Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson Solid Brown Oak Tray (kidney shape) - 1960's

Price: £325

Robert "Mouseman" Thompson, a later kidney shaped solid oak tray, the curved shape has been hand carved from a single piece of english oak, with two carved mice handles as detail to the edge of the tray, height 2cm. Tray overall is 48cm x 33 cm. This tray shows a delicate adzed surface and has an excellent rich characteristic golden colour, and is in very good waxed condition. The carved mice have good detail, are adzed, and have high backs which is all indicative of the 1960's period.

This tray has been made from the rare and valuable Brown Oak which makes it very special. It has taken a beautiful polish and developed a rich, warm patina resulting in the silky smooth feel which is warm to the touch. The colour is unusual in that it is so rich, which is the result of the combination of the brown oak, the fuming, and the waxed finish. No stain has been employed, and the dark pigment tiger-striping of the oak is very beautiful. This makes the tray both doubly gorgeous and an exceptionally unusual and collectable item. 

English Brown Oak is one of the rarest oaks of the world. Brown Oak is English White Oak that turns a deep brown color from a fungal attack that brings about chemical change to the tree. This valuable brown oak owes its russet disolouration to the work of the Beef Steak Fungus. Brown oak comes from a very few English oak trees in which the timber in the trunk of the tree is coloured by a naturally occuring fungus. This does not degrade the wood in any way except to turn the heartwood a rich deep brown colour which goes right through the cheeseboard. It is apparently impossible to tell whether or not a given tree will contain any of this natural brown oak until it is felled.

This tray has been handcarved from a piece of quartersawn solid English Oak with influences from a bygone age, fumed with ammonia to give a warm nut brown colour. Golden medullary ray flecks, wavy grain, and interlocked grain are all visually enhanced with quarter-sawn english oak. The subtle “adzed” finish is similar to beaten copper but with larger, shallow indentations and any movement reflects the light in a beautiful way to make the cheeseboard look almost “alive”.

Here is the unique opportunity to purchase a rare and unusual modern Mouseman item. Today's Mouseman heirloom furniture, will become the sought after and valuable antiques of tommorrow. 

Mousey Thompson Tray
Mouseman solid english oak adzed tray 2 mice handles.	Rich colour and very pleasing grain pattern.
Each tray handle is carved as the mouse in solid english oak.	Nicely carved mouse. The unique signature of a master carver.