A superb 1930s Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson chapel chair with a burr oak seat with some lovely patterns in the grain and some natural knots and cracks. There are also some knots and burrs appearing elsewhere on the chair, which really add character to the piece. The seat has been adzed, which is very rare to see.
 
A telescope has been carved onto the back panel, which again is extremely rare, this example possibly being the only one. The telescope is used to observe the skies, stars, and celestial bodies like planets. Carved on a piece of furniture that has come from a chapel or church, it most likely symbolises finding God or Heaven.
 
There is another chair in stock that came from the same chapel, it has crossed keys carved onto the back of it, they symbolise the keys to get into heaven. Both chairs would make a fine pair. Especially as one has a symbol (the telescope) for finding heaven, and the other a symbol (crossed keys) of being able to unlock the gates to get into heaven. In ecclesiastical terms, crossed keys symbolise the 'keys of heaven'. The symbolism originates from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus says to the Apostle Peter: 'I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven'. 
 
Regarding condition, it is very good. It has a chip and crack at the back of the back panel, right at the bottom - please see picture. There is also a similar, smaller crack to the bottom of one of the back legs. Other than that, the chair just has a few faint stains (which would polish out), and wear in line with almost 100 years of regular use. It is a gorgeous dark oak colour, and it also has wonderful patination. Being a chapel chair, it has a shelf underneath the seat for the bible.
 
The whole chair has been adzed, even the legs, and bible shelf, which again is quite rare. After the mid 1940s Mouseman stopped fully adzing chairs due to the second world war. Unfortunately, some of his craftsmen were killed in action, and he found it difficult to recruit others. So, he began adzing just the back panels to save on time. 
 
The height of the chair measures 90 cm. The width is 45 cm. The depth is 45 cm. The seat height is 47 cm.
 
All in all, it is a stunning Mouseman piece. It came from a chapel in Yorkshire and is in original, unrestored condition. The signature mouse has been carved on the front, right leg and has no damage.
 
It is commonly known that a lot of Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson's work was devoted to the inside furnishing of churches. The famous mouse signature came about when he was carving a church cornice with one of his craftsmen. In a letter to Revd. John H. W. Fisher, dated 10th February 1949, he wrote -
 
The origin of the mouse as my mark was almost in the way of being an accident. I and another carver were carving a huge cornice for a screen and he happened to say something about being as poor as a church mouse. I said I'll carve a mouse here and did so, then it struck me, what a lovely trademark. This is about 30 years ago.
 
Extract from The Mouseman of Kilburn. The Story of Robert Thompson and the 'Church Mouse'
 
UK delivery is £45.00