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Robert Thompson/Mouseman

Blackswanwood

Blackswanwood

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Robert
I was passing through Kilburn yesterday and couldn't resist a quick call into Robert Thompson's place ...

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The simplicity of these stools makes them even more attractive ...

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I'm inspired to have a go at this ...


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If you are looking for that special gift ...

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Finishing a linen chest

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Signing his work with his individual mouse ...

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A brilliant experience Robert, I used to drive past twice a week in a past life and called in a couple of times but that was 40 years ago before the visitor centre was built so I've only been to the old building.
 
There is a place 'tween Yawksha and Cumbria: Lord's Antiques; the auction centre, not the warehouse. They presently have a large collection of R.T. tables, chests of drawers, etc, all with the motif. Costly, but gorgeous and fascinating.
For me, the greatest design feature is that rippled table top you see above. It's on every sizeable horizontal surface on the pieces in Lord's. I'd love to know how they make it so uniform - and so subtle!
 
SamQ aka Ah! Q! said:
There is a place 'tween Yawksha and Cumbria: Lord's Antiques; the auction centre, not the warehouse. They presently have a large collection of R.T. tables, chests of drawers, etc, all with the motif. Costly, but gorgeous and fascinating.
For me, the greatest design feature is that rippled table top you see above. It's on every sizeable horizontal surface on the pieces in Lord's. I'd love to know how they make it so uniform - and so subtle!
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Yes it’s lovely, I’m guessing it’s done with an adze, but you probably knew that.
 
Cabinetman said:
Yes it’s lovely, I’m guessing it’s done with an adze, but you probably knew that.
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You are correct Ian - pictured here ...

www.robertthompsons.co.uk

From tree to table: the making of a Mouseman

The skill of Robert Thompson, the ‘Mouseman of Kilburn’, and the work of the craftsmen who continue his legacy today.
www.robertthompsons.co.uk www.robertthompsons.co.uk

I do wonder how long it takes an apprentice to achieve the required standard of uniformity when preparing a table top.
 
The more I see of the Mouseman stuff the more I love it. There's a great video on their site if you follow that link then head to the bottom of the page. They are a very proud and skilled family/business and I'm delighted they're carrying on Robert's legacy.
 
How wonderful. Incredible.....including the prices!! I'll bet old Robert Thompson would sit up in his grave and rub his eyes if someone said that a wooden bowl sells for £5000. I am definitely going to have to organise a visit one of these days.
 
Sam I love that scalloped affect also, might be fun putting a tall champaigne flute down. One of those stools look about my level, I might try and reproduce one. My wife offered me a piece for our fist wedding anniversary but got a watch instead. I dropped the watch and a hand fell off, I must get that fixed been meaning to do it for 25years.
 
wallace said:
Sam I love that scalloped affect also, might be fun putting a tall champaigne flute down. One of those stools look about my level, I might try and reproduce one. My wife offered me a piece for our fist wedding anniversary but got a watch instead. I dropped the watch and a hand fell off, I must get that fixed been meaning to do it for 25years.
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My wife bought me a watch for our wedding, self winder and the mechanism started playing up, took me at least 12 years to get round to having it repaired. It did require shipping to Switzerland which all felt a bit like hard work but I got there in the end. Not quite your 25 years though! :ROFLMAO:
 
I'm 21 years in. Its always a struggle, for her more than me 😆. But she has a super sharp tongue!!

Anyway, thanks for sharing the work @Blackswanwood and I note you mentioned something like,

Signing his work with his individual mouse ...
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Is there a faster way of carving them mice into the work or each one painstakingly time consuming! I always used to think the work was built around the mouse (as in, the mouse was gouge out into one side!). Amazing to say the least and I never knew they had an open/visitors workshop.

Might take my little one!
 
Planning a visit to Kilburn this year to see the factory, then probably go over to the BOP centre at Duncombe. Doubt i'll be buying any of the pieces at mouseman though.
 
We bought one of their small refectory coffee tables back in 1981 when we lived up in West Yorkshire, and visited Kilburn. It cost us around £200 at the time. But after over 40 years wear, the table was looking quite sad for itself. I just didnt want to try and restore it to its former glory in case I did irreparable damage to it, so got in touch with Thompson's with our original receipt from the time we bought it, and asked for a quote to refinish it. It has cost us over £400 to do so, but the table if we sold it would now be over £2400! Anyway it's a family heirloom now to be passed on when we are not around!
 
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