Yorkshire Masters & Makers


March 2026

Our forthcoming Yorkshire Masters & Makers sale celebrates the remarkable tradition of craftsmanship, design and artistic talent rooted in the county. From the iconic oak furniture of Robert Thompson’s Mouseman workshop to sculpture and painting by Yorkshire artists, the auction highlights the enduring influence of regional makers whose work continues to shape collectors’ taste.

We are pleased to share a selection of pieces already consigned, offering a glimpse of the quality and character that define this auction. We are actively inviting similar works from collectors and private vendors.

Mouseman: The Legacy of Robert Thompson

Few Yorkshire makers command the recognition of Robert “Mouseman” Thompson of Kilburn, whose distinctive oak furniture and carved mouse signature have become synonymous with Arts and Crafts craftsmanship.

Leading the section is a 1937 Mouseman refectory table commissioned for Sir Herbert Baker’s Westminster Church House project, estimated at £8,000–12,000. With its adzed plank top, octagonal baluster supports and pegged stretcher, the table represents Thompson’s mature style. The carved details to the sled bases, depicting a partridge and a loaf of bread, add an unusual decorative flourish to an already historically interesting commission. A charming early piece follows in a circa 1927 burr oak Mouseman stool, estimated at £1,000–2,000. Its dished top and octagonal supports are typical of Thompson’s early work, while the carved mouse signature confirms its origin from the Kilburn workshop.

Completing the trio is a 1920s/30s Mouseman open back bookcase, estimated at £1,200–2,000. Featuring an adzed scalloped top and adjustable shelving, the piece carries a particularly bold “fat mouse” signature and demonstrates the functional simplicity that has made Thompson’s furniture so widely collected. 

Yorkshire Craft Traditions

Beyond Mouseman, Yorkshire is home to a remarkable lineage of furniture makers, some directly inspired by Thompson’s legacy.

A fine example comes from Sid Pollard of Thirsk, whose octagonal adzed oak dining table (estimate £800–1,200) reflects the same emphasis on hand worked surfaces and honest materials that defines the Arts and Crafts tradition. Equally distinctive is a charming Gnomeman oak table lamp by Thomas Whittaker of Littlebeck, estimated at £400–800. Carved with a seated gnome resting against a tree stump, the piece embodies the whimsical character that has made Gnomeman furniture particularly sought after by collectors.

From the Acornman workshop of Alan Grainger in Brandsby, an oak adzed panelled double wardrobe (estimate £500–800) showcases the continuation of Kilburn’s carving tradition. With wrought iron fittings and Grainger’s carved acorn signature, it represents the next generation of Yorkshire craftsmanship.

Yorkshire in Paint & Bronze

The sale also celebrates Yorkshire’s artistic heritage through sculpture and painting inspired by the county’s landscapes and rural life.

A highlight already consigned is Sally Arnup’s bronze Labrador, signed and numbered III/X and mounted on a marble base, estimated at £2,000–3,000. Arnup, a respected British sculptor and Royal British Society of Sculptors member, is particularly admired for her sensitive animal studies.

Landscape painting also features strongly, including William Greaves’ view of Thornton le Dale, estimated at £400–600. Greaves’ work often captures the quiet charm of North Yorkshire villages, making his paintings popular with regional collectors. Similarly rooted in place is James Leslie Brooke’s Castle Hill from Chapel Hill, Almondbury, estimated at £300–500. Brooke, active throughout the twentieth century, frequently painted Yorkshire scenes with a distinctive clarity and sense of atmosphere.

Consign to Yorkshire Masters & Makers

These early consignments demonstrate the breadth of work we are seeking for the upcoming sale. With the deadline for entries approaching, we are actively inviting further consignments. If you own works by Robert Thompson, Yorkshire Arts and Crafts makers, regional artists or decorative objects connected to the county’s rich creative heritage, our specialists would be delighted to advise.

Get in touch today to discuss your pieces and secure their place in this celebration of Yorkshire’s masters and makers.
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