Types of Wood

The more you know about the unique characteristics of wood and its history, the better you can understand the elegance and beauty that it brings to your diploma preservation and decoration. To this end, we have listed different tree types, classification and individual wood characteristics of two woods that are widely used in manufacturing frame mouldings.

MAHOGANY

Mahogany, also known as Honduras mahogany is a tropical hardwood indigenous to South America, Central America and Africa.
History: Mahogany was known in Europe since the time of the Spanish explorers, but it was not widely used for furniture before the 18th century, when it largely replaced walnut as the predominant cabinet making wood. It was at this time that English Georgian cabinetmakers such as Chippendale and Sheraton, and

Americans like Goddard and Townsend used it extensively. The Empire, Federal and Victorian craftsmen were also great consumers of this fine wood. Properties: Mahogany is strong, with a uniform pore structure and poorly defined annual rings. It has a reddish - brown color and may display stripe, ribbon, broken stripe, rope, ripple, mottle, fiddle back or blister figures. Crotch mahogany figures are widely used and greatly valued. Mahogany is an excellent carving wood and finishes well.

WALNUT

Walnut is one of the most versatile and popular cabinet making woods. It grows in Europe, America and Asia. There are many different varieties.

History: Walnut and oak were the primary cabinet making woods in 17th century Europe. Walnut and mahogany were the primary woods of the 18th century. In 18th century America, walnut was often stained to imitate mahogany. The 1820's and 30's in America are often referred to as the "Black Walnut Period" due to the preponderance of this wood. The Queen Anne (1702-1714) period in England is often referred to as the "Age of Walnut." Properties: Walnut is strong, hard and durable, without being excessively heavy. It has excellent woodworking qualities, and takes finishes well.

The wood is light to dark chocolate brown in color with a straight grain in the trunk. Wavy grain is present toward the roots, and walnut stumps are often dug out and used as a source of highly figured veneer. Large burls are common. Walnut solids and veneers show a wide range of figures, including strips, burls, mottles, crotches, curls and butts. European walnut is lighter in color and slightly finer in texture than American black walnut, but otherwise comparable.