A lovely example of a Thomas 'Gnomeman' Whittaker spinning chair / stool - circa 1960s / 70s. All hand carved with the signature gnome and a beautiful Yorkshire rose carved to the back splat. It is a great gingerbread colour, and the seat and splat have been fully adzed, which almost looks like honeycomb. It looks very rustic in style; quite a charming piece.
 
The condition is good with just wear and tear commensurate with around 60 years of use, some scuffs, scratches etc, especially to the seat, as can be seen in the pictures. There is also a small chip to the seat which can easily be filled. There is a bit of movement in the joint where the splat meets the seat, not really noticeable, but should be pointed out. It is a solid chair with no movement in the legs, so it's still suitable for everyday use.
 
The full height of the chair measures 93 cm. The depth is 48 cm. The seat height is 40 cm. The width of the seat is 26.5 cm. 
 
Thomas 'Gnomeman' Whittaker (1910 - 1991) was a craftsman based in North Yorkshire. He was heavily influenced by Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson. His designs are based on Mouseman pieces, but they tend to be more rustic in their style. He was inspired to use the gnome to sign his pieces as, according to legend, a gnome is born each time an acorn germinates, and it will guard the oak tree throughout its life. Gnomeman pieces have become highly sought after since his death, some commanding higher prices than Mouseman pieces because of their rarity.