Peter Heap ‘Rabbitman’
Peter ‘Rabbitman’ Heap (1945-2022) was an ex Mouseman craftsman who trained and worked at Robert Thompson’s throughout the 1960s. He left to set up his own Oak Rabbit Crafts business in 1971 in Wetwang, near Driffield, adopting and registering a rabbit signature. This had been used earlier in the 1960s by Stan Dodds, the master carver at Thompson’s, when making his own items at home in his shed.
Working in oak his furniture items mostly followed the Mousey Thompson tradition in design, with a slight twist, whilst some of his smaller gift / collectable pieces are quite unique. His reputation is very high amongst collectors of Yorkshire oak furniture.
He was later joined by his son in the business, together with ex Mouseman craftsman Patrick Tite. The business operated until 2000.