Acornman (Ex-Mouseman) Arts & Crafts Yorkshire School English Oak Tea Trolley

An Arts & Crafts Yorkshire School tea trolley by Alan 'Acornman' Grainger (ex-Mouseman) made in 1963. The upper section lifts off from the base to become two individual occasional tables. Can be used as a trolley and converts to twin coffee tables. . Featuring:

• Solid English Oak

• Two sections the lower one on castors

• Made with traditional blind tenons secured with pegs

• Subtly adzed (the subtle surface rippling synonymous with Yorkshire School furniture)

Approximate dimensions are:

• Overall Height 680mm (2 feet 2 3/4 inches)

• Overall Length 640mm (2 feet 1 inch)

• Overall Depth 415mm (1 foot 4 1/4 inches)

• Height of each section 315mm (1 foot and 1/4 of an inch)

c. 1970

Alan Grainger's inset finely carved signature acorn motif.

Very good condition, tight joints and original finish. Some minor wear to the finish in places. If you wish to have further specific photographs or talk to us for a more detailed condition report then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Acorn Industries was started by George Grainger, a former Robert "Mouseman' Thompson craftsman, in the mid-30s. He trained his son Alan (and Derek 'Lizardman' Slater) who then took over and developed the business. Renowned for high quality pieces, all hand made, usually from English oak and bearing the acorn mark

The most British of woods, that can produce really special results. English oak has been used for hundreds of years to construct everything from sea-going vessels to fine furniture. Although oak grows widely across Europe and North America, craftsmen continue to cherish English oak which grows more slowly than its foreign counterparts giving it strength, durability. Quarter sawn boards are very straight grained and have distinctive growth rings and medullary rays that give a very beautiful effect as well as being renowned for their superior stability and strength

The Yorkshire School of the Arts & Crafts movement started with Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson's  transformation from jobbing carpenter to master craftsmen. By the mid-1920s he had adopted his trademark mouse (now world renowned as a symbol of quality furniture) and had his own workshop busily employing several men. As the workshop grew and over the years many of the craftsmen have taken their skills and branched out and adopted a trademark of their own, a fox, a lizard, a fish, a rabbit to name but a few, and whilst some have closely stuck to the Mouseman designs others have taken the style and adapted it. Other craftsmen, unconnected to the Mouseman workshop, have also chosen the classic Yorkshire Oak style as their own. Typical Yorkshire school items are in English Oak, with traditional pegged joints and adzed surfaces