Georgian Antiques

Description

Circa 1970’s. Oak adzed-top Yorkshire critter style refectory dining table by Lizardman. The 4cm thick adzed top with a lovely figured grain is supported on classical Robert “Mouseman” Thompson style octagonal pillars over plinth bases with a deep stretcher bearing a carved lizard signature. In excellent condition.

150cm Long x 83 cm Wide x 73 cm Tall

The Yorkshire Critters or Critter Carvers comprise of over 40 craftsman, working from the 1940s to the present day, who made oak furniture inspired by Robert “Mouseman” Thompson of Kilburn Yorkshire. Many of these Critter Carvers actually trained in Thompson’s Kilburn workshop before setting up their own craft shops. Using the same oak material, traditional hand tools and traditional techniques (especially adzed surfaces) as Mouseman Thompson, each craftsman created a signature carved ‘critter’ such as an animal (woodpecker, squirrel or beaver, i.e. Woodpeckerman, Squirrelman or Beaverman), acorn or human icon (e.g. Knight or Viking) to decorate and act as a signature and identify their oak pieces. The historical significance of Mouseman Thompson’s designs and style, the fine craftmanship, functional nature and beauty of Yorkshire Critter Carver’s oak furniture is enduring, and is reflected in the continued demand and robust prices for these items.
Two craftsmen used a lizard signature. Martin Dutton( Lizardman) from Huby Yorkshire (1921 -2009) was an apprenticed to Robert Mouseman Thompson. Like many other Robert Thompson trained cabinetmakers, he left and set up his own renowned workshop using the renowned carved lizard signature. Derek Slater of Crayke another Yorkshire Critter early solo work is carved with a fish, but later pieces were sometimes carved with a lizard and this table could be by him.