A lovely example of an early Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson dark oak fruit bowl - circa 1940. It has been really well made with the signature mouse carved on the outside of the bowl. It is an unusually small size, the diameter measuring just 22.5 cm, a fair bit smaller than the later bowls which measure 30.5 cm.
Regarding condition, it is very good with no damage, just a bit of wear commensurate with age and use. The colour of the interior of the bowl is slightly uneven due to a bit of fruit acid staining - quite common with these early Mouseman bowls. Other than that, the condition is great. It has been professionally cleaned, polished, and waxed, so it is a great display piece. Or you could put your fruit in it! The patination is excellent and the colour is wonderful. A fabulous, early Mouseman piece.
These early bowls are 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.
