Pokerwork refers to a method of decorating wood or leather by burning a design into it, using a technique known as pyrography.. Even if the wooden object has very little burnt design, with most of the design having been painted, it is still called pokerwork. Thus, a vase may have a very small area at the top with a burnt design, and though the rest of the vase may be painted, it is still classified as pokerwork. Pokerwork as a technique is not restricted to wood, although wooden objects predominate. The technique is straightforward: a piece of metal is heated at its tip and pressed onto or drawn across the wooden surface. Repeated application produces a pattern. Pokerwork may have irregular burn marks as it  was very much a 'cottage industry'. Asian pokerwork copies that are available on the folk art market, have more regular burn marks.

72 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Large Kookaburra Australian pokerwork vase with original…

Rare Australian Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase with Humphrey Sticker - 31cm

Large Kookaburra Australian pokerwork vase with original Humphrey sticker to base, height 31 cm

Australian pokerwork vase, of tapered form, decorated with…

Australian Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase: Gum Leaves and Tapered Form

Australian pokerwork vase, of tapered form, decorated with kookaburra amongst gum leaves, height 20.5 cm

A pair of poker work hand-painted huon pine vases, circa 1920s,…

Hand-painted Huon Pine Poker Vases, 1920s

A pair of poker work hand-painted huon pine vases, circa 1920s, 33 cm high

Hand-painted pokerwork vase with fishing scene, circa 1925 31…

1925 Fishing Scene Pokerwork Vase, Hand-Painted, 31cm High

Hand-painted pokerwork vase with fishing scene, circa 1925 31 cm high

Hand-painted poker work vase with fairy wrens in landscape,…

Hand-painted Fairy Wren Vase, 1925

Hand-painted poker work vase with fairy wrens in landscape, circa 1925 23 cm high

A tall Australian poker work vase, circa 1920s, the high…

Tall Australian Poker Work Vase with Cottage Landscape

A tall Australian poker work vase, circa 1920s, the high shouldered wooden vase featuring a cottage in a landscape, 47 cm high

Vintage Australian 'Pokerwork' timber vase with Flannel flower…

Australian Pokerwork Vase with Flannel Flower Decoration

Vintage Australian 'Pokerwork' timber vase with Flannel flower decoration, height 15 cm

A rare Houn pine pokerwork vase 'Red Pointsettia' height 45 cm

Rare Houn Pine Pokerwork Vase - Red Pointsettia

A rare Houn pine pokerwork vase 'Red Pointsettia' height 45 cm

Pair of pokerwork vases, hand painted with red blossoms height…

Hand-painted Red Blossom Pokerwork Vases (49cm)

Pair of pokerwork vases, hand painted with red blossoms height 49 cm

Australian huon pine pokerwork vase with kookaburra and gum…

Huon Pine Pokerwork Vase with Kookaburra and Gum Blossom

Australian huon pine pokerwork vase with kookaburra and gum blossom decoration, circa 1920s, 25.5 cm high

Australian huon pine pokerwork vase with floral decoration,…

Huon Pine Pokerwork Vase with Floral Decoration (1920s)

Australian huon pine pokerwork vase with floral decoration, circa 1920s, 31.5 cm high

Australian huon pine pokerwork vase with opium poppy decoration,…

Huon Pine Opium Poppy Pokerwork Vase, 1920

Australian huon pine pokerwork vase with opium poppy decoration, circa 1920, an impressive 49 cm high

A group of spherical pokerwork vases, comprising an example…

Spherical Pokerwork Vases with Australian Wildlife and Flora

A group of spherical pokerwork vases, comprising an example with Art Deco style gum leaves and painted kookaburras, a koala decorated vase and a vase with flannel flowers. (3), height of largest 15 cm

Pokerwork koala vase, 20 cm high,

Pokerwork Koala Vase - 20 cm Height

Pokerwork koala vase, 20 cm high,

Australian Poker work squat vase, of globular form, decorated…

Kookaburra Poker Vase

Australian Poker work squat vase, of globular form, decorated with a kookaburra perched in a gum tree, height 10 cm

Two Australian pokerwork vases, circa 1930, 23 cm and 11.5 cm…

Australian Pokerwork Vases, Circa 1930

Two Australian pokerwork vases, circa 1930, 23 cm and 11.5 cm high

Three pokerwork kookaburra vases, circa 1930, the tallest 20.5…

1930 Pokerwork Kookaburra Vases Set of Three

Three pokerwork kookaburra vases, circa 1930, the tallest 20.5 cm high

Australian pokerwork vase with kookaburra and gum leaves, circa…

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase, 1920s

Australian pokerwork vase with kookaburra and gum leaves, circa 1920s, ?31 cm high

Bird of paradise Australian pokerwork vase with original foil…

Australian Pokerwork Vase with Bird of Paradise Design

Bird of paradise Australian pokerwork vase with original foil label 'R. Lording & Co. Decware, Australia', circa 1920s, 36 cm high

Round huon pine pokerwork kookaburra vase, 13 cm high

Huon Pine Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase

Round huon pine pokerwork kookaburra vase, 13 cm high

Australian poker work vases, serving tray and crumb tray with…

Early 20th Century Australian Poker Work Set

Australian poker work vases, serving tray and crumb tray with brush, early 20th century, the vases 25 cm high

Pokerwork fire screen decorated with koala & kookaburra, height…

Koala & Kookaburra Pokerwork Screen and Vases Set

Pokerwork fire screen decorated with koala & kookaburra, height 80 cm, width 60 cm; together with small pokerwork vases also with kookaburras, height 27 cm & 10 cm

Pair of pokerwork Australian vases decorated with Koalas

Koala Pokerwork Vases from Australia

Pair of pokerwork Australian vases decorated with Koalas

Australian pokerwork vase, of ovoid form with poinsettia…

Poinsettia Pokerwork Vase

Australian pokerwork vase, of ovoid form with poinsettia decoration, height 13 cm

An Australian pokerwork vase with leaf and berry motif, circa…

Australian Pokerwork Vase with Leaf and Berry Motif

An Australian pokerwork vase with leaf and berry motif, circa 1920, 15 cm high

Two Australian pokerwork vases, circa 1925, 51 cm and 31 cm high

Australian Pokerwork Vases, Circa 1925

Two Australian pokerwork vases, circa 1925, 51 cm and 31 cm high

A pokerwork vase with berries and leaves, Tasmanian origin,…

Tasmanian Pokerwork Vase with Berries and Leaves

A pokerwork vase with berries and leaves, Tasmanian origin, circa 1930s 45 cm high

A pokerwork vase finely decorated with the Goya Soap female…

Goya Soap Pokerwork Vase, Tasmanian Huon Pine, 1920s

A pokerwork vase finely decorated with the Goya Soap female figure, huon pine, Tasmanian origin, circa 1920s 45 cm high

Large pokerwork kookaburra vase in the tapered with a curved…

Kookaburra Vase with Gumtree Perch

Large pokerwork kookaburra vase in the tapered with a curved rim and shape and decorated with a kookaburra perched in a gumtree, height 36 cm

Pokerwork kookaburra vase of turned elongated form, showing…

Kookaburra Vase with Gum Leaves

Pokerwork kookaburra vase of turned elongated form, showing kookaburras amongst gum leaves. Height 23 cm

A pokerwork vase, depicting a cockatoo in flight. Height 37 cm

Cockatoo Flight Pokerwork Vase

A pokerwork vase, depicting a cockatoo in flight. Height 37 cm

An Australian Poker work timber vase, height 23 cm

Australian Timber Poker Vase - 23cm Height

An Australian Poker work timber vase, height 23 cm

Jenolan Caves souvenir pokerwork vase with rare kangaroo…

Jenolan Caves Kangaroo Pokerwork Souvenir Vase

Jenolan Caves souvenir pokerwork vase with rare kangaroo decoration, 11.5 cm high

A pokerwork vase with painted scene of Mt Wellington, titled…

Mt Wellington Pokerwork Vase - "Hobart"

A pokerwork vase with painted scene of Mt Wellington, titled 'Hobart', 12.5 cm high

Two pokerwork vases decorated with landscapes on red…

Red Landscape Pokerwork Vases - Set of Two

Two pokerwork vases decorated with landscapes on red backgrounds, tallest 20.5 cm high

A tall pokerwork vase with gumnuts and leaves, early 20th…

Tall Pokerwork Vase with Gumnuts and Leaves

A tall pokerwork vase with gumnuts and leaves, early 20th century, 31 cm high

A fine pokerwork vase decorated with kookaburras, 12.5h cm high

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase

A fine pokerwork vase decorated with kookaburras, 12.5h cm high

Three squat pokerwork vases decorated with koalas and…

Three squat pokerwork vases decorated with koalas and kookaburras including rare applied kookaburra decoration, tallest 10 cm high

A pokerwork vase decorated with kookaburras, 24 cm high

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase - 24cm

A pokerwork vase decorated with kookaburras, 24 cm high

A tall pokerwork vase decorated with two kookaburras, 30 cm high

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase - 30cm

A tall pokerwork vase decorated with two kookaburras, 30 cm high

Two pokerwork waratah vases, early 20th century, tallest 9 cm…

Pokerwork Waratah Vases, Early 20th Century

Two pokerwork waratah vases, early 20th century, tallest 9 cm high

An impressive pokerwork vase with hand painted boating scene,…

Boating Scene Pokerwork Vase - 46 cm Tall

An impressive pokerwork vase with hand painted boating scene, 46 cm tall

A pokerwork vase decorated with two kookaburras amongst gumnuts…

Kookaburras and Gumnuts Pokerwork Vase

A pokerwork vase decorated with two kookaburras amongst gumnuts and leaves, 26 cm high

A pokerwork vase decorated with hand painted kookaburra, 35 cm…

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase, 35cm

A pokerwork vase decorated with hand painted kookaburra, 35 cm high

A rare Australian pokerwork vase decorated with hand painted…

Australian Pokerwork Vase with Kookaburra and Koala Decoration

A rare Australian pokerwork vase decorated with hand painted kookaburra and koala amongst gum leaves, 40 cm high

Two vintage Australian pokerwork vases, one decorated with a…

Australian Pokerwork Vases with Kookaburra and Landscape Design

Two vintage Australian pokerwork vases, one decorated with a kookaburra, the other with Australian landscape, height 30 cm approx

An Hielco pokerwork vase, with brass slip. Depicting Australian…

Australian Bell Flowers and Blue Sparrow Pokerwork Vase

An Hielco pokerwork vase, with brass slip. Depicting Australian bell flowers and blue sparrow, height 24 cm

Early Australian pokerwork vase. Blue wren & gum leaf…

Australian Pokerwork Vase with Blue Wren Decoration

Early Australian pokerwork vase. Blue wren & gum leaf decoration. Provenance: Australian collector. Height 23 cm

Pokerwork kookaburra vase of turned elongated form, showing a…

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase

Pokerwork kookaburra vase of turned elongated form, showing a kookaburra amongst gumleaves. condition good, one scratch to the body, general age related Ware. Height 30.5 cm

Pokerwork kookaburra vase painted sitting amongst gumleaves.…

Kookaburra Vase with Gumleaves

Pokerwork kookaburra vase painted sitting amongst gumleaves. Condition good to fair, some minor scratches & wear. Height 35 cm

Large Australia pokerwork vase, with poinsettia decoration, 20…

Vintage Pokerwork Poinsettia Vase from Australia

Large Australia pokerwork vase, with poinsettia decoration, 20 cm high approx.

Large Australian pokerwork vase with Australian floral…

Australian Floral Pokerwork Vase - 30cm Height

Large Australian pokerwork vase with Australian floral decoration including flannel flowers, 30 cm high approx.

A pair of Australian pokerwork small timber vase, with koala…

Australian Pokerwork Koala Vase Set

A pair of Australian pokerwork small timber vase, with koala design. Height 10 cm

A Hiel Co. Ware pokerwork timber vase, with wattle and willy…

Wattle and Willy Wagtail Pokerwork Vase

A Hiel Co. Ware pokerwork timber vase, with wattle and willy wagtail bird design. Height 9 cm

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with koala 'Greetings from…

Koala Pokerwork Vase from Sydney

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with koala 'Greetings from Sydney' design. Height 13 cm

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with kookaburra design.…

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with kookaburra design. Height 20 cm

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with floral design. Height…

Floral Pokerwork Vase from Australia

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with floral design. Height 14 cm

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with koala design. Height…

Koala Pokerwork Vase - 23cm Height

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with koala design. Height 23 cm

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with waratah design.…

Waratah Pokerwork Vase, 36cm

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with waratah design. Height 36 cm

A pokerwork vase, with Willi Wagtail design. Height 20.5 cm.…

Willi Wagtail Pokerwork Vase (a/f)

A pokerwork vase, with Willi Wagtail design. Height 20.5 cm. (a/f)

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with leaf design. Height…

Australian Pokerwork Leaf Vase (21cm)

An Australian pokerwork timber vase, with leaf design. Height 21 cm

A pokerwork vase and egg cup

Pokerwork Vase & Egg Cup Set

A pokerwork vase and egg cup

Pair of Australian timber pokerwork waratah vases, painted in…

Timber Waratah Vases with Pokerwork Design

Pair of Australian timber pokerwork waratah vases, painted in dark hues, each with three waratahs. Condition good to fair, minor paint chips & crazing. Height 35.5 cm

Two pokerwork vases height23 cm

Pair of 23cm Pokerwork Vases

Two pokerwork vases height23 cm

Australian pokerwork gum nut and leaf vase

Aussie Pokerwork Gum Nut Vase

Australian pokerwork gum nut and leaf vase

Australian pokerwork kookaburra vase with glass inset

Kookaburra Pokerwork Vase with Glass Inset

Australian pokerwork kookaburra vase with glass inset

Two pokerwork vases, one decorated with Egyptian scene, approx…

Egyptian-themed Pokerwork Vases - Pair

Two pokerwork vases, one decorated with Egyptian scene, approx 13 cm and 16 cm high

Five pieces of Australian pokerwork, to include cutting plate…

Australian Pokerwork Collection: Kookaburra Plate, Vases, Duster, and Pan

Five pieces of Australian pokerwork, to include cutting plate decorated with a kookaburra, two vases, duster and pan

Large Australian pokerwork vase with floral decoration, 30 cm…

Australian Floral Pokerwork Vase, 30cm Height

Large Australian pokerwork vase with floral decoration, 30 cm high approx.

A group of four poker work vases, circa 1920s. Four baluster…

Autumnal Poker Work Vases Set

A group of four poker work vases, circa 1920s. Four baluster shaped vases each with small textured rims and two with tin liners, all decorated in typical autumnal tonings with flora and foliage. Heights: 30.5 cm., 23 cm and 15.5 cm

Two vintage pokerwork vases, 20 cm high approx

Vintage Pokerwork Vases - 20cm Height

Two vintage pokerwork vases, 20 cm high approx

Vintage Australian poker work vase, blue Wren & berries. Approx…

Blue Wren Poker Work Vase

Vintage Australian poker work vase, blue Wren & berries. Approx height 15 cm