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Introduced to Muckross House by the Bourn Vincent family, probably c. 1911.

c. 187.96 x 88.9 cm

The bronze statue is attached to a marble stand.

Mercury was believed to be the messenger of the Roman Gods and was also associated with commerce.

The interior of this teapoy, or tea caddy, originally contained three glass, or porcelain bowls, for the mixing and blending of loose-leaved tea. It is supported by a central stem on tripod feet.

Teapoys evolved during the latter part of the 18th century. At that time tea was still a luxury item, enjoyed only by the most affluent in society. Until well into the 19th century teapoys were normally fitted with a lock and the key was usually in the possession of the lady of the house. It was she too who was normally responsible for blending the loose tea leaves.

This high quality cabinet is made from ebonised timber, mainly pear with a central panel in ebony.

The upper portion of the two door panels are decorated with scenes of Ross Castle and Muckross Abbey. The lower portions are decorated with sprays of Killarney Fern. The plinth is decorated with shamrocks, as are the internal drawers. The figure of a deer sits atop the cabinet.

This Killarney inlaid games table probably dates to the late 19th century. The substrate is of pine, veneered with arbutus and yew.

The table opens out to reveal inlaid surfaces for the playing of chess, backgammon and cribbage, bordered by trailing shamrocks and oak leaves. The decoration also includes depictions of a number of well-known tourist attractions, such as Muckross Abbey and Glena cottage (destroyed 1920).

The table is supported by a bulbous column and base, decorated with trailing shamrock and claw feet.

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, 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.

This circular Killarney inlaid, tilt-top, tripod table probably dates to the mid to late 19th century. It is decorated with a central roundel containing an image of Muckross Abbey. The roundel is enclosed, in turn, by trailing shamrocks.

Along the outer edge, a band of additional roundels depict well known tourist sites including Glena Cottage, the Old Weir Bridge and Innisfallen. The table has a pie crust edging and paw feet.

Killarney 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, 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.

To either side of the fireplace stands a wooden pole screen of Asian, probably Chinese, origin. The high quality decoration on these two objects was made using gold powder and a black resin known as urushi.

Pole screens were used to deflect the heat from the faces of those sitting closest to the fire. The screens could be raised and lowered to suit the height of each individual.

Pole screens began to grow in popularity from the mid-18th century. At that time both men and women wore heavy wax make-up to disguise skin imperfections. However, these particular examples probably date to the late 19th or early 20th century.

This Grand Piano of eight octaves is in excellent condition and is one of the original Muckross House furnishings. It is a very high status object and was made by Broadwood, one of Queen Victoria’s preferred piano manufacturers.

The piano is of Brazilian rosewood, with gadroon edging, carved tapered legs with foliate capitals and acanthus-leaf carvings. It has a lute-shaped pedal platform and Cole and Colinson castors.

The piano was completed at Horseferry Workshops, Westminister, London, on 9th April 1845. The manufacturing record describes it as a ‘patent repetition grand pianoforte, compass c to g.’ The Serial Number on the piano is 16,321.

On 8th July 1845 the piano was delivered to Farlow’s Wharfe, London. It was addressed to ‘Lady Eleanor Balfour, care of Henry Arthur Herbert Esq of Muckross Abbey, Killarney, care of William Bourke Esq, Patrick St., Cork.’ Eleanor Balfour was Herbert’s mother-in-law. The piano was loaded on the steamship ‘Ocean’, destined for Ireland. The shipping cost was 8s/6d and the travel insurance was also 8s/6d.

Introduced to Muckross House by the Bourn Vincent family, probably c. 1911.

c.109.22 x 74.93 cm”