Arts and Crafts Company - "Yorkshire Critters" inventory update for 2010.

Arts and Crafts Company are pleased to announce the imminent arrival of several pieces of vintage "Yorkshire Critters" hand made Oak artisan furniture to our inventory.

Amongst the Yorkshire craftsman furniture en-route to Arts and Crafts Company is a Robert "Mouseman" Thompson Oak Octagonal Coffee Table (pictured above) £P.O.A.

Also arriving shortly are Seven (7) "Yorkshire Critters" electric floor and wall light fittings by the "Mouseman", "Beaverman" and "Wrenman" £P.O.A.

Other furniture inventory includes an Oak Telephone Table by "Lizardman" soon to be joined by several other vintage Oak furniture acquisitions, plus original 20th Century Art.

Please note, not all of our Yorkshire Oak artisan inventory is on display at Station Mill Antique Centre, Chipping Norton OX7 5HX (Open 7 days 10am - 5pm). Please email contact@arts-and-crafts-company.com should you require specific items as we may have access to the items you require amongst our ever growing inventory of "Yorkshire Critters" artisan Yorkshire Oak furniture for sale.

Should you wish to sell "Yorkshire Critters" Oak furniture, Arts and Crafts Company are always looking to add to our inventory of 20th Century Yorkshire artisan furniture.

Visit Arts and Crafts Company online @ http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/ specialist dealers in 20th Century "Yorkshire Critters" artisan furniture.

Mouseman continues to confound the experts...

St Joseph's Convent at Haunton Staffordshire recently decided to liquidate part of an early collection of 1930's Mouseman via a local provincial auction company.

Made according to the Kilburn workshops account book for "the Mother Superior" and estimated at just £300 - £400 by the midlands auctioneers, the Mouseman bookends at just 6 1/4" (pictured above) confounded the auctioneers to reach a bid of £2200 plus buyers premium. At over five times the experts upper estimate the hammer fell to an anonymous telephone bidder (luckily enough for St Joseph's Convent!).

Other items of note from the St Josephs Convent early Mouseman collection were an Oak Settle sold at £5400 plus buyers premium and an Octagonal Library Table sold at £4200 plus buyers premium.

Arts and Crafts Company are specialist dealers in vintage Yorkshire Oak from the Mouseman, his apprentices and followers, collectively known as the arts and crafts movement the "Yorkshire Critters" visit http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/

Email: contact@arts-and-crafts-company.com
Telephone: 07917 111141.

Showroom open 7 Days 10am - 5pm
Station Mill Antique Centre
Chipping Norton
Oxon OX7 5HX

Mouseman enters the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum in 2010.

As a friend of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum Stephen Sheppard MD of Arts and Crafts Company is delighted to report that new for 2010 in the Arts and Crafts Gallery in Cheltenham are displayed a number of pieces by the Yorkshire furniture maker Robert Thompson (1876 - 1955).

Recently acquired by the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum are a chair, a corner cabinet, wall sconces and two carvings all originating from the world famous "House of the Mouse" in Kilburn Yorkshire, now home to Robert Thompson's Craftsmen Limited.

The new additions to Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museums world renown Arts and Crafts Collection underlines the rising popularity of the artisan craftsmen collectively known as the "Yorkshire Critters". Interest in Robert Thompson and his apprentices artisan work in English Oak continues to be very strong and the market for furniture and artifacts by the Yorkshire craftsmen is extremely buoyant even during the recent global recession.

For more examples of the fascinating work from this sought after 20th Century Arts and Crafts movement visit Arts and Crafts Company @ http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/

Email contact@arts-and-crafts-company.com or Telephone 07917 111141 for details of our latest vintage Yorkshire craftsman inventory.

Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum

Interior design trends for 2010 - Arts and Crafts Company set the stage for the new year.

Happy New Year 2010 - What are the aficionados of the Interior Design World predicting for the new year?


Old is new again...

"Antiques and vintage pieces add soul to any space," explained interior designer Jay Jeffers, "and these types of items are sometimes negotiable in today's markets, so our clients are able to invest in key pieces for their home."


Artisan goods...

Just as artisan foods have taken off, expect the same for home furnishings and accessories. "Artisan work will continue to be strong," said interior designer Benjamin Dhong. "Even modernists want to see natural materials or the hand of the craftsman brought into their homes."


Mix it up...

"In general, I see a trend to a carefully edited 'anything goes' approach," said Kimberly Ayres. "Going forward in 2010, it's all about the mix and how you combine individual, disparate elements. The right classic 19th century piece will mix with certain vintage finds from the '70s and '80s and with pieces designed this year." She added, "Graphic modern print textiles work with traditional chairs and sofas."

On the way out in 2010...

Designing a room top to bottom with reproduction designer furniture is declining in 2010. We've seen too many homes filled with so much Eames, Bertoia and Saarinen they look like soulless showrooms. The unique and individual artisan interior is returning in 2010 complimented with a splash of colour.

However, not every trend is fleeting. A few years ago, going green was hailed as one of the hottest trends. Now it is becoming a standard throughout the interior design industry and at last - Antiques are Green.

Arts and Crafts Company offer unique vintage artisan natural oak furniture and original 20th century art. Visit us in 2010 @ http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/ or our showroom at Station Mill Antique Centre, Chipping Norton, Oxon open 7 days a week 10am - 5pm (except News Years Day).

Wishing you a Happy New Year 2010 from all @ Arts and Crafts Company.

Arts and Crafts Company Top Ten Christmas Shopping List Ideas...

Arts and Crafts Company have listed below just some of the unique quality Christmas gift ideas available from our inventory this year...


1. Dress the Christmas table with a unique pair of hand carved Yorkshire Oak Candlesticks for the festive season by Malcolm "Foxman" Pipes - £195.

2. Christmas cheer delivered in style on a hand carved Yorkshire Oak tray by Robert "Mouseman" Thompson - £SOLD.

3. Set the mood and light up the Christmas decorations with a hand carved Yorkshire Oak Table Lamp by Derek "Lizardman" Slater - £129.

4. Christmas magazines can be kept in order this festive season and many more to come in a hand carved Yorkshire Oak Magazine Rack by Alan "Acornman" Grainger - £295.

5. For a Christmas to remember why not indulge in a rare and special unique Elephant carving by one of the Master Carvers from the workshop of Robert "Mouseman" Thompson - £980.

6. From our selection of Fine Art an exhibition Arts and Crafts masterpiece signed gravure etching by the world renown furniture designer John Makepeace "Knot Chair" - £145 (available unframed so we can post it special delivery in time for Christmas - also available in a quality bespoke ash frame @ £225).

7. Festive Cheer - Toast the festive season with an Arts and Crafts silver goblet (2 available) by a Cheltenham Silversmith designed for the Tewkesbury Festival complete with fitted red velvet lined case - £145.

8. Pass the long winter evenings browsing through Scottish History (2 Volumes) bound in antique leather from Arts and Crafts Company's selection of fine bindings - £195.

9. Original Art to brighten up the walls on the dark winter evenings this Christmas would make a perfect gift, Edmond Eugène DUC (French 1856 - 1949) "Le Bain" Watercolour, Pen & Ink - £285.

10. The perfect Christmas stocking filler for all Mouseman aficionados - give the gift of knowledge with "The Legacy of Robert (Mouseman) Thompson of Kilburn" - £15.99.

All the items listed above may be reserved as seasonal gifts (subject to availability) via contact@arts-and-crafts-company.com or telephone 07917 111141 or visit the website at http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/.


Merry Christmas 2009 from
Arts and Crafts Company
http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/

'Twas the night before Christmas...

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… except in Chipping Norton that is!

Station Mill Antique Centre in Chipping Norton Oxfordshire is not the sort of place you would expect to encounter small “Critters” hidden amongst the antiques and furniture. However, on much closer inspection of Arts and Crafts Company stock of Yorkshire Oak furniture, young and old alike are surprised to find a Mouse, a Lizard, a Fox and even a Squirrel hiding amongst the Oak chair legs, cupboards and dressers, all drawing sounds of delight upon discovery.

Arts and Crafts Company specialise in vintage craftsman Yorkshire Oak furniture, each piece is hand crafted from English Oak and signed with the craftsmen’s own individual carved “Yorkshire Critter”.

The grandfather of the “Critters” was of course Robert “Mouseman” Thompson (1876 - 1955) of Kilburn in North Yorkshire. His trademark carved mouse adorns fine English Oak furniture all over the world and in some of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the country, including Westminster Abbey and York Minster. Much has been written about the “Mouseman” and his famous mouse has travelled far and wide, however, he also left behind a far reaching legacy of apprentices all of which served five years at the Kilburn workshops, some remaining for many more years with Mr Thompson before setting up independent workshops across North Yorkshire in England.

Arts and Crafts Company specialise in the hard to find limited output of the “Mouseman” apprentices and other independent Yorkshire craftsmen, such as Malcolm “Foxman” Pipes, Peter “Rabbitman” Heap and Martin “Lizardman” Dutton, all former “Mouseman” apprentices and employees at the Kilburn workshops in North Yorkshire.

Also on show at Station Mill Antiques Centre are examples of Tom “Gnomeman” Whittaker’s Yorkshire oak furniture, each piece carved with a small bearded Gnome. Legend has it that a Gnome is born every time an acorn sprouts, following which that gnome will then guard the Oak tree throughout its life, adding a further touch of magic to this wonderful English Oak furniture.

Experience the magic of this bygone age for yourself, visit Station Mill Antiques Centre, Station Road, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5HX. Telephone 01608 644563. Open 7 Days a week with ample parking and a Tearoom.

Or capture the magic of the “Yorkshire Critters” Online @ http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/

Arts and Crafts Company

Telephone 07917 111141

contact@arts-and-crafts-company.com

Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929 - The V&A London Exhibition 2010.

In September 2010 the V&A is staging a major exhibition, Serge Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929, looking at the work of the company and its cultural impact on 20th century design, choreography, music and art.

Pictured is one of four watercolours of stage designs for the Ballet Russe c1918 currently held in Arts and Crafts Company's inventory - email: contact@arts-and-crafts-company.com for more details.

The Ballets Russes is recognised as the most exciting dance company of the twentieth century influencing many aspects of theatre, music and fashion. It was established by Serge Diaghilev who had a remarkable ability to inspire original theatrical creations and promote dancers, composers and artists. He drew initially on the fin de siecle renaissance in Russian art – fine art, applied art and theatre arts - and subsequently involved the collaboration of many of the key figures in European music, dance, painting and sculpture. During the twenty-year period of its peripatetic existence, the company changed European sensibilities in music, colour and movement, pushing forward the frontiers of theatre and exerting an influence for the remainder of the century.

Victoria & Albert Museum - Ballet Russes 1909 - 1929

Arts and Crafts Company - Real Art in a Virtual World (c)
http://www.arts-and-crafts-company.com/
Telephone 07917 111141.