The 4ft 6in (1.37m) wide piece with the mouse carved in relief to the inner leg was estimated at £8000-1000 at the Harrogate sale on September 10 and sold at £23,000.
An earlier piece, before Thompson signed every single item with his mouse which he trademarked in 1931, was a c.1926-28 adzed burr oak panelled two-door cupboard with strap latches and batwing handles. Measuring 3ft high x 3ft 11in wide (91cm x 1.2m), it doubled expectations at £8500.
Eighteenth furniture has for years been a happy place for those on tight budgets and at Harrogate a pretty 3ft 2in (96cm) tall walnut crossbanded chest line inlaid with ebony and boxwood stringing doubled the lower estimate taking £500.
Superb quality
George III serpentine fronted commode - £13,000 at Morphets.
The sort of superb quality evinced by the George III serpentine fronted commode, above, costs more. The 3ft 7in (1.09m) wide chest with cockbeaded drawers flanked by canted corners carved in low relief with acanthus leaf was estimated at £4000-6000 and sold at £13,000.
