Mulga wood has been used extensively for Australian souvenir and gift ware throughout the middle of the 20th century. Its height of popularity probably began in the Interwar Years and continued through to the 1960s and 70s. Mulga or true mulga is a shrub or small tree, native to arid outback areas of Australia. Its scientific name is acacia aneura. The aboriginal people have long used mulga for digging sticks and woomeras due to its strength. Following are just three examples of mulga wood ware.
The first two items are recent acquisitions from Collectorama at Nambour last weekend. Both are desk accessories with perpetual calendars. The first one also has two inkwells as well as pen rests.
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| Mulga wood desk set |
Each ink well should have a bakelite liner however one is missing. Don't know if they ever had lids. Maybe someone knows if these originally came with lids and has a photo that shows this? This set is in reasonably good condition for its age, just a few marks and one inkwell sitting a bit crooked. Still looks pretty good though. At least all the date cards are complete. No specific souvenir markings on this piece (only the koala underneath).
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| Nice AUSTRALIA with koala transfer underneath |
The smaller piece is actually a souvenir from Coffs Harbour. "Greetings from Coffs Harbour" is engraved between the Kangaroo transfer and the perpetual calendar.
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| Mulga wood calendar |
This piece is not in the best condition (part of the kangaroo transfer is missing) but might be a good one to have a go at restoring. Unfortunately one date card is also missing. Thankfully it is the 31 so at least 5 months will be complete. It has a simple wire stand attached to the back for support.
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| "GENUINE AUSTRALIAN MULGA" on map of Australia transfer on back |
My last example of mulga wood is a pair of bookends. These have great sentimental value to me as they were one of my Father's 21st birthday presents. This would mean that they date from around 1948.
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| Dad's mulga wood bookends |
These bookends are quite heavy as they are solid wood. Just two simple but very effective shapes. I have often used these bookends myself over the years.
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| No two bookends (or any pieces of mulga wood) are ever the same - always different grain |
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| "THE DESERT MANNA TREE" on map of Australia with manna tree transfer underneath each bookend |
I have not been able to find out anything about the brand of these bookends. Not even sure if it's "THE DESERT MANNA TREE" or "THE MANNA DESERT TREE" however I think the first sounds more likely. Still a very interesting label. There seems to be quite a number of different manufacturers of mulga wood items. A South Australian company in the 1930s was even producing mulga wood items under the brand name "
ABO BRAND". Not politically correct these days. It would make an interesting exercise to document and collect examples from each manufacturer.
Though not to everybody's taste, a collection of mulga wood can make an interesting display of Australiana.
