This richly decorated Killarney davenport, or writing desk, is probably mid to late 19th century in date. The writing slope is decorated with an image of Glena Cottage (destroyed 1920), flanked on either side by a Killarney Fern. Below, the two doors are decorated with images of Ross Castle (left) and Muckross Abbey (right).
The remainder of the davenport is richly decorated with a wide variety of motifs including shamrocks, oak leaves and acorns, rose sprays etc. There is also a depiction of an eagle (left side) and a harp (inside). The two dark wood uprights, or pillars, at front are decorated with shamrock carvings, with ferns at base.
Killarney Inlaid Furniture: A Brief History.
During the 1820s bog oak and bog yew, found in bogs close to Killarney town, began to be used to produce wooden goods for tourists. By the late 1830s the wood of the native arbutus (Arbutus unedo) was also being exploited to produce inlaid items. This industry was well established by the late 1840s.
Items of furniture produced by this inlaid arbutus industry included: cabinets, chiffoniers, davenports and games’ tables. Smaller items were also produced. The inlaid motifs included representations of local tourist sites including: Muckross House, Muckross Abbey, Killarney House, Glena Cottage, Ross Castle, Innisfallen, etc. Representations of the eagle, deer and Irish harp were also used, while decorative borders included shamrocks, ferns, oak leaves and acorns, roses, holly leaves, etc.
This Killarney industry was in decline by the 1880s. However, between 1929 and 1952 the production of inlaid arbutus furniture continued in the Gap of Dunloe. with.