designer Company homepage How do you tell if it is a genuine Mouseman item Dedication board in Old Malton War Memorial Hall quite close to Kilburn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Thompson designer amp oldid 1178145723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
