FDA-A.2002-2020

Object number

FDA-A.2002-2020

Object type

chair

Title

‘Beaverman' Suite

Title Type

assigned by cataloguer

Description

‘Beaverman' oak dining room suite, comprising 12 chairs, two armchairs and a dining table en suite; the chairs upholstered in cream leather, all carved with a beaver

Comments

A number of skilled craftsmen left the workshop of Robert ‘Mouseman' Thompson in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, to trade employing their own unique signature. One of these was the master cabinetmaker and wood carver Colin ‘Beaverman' Almack, who was trained by Robert ‘Mouseman' Thompson in the 1940's. His trademark was a carving of a beaver and he went on to found his own workshop in the nearby village of Thirsk, in 1960, later moving the business to Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe in the 1970's.

Colin ‘Beaverman' Almack was commissioned to make this suite for the Head Master's Chambers at Eton College during the early 1990's, by the then Head Master Eric Anderson. A beaver is carved into each piece of the suite.

After Almack's death, his son-in-law David Glegg took over the workshop and continued to use the carved beaver trademark.

Material

oak
leather

Physical description

‘Beaverman' oak dining room suite; comprising 12 chairs, two carvers and a dining table; the chairs with shaped top-rail and open-back with a latticework panel, above a rectangular padded seat upholstered in cream leather, on facetted baluster front legs joined by stretchers, leg carved with a beaver, with similarly carved armchairs, the arm carved with a beaver; the table en suite with rectangular planked top, the stretcher carved with a beaver