A really unusual early Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson lightly burred oak fruit bowl - circa 1940. It has been beautifully carved from a piece of oak that has on one side a darker band with a natural burr-induced pattern which gives the bowl a unique appearance, adding character and charm.
 
The signature mouse has been expertly carved on the outside of the bowl, so it is much rarer than the later bowls that have the mouse in the bowl. Mouseman carved the mouse in the well of the fruit bowls from the early 1960s onwards. These examples often come to the market. The earlier made bowls with the mouse on the outside are harder to source and are therefore more sought after by collectors, especially heavily burred early oak bowls which can command very high prices. This example is lightly burred, so priced accordingly.
 
Regarding condition, it is very good with no damage, just some dark patches in the inside of the bowl from fruit acid. The diameter measures only 23.5 cm, so a fair bit smaller than the later bowls that measure 30.5 cm. 
 
A great example of an early Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson fruit bowl.