20th Century Design Sale Results: 1st March

The craftsman-made Yorkshire oak furniture of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson continues to be in high demand at auction, with strong prices achieved throughout. Indeed, every piece of Mouseman and Yorkshire Critter furniture and furnishings in the sale was sold. Leading the way were two period 1930s pieces, which were made for Ronald and Lilian Crossley’s Arts and Crafts house Tudor Croft in Guisborough. The pieces comprised a 1933 Mouseman Burr Oak Log Box (sold for £5,500 all figures exclude buyer’s premium), and a circa 1934 Mouseman English Oak Dinner Gong with two signature mice (sold for £5,500). Ron Crossley ran the family brickworks in Commondale, and the house was constructed using their speciality 'Tudor' bricks. Robert Thompson was commissioned to help fit the house, including panelling the living and dining rooms, fitting and inglenook fireplace, beams, and front door as well as free-standing pieces of furniture. Further notable results for Mouseman included a 1930s Burr Oak Panelled Floor Standing Cupboard (sold for £4,200), a 1930s English Oak 10’6” Refectory Table and two English Oak Longcase Clocks which sold for £3,200 and £3,000. 

A group of important pieces of Arts and Crafts Silver from the Lion Collection was also on offer. The Lion Collection was carefully curated by John L. Davis, who is renowned for his collections of tobacco boxes, caddy spoons, buckles and contemporary silver, all of which have been researched and published by the owner. Highlights of the collection included an Arts and Crafts Silver and Enamel Vase (sold for £6,000) and a Pair of Arts & Crafts Silver and Enamel Beakers (sold for £4,500), both designed by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co.

The sale also saw the sale of part of the Dr Eileen Cobb Collection, including a colourful selection of decorative pottery cats. The top lot of the collection was a Lucky Sphinx Cat designed in 1914 by Louis Wain for Max Emanuel and Co., which sold for £2,500. Dr Cobb was a pioneering example of a woman who entered the male-dominated medical profession in the 1950s, rising to the rank of Senior Registrar and working in paediatric anaesthesia at Great Ormand Street Hospital. Alongside her husband, surgeon Nigel Cobb, she spent her retirement travelling and avidly collecting furniture, furnishings and antiques for their homes, with a special interest in Chinese porcelain and cats.

Further highlights from the Cobb collection included an example of the Serendipity 2 Chair by John Makepeace (sold for £5,000). The Serendipity 2 Chair was originally designed for use by the Chancellor and Principal in Plymouth University’s graduation ceremonies, and examples are held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Strong bidding was seen throughout the contemporary furniture section, which saw top prices achieved for two bespoke sofas, a Modular Three-Piece Bay Window Sofa by Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler (sold for £3,800), and a Six Piece Togo Modular Settee by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset (sold for £2,800).

Finally, an exceptional Arts and Crafts Donegal Carpet, made circa 1900 by Alexander Morton and Co., sold for £5,000. Designed by Gavin Morton, the rug was made in the company’s Donegal plant where they made carpets based on Turkish designs aimed at the market created by Arts & Crafts supremo William Morris.

The sale achieved a total hammer price of £172,330 for 249 lots, and an 89% sold rate.

View Results