A really superb, vintage Wilf 'Squirrelman' Hutchinson dark oak fruit bowl - circa 1960s / 70s. The colour is wonderful, and the signature squirrel, eating a little nut, has been so well carved to the centre of the bowl. The bowl has been beautifully adzed to the exterior and the interior has been tooled, which really adds character. It is in excellent condition. The only imperfection that can be seen is a small indentation on the rim, not really noticeable, but should be pointed out. So often these bowls are stained to the interior from fruit acid, however, this bowl is free from staining, it could possibly have just been used for display. A great piece.
 
Wilf 'Squirrelman' Hutchinson was one of Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson's craftsmen. He started working for Mouseman in 1951. He left in 1957 and set up his own workshop, adopting the little squirrel eating a nut as his signature. His work, especially his earlier pieces, has become very sought after by collectors, particularly his smaller items that display well, such as fruit bowls.