Acornman

ARTS AND CRAFTS FURNITURE

Alan Grainger Senior started working at Bradsby in North Yorkshire in 1934, after learning his craft at Medds in Easingwold. When Alan’s son, Alan Grainger Junior, joined the firm in 1958 Acorn Industries was formed and a year later they started using the 'acorn’ trademark. During the 1960s they were employing seven craftsmen with many other former apprentices setting up their own workshops in the area. The company closed in 2005 when Alan Grainger’s grandson Derek, the last family member of the business, retired.

On Wednesday 6th March we are offering these pieces from the Acorn workshop.

Lot 465
An "Acornman" Coffee table.  107cm long
Estimate £50-£80 

Lot 466
A set of "Acornman" oak dining chairs comprising 6 single and 2 carvers, all with ladder backs.
Estimate £300-£500

Lot 468
An oak "Acornman" dresser with raised back, 3 drawers to the front, below 4 panelled doors,
supported on octagonal legs.
Estimate £300-£400

Lot 467
 An "Acornman" oak refectory table. 214cm long, 89cm wide
Estimate £200-£300

All pieces are hand made from solid English oak and bear the acorn mark. Surfaces finished with the adze having a distinctive ripple. The chairs have ladder backs. The dining and coffee tables have shaped end supports leading down to sledge feet and traditionally pegged central stretchers. The dresser has distinctive wooden handles and wrought iron hinges.
This furniture is part of an Arts and Crafts movement known as the "Yorkshire Critters" made up of a band of apprentices and strong followers of Robert "Mouseman" Thompson. Robert Thompson of Kilburn, known as the 'Mouseman', worked in North Yorkshire. Thompson was born in 1876 and died 1955 and he started his business as a maker of ecclesiastical oak furnishings and furniture. It has been suggested that the ‘critters’ trademark came about by accident in 1919 after Robert Thompson had told one of his colleagues that he was 'as poor as a church mouse.’ At the time he was carving a cornice for a screen and this random remark inspired him to carve a small mouse which went on to become a trademark for all his works.