Originally considered just another 20th century burr oak tallboy among a stack of material from a house clearance brought into the Hazel Grove rooms of Maxwells (15% buyer’s premium), opinions changed when a carved mouse was noticed on the lower left leg.
By the time it appeared at the Cheshire rooms on August 16 it had been upgraded to a pre-war Robert Thompson piece with an £1500-2000 estimate, which was more than justified when it went to a north of England buyer at £5800.