Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson carved oak armchair, made in December 1927 and delivered in January 1928, with a distinctive early-form carved mouse signature. Commissioned by George Bolton, solicitor to Thompson, this adzed and tooled oak chair has a curved top rail carved with contrasting masks: one with a furrowed brow, open mouth and protruding tongue, the other hooded with drapery across the mouth. Below is a shaped back splat with geometric floral carving. Shaped, out-swept arms have conforming side splats and octagonal baluster supports; the woven leather seat is raised on octagonal baluster legs joined by a box stretcher. The carved mouse on the arm support retains distinctly defined front paws.
Provenance is by family descent from George Bolton of Byland House, Moorhead Lane, Shipley, to the present vendor. Robert Thompson’s Craftsmen verbally confirmed the January 1928 supply, recorded as “two armchairs at 5 guineas”.
The chair predates Thompson’s 1931 registered mouse trademark. Diane Sinnott and Harriet Hunter Smart, in *Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson 1876–1955: Arts & Crafts Furniture Maker & Designer* (Tennants exhibition catalogue, 2016, p. 11), note Bolton’s connection with Thompson’s original “patent mouse” and suggest this chair may be among the earliest examples or an inspiration for it. For sale at auction with Duggleby Auctioneers.