pokerworkn.
/ˈpəʊkəwəːk/, U.S. /ˈpoʊkərˌwərk/ Artistic or ornamental work done by burning a design on the surface of wood, leather, etc., with a heated pointed implement. Also figurative. Cf. pyrography n.Originally, the tool used was an ordinary hearth poker. Later, a special apparatus was developed containing a platinum point or pointer kept continuously hot for the purpose. Since the early 20th cent., electric pokers have been used.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > pokerwork > [noun]
pokerwork1813
poker1827
xylopyrography1850
pyrogravure1888
pyrography1891
1813 J. Forsyth Remarks Excurs. Italy 91 (note) The process called cestrotum was, in my opinion, nothing but poker-work.
1892 E. Rowe Hints on Chip-carving (1895) 37 Ready-made objects, such as are sold for painting or poker work.
1966 Listener 29 Dec. 959/2 The play relapses into what it looked as if it was going to satirize. By the end we are left with a stuffy, inhibiting piece of Victorian poker-work as a message.
a1983 ‘R. West’ This Real Night (1984) i. v. 135 Miss Beatrice Beevor..carried white leather bags inscribed in pokerwork with such names as Venezia and Bayreuth.
2003 Western Mail (Cardiff) (Nexis) 18 Mar. (Features section) 6 The art of pyrography used to be known as pokerwork for the reason that a red hot poker from the fireplace was used to mark the leather or timber.
Derivatives
ˈpokerworked adj. made or decorated by or as by pokerwork.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > pokerwork > [adjective]
pyrographic1811
pokerworked1929
1929 E. Bowen Last September ix. 104 Cushions..with poker-worked kittens.
1991 Toronto Star (Nexis) 24 Aug. d1 Ordinary Russians seem to like poker-worked wooden bowls..and are much given to sipping appallingly sweet tea with butter in it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1813