Record Price For A Mouseman Table Sold At A Yorkshire School Auction

Imagine your old school dining table. A bit worn, covered in scratches, probably the survivor of countless school dinners. Now imagine that same table being worth more than a luxury sports car. It sounds unbelievable, but that is exactly what happened in East Yorkshire, where two former school dining tables smashed a world record, selling for a combined £78,000.

This was no ordinary school furniture. These were handcrafted Mouseman tables, created by one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated craftsmen, complete with the famous tiny carved mouse.

A record sale at a Yorkshire auction

Over the weekend of November 22 and 23, the Hawleys Antiques and Fine Art Auction at Beverley Racecourse was buzzing with excitement. The headline stars were two enormous dining tables built by Robert Thompson, the legendary Mouseman furniture maker.

Bidders phoned in from across the world, including one determined buyer calling from Hawaii. The main attraction was a 6 metre long table, crafted in 1937 from a single piece of oak. It sold for an incredible £42,000 to a buyer in Yorkshire, setting a new world record for any piece of Mouseman furniture.

The second table, made in 1935 and measuring nearly 5 metres, sold for £36,000 to the Canadian bidder.

Auctioneer Caroline Hawley said: “We are incredibly proud to announce a new world record for a piece of Mouseman furniture. The £42,000 paid for the 1937 table sets a new benchmark for Mouseman craftmanship.”

It was, without doubt, a historic moment for collectors and fans of Yorkshire craftsmanship.

---

More than just a guide price

What made the sale even more astonishing was how far the final prices exceeded expectations. The 1937 table had a guide price of £8,000 to £12,000. It sold for more than triple the top estimate. The 1935 table was expected to fetch £5,000 to £8,000, but it achieved £36,000.

The matching Mouseman benches, sold to the same bidders, also far surpassed their estimates, fetching between £540 and £3,000 each.

Caroline Hawley summed up the occasion perfectly: “Two superb results. Two new records. One unforgettable auction.”

---

The school behind the special furniture

The tables and benches came from Moorlands School in Leeds, an independent prep school that has educated children for almost 130 years. Sadly, the school is closing its doors in December due to challenging economic conditions.

The Mouseman tables were the heart of school life. Generations of children sat at them for lunch, looked for the carved mice, and chatted with friends.

Head teacher Jacky Atkinson said: “It was where the children and staff chatted together at lunchtime and for other meals. These tables brought everyone together.”

A mother and her young son, a former pupil, came to the auction hoping to buy a piece of the school’s history. Caroline Hawley described the atmosphere as deeply emotional, with many parents too upset to attend.

---

So, what is all the fuss about a carved mouse?

The huge prices become easier to understand when you know the story of the Mouseman. Robert Thompson of Kilburn, North Yorkshire, is regarded as one of the greatest furniture makers of the 20th century. His trademark carved mouse began as a joke after an apprentice mentioned they were “as poor as church mice”. Thompson decided to carve a tiny mouse on his furniture, and the tradition stuck.

Today, the mouse is a symbol of authenticity, craftsmanship and Yorkshire heritage. Every piece from the Kilburn workshop still features that hand carved mouse, just as Thompson intended.

Before this auction, the world record for Mouseman furniture belonged to Sotheby’s New York, which sold a 1923 cupboard for around £40,460. Thanks to this sale, the record has now been brought home to Yorkshire.

---

It is not just about the mouse

Thompson inspired an entire generation of craftsmen known as the Yorkshire Critters. Many trained in his workshop before setting up their own studios, carving animals like rabbits, squirrels and woodpeckers into their work.

Their pieces were also sold at the auction and fetched strong prices, proving that the appeal of this traditional Yorkshire workmanship remains incredibly strong. One standout item was a Mouseman oak meat platter with a signature mouse, which sold for £900.

For those who want to experience the excitement of a live auction, Hawleys’ next Antiques and Fine Art Auction will take place at Beverley Racecourse on March 7 and 8, 2026.