Celebrating 150 Years of Mouseman


September 2026

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Robert Thompson, the Yorkshire craftsman whose carved mouse became one of the most recognisable marks in British furniture. Working from Kilburn in North Yorkshire, Thompson created solid oak furniture using traditional methods at a time when mass production was reshaping the furniture trade. In 1919, while carving a large screen, a passing joke about being “poor as a church mouse” led him to carve a small mouse into the piece, a simple detail that became his signature. More than a century later, the mouse remains instantly recognisable, quietly carved into furniture and furnishings that continue to appeal to collectors and interiors buyers alike.

Earlier this year, Dugglebys held the first in our new Yorkshire Masters & Makers sale, celebrating Mouseman alongside other leading Yorkshire oak craftsmen and workshops. Following strong interest from buyers, our next sale will take place later this year.

Mouseman remains popular for its quality, character and unmistakable identity; handmade Yorkshire oak furniture with a story that continues to capture attention across generations.
Our Mouseman and Yorkshire Oak department handles furniture and furnishings by Robert Thompson of Kilburn, alongside works by the wider group of Yorkshire oak craftsmen.

Yorkshire oak continues to attract strong interest at auction, with Mouseman remaining the most recognisable name in the field. Buyers are drawn to the quality of the oak, the hand-finished surfaces and the character of the carved workshop marks.

These pieces often come to us through private homes, family collections and estate valuations, where they may have been used and enjoyed for many years. 

Discover Our Recent Sale Highlights

From record-breaking Mouseman furniture to objects with remarkable provenance and personal history, here is a selection of lots that caught the eye and the prices they achieved.
A circa 1920s adzed oak settle by Robert Thompson of Kilburn, its cresting rail carved with the inscription 'Before Honour is Humility', with four panel back, plank seat and shaped end supports carved with grotesque mask terminals. Complete with the signature carved mouse, it sold for £8,000.

A rare 1930s tub-shaped oak armchair, made by Robert Thompson apprentice Graham Hayes and offered by family descent. Its quality, provenance and poignant wartime history helped it achieve £10,500, a record price for a Mouseman chair. You can read more about this special chair here on our blog.
This substantial 1940s panelled and adzed oak front door illustrates the strong demand for Mouseman architectural pieces. Featuring rope-twist iron handles and the characteristic carved mouse, it sold for £6,200.

A pair of oak triple mouse bookends, each carved and tooled with three mice by the workshop of Robert Thompson of Kilburn, sold for £2,000.

Unusually rare in form, this 1920s octagonal oak candlestick of squat form with lappet top carries a left-facing fat mouse signature with long tail, one of the earlier and more distinctive variations of Thompson's celebrated mark. It achieved £2,100.

An exceptional oak eight-day grandmother clock, with it’s characteristically adzed finish, high quality Sinclair Harding movement, glazed panels revealing the brass cased weights and signature carved mouse, realised £7,800.

Know Your Critters...

While Robert Thompson’s carved mouse is undoubtedly the most famous workshop signature, it is far from the only one. Collectors will also encounter a fascinating variety of carved creatures created by other Yorkshire oak craftsmen.

Here are just some of the names we see perform well regularly at auction.
• Mouseman | Robert Thompson
• Beaverman | Colin Almack
• Gnomeman | Thomas Whittaker
• Rabbitman | Peter Heap
• Squirrelman | Wilf Hutchinson
• Wrenman | Bob Hunter
• Woodpeckerman | Stan Dodds

Do You Have Mouseman or Yorkshire Oak Ready To Sell?

We are now accepting entries for our forthcoming Yorkshire Masters & Makers Sale, an auction dedicated to the artistry, craftsmanship, and creative heritage of Yorkshire’s most skilled and celebrated makers.

This specialist event will honour the county’s exceptional design legacy — from Yorkshire Oak furniture and the renowned Mouseman and other ‘critter’ workshops, to studio pottery, fine art, and decorative crafts by Yorkshire’s leading artists, potters, and furniture makers.

We’re seeking works by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson, Colin Almack (Beaverman), Wilf Hutchinson (Squirrelman), Alan Grainger (Foxman), Stan Dodds, and David Bowman, alongside studio ceramics by David Lloyd Jones, Mick and Sally Casson, Wally Keeler, and John Ward, as well as artworks and decorative pieces with strong Yorkshire provenance or inspiration.

From handcrafted oak and distinctive ceramics to paintings, sculpture, and design pieces that reflect the spirit of Yorkshire craftsmanship, this sale will celebrate the county’s enduring influence on British art and design.

If you have items by Yorkshire artists, potters, or makers, or pieces with a story rooted in the region, we’d be delighted to hear from you. The deadline for entries is Friday 23rd October.
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