This simple kauri wall bracket has the whole surface, except the back, decorated with impressions of fern fronds applied using a splatter technique. Sometimes called splashwork, splatterwork or 'spattrie' work, it usually involved the use of fern fronds that lead to the description of 'fern-work' for this type of decoration, mostly on furniture.

To decorate a surface in this manner, pressed and dried fern fronds are arranged and fixed on the surface to be decorated; a dark stain is then sprayed over the surface; the fronds are removed revealing the decoration, and the entire surface varnished.