Oak Armchair by Robert Mouseman Thompson, 1940s

Robert (mouseman) thompson. (1876-1955) a naturally seasoned oak wood with cow hide leather slung back and cushion. It has the carved mouse signature on the front of the leg. Robert thompson known as ‘mousey’ was a british furniture maker from kilburn in north yorkshire where he set up a business manufacturing oak furniture, which featured a carved mouse on almost every piece. 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. Thompson was part of a 1920s revival of craftsmanship, inspired by the arts & crafts movement.