Georgian Antiques

Description

Circa 1960. Quality solid oak rectangular handmade Yorkshire ”critter” refectory table by Sid Pollard. The 4.5cm thick rectangular top with rounded corners and adzed surface, supported on typical “critter” shaped pedestals with a curved, pegged stretcher, over paired plinths. In excellent condition. The quality of the craftsmanship and timber indicates it is by Sid Pollard who did not sign most of his work
165cm Long, 85cm Wide, 75cm High


The Yorkshire Critter Carvers comprise of over 40 craftsmen, 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.
About Sid Pollard
Sid Pollard used the carved Rabbit as a trademark on some of his early items of furniture prior to Peter Heap adopting the Rabbit for his trademark. Sid then stopped using a 'critter', so almost all his work is unmarked
Sid Pollard (Ex-Mouseman): One of Robert 'Mouseman)' Thompson's early apprentices. One of the few apprentices not to choose a trademark animal for his own work, (although some early items reportedly initially a rabbit motif), his work is almost always unmarked, preferring to let his craftsmanship speak for itself