Type of Woods and Their Characteristics

There are other woods that are widely used besidesIt is a hard heavy West Indian wood, of a dark
these oak, walnut, mahogany and satinwood. Let usbrown colour with black markings. It was used
have a look at these uncommon woods and theiroccasionally as a veneer, but was principally made
appearances and their uses in our daily life.into bowls and cups, and similar pieces. Maple. The
While oak, walnut, mahogany and satinwood areAmerican 'bird's eye' maple has small markings all over
recognized by most people, and one or more ofits yellow-brown surface, and was popular during the
them is present in almost every home, there are anineteenth century. It was used particularly for
large number of other woods used byveneering picture frames, but is found also on
cabinet-makers in the past that are not so easilyfurniture.
identified. To describe them in words so that theyRosewood
can be named positively is not possible, but a generalIt is an East Indian wood with a close grain and
indication of their appearance and uses may bedistinctive blackish lines on a brown ground. Although
helpful.it was in use during the eighteenth century, it
Amboynasbecame widely popular during the nineteenth both as
A wood from the West Indies with a distinctive burr,a veneer and in the solid when it was imported also
looking like closely curled hairs over the light brownfrom Brazil. It is a heavy timber, and chairs made
surface. It was used in the form of veneer.from it are often found to have been broken from
Cedartheir own weight when carried.
The harder varieties of this wood, known as RedYew
Cedar, were used for making the linings of drawers inThe familiar tree of English churchyards makes a
some better-quality eighteenth- andwood of a medium brown colour used sometimes in
nineteenth-century furniture. It is not to be confusedthe solid and also for veneers. Furniture using either
with the spongy open-grained cedar used for makingtype is much sought after, and when found is usually
cigar-boxes, which it resembles in sharing the sameexpensive.
pleasant smell.Papier-mache
EbonyThis material, an imitation of wood, was made in
A black wood of very closes grain and heavy inEngland from the second half of the eighteenth
weight, which was popular for veneering at the endcentury. The more usual method of making it was to
of the seventeenth century. Later, it was used instick layers of paper together and leave them to
inlay and especially for the dark lines in stringing.dry, either flat or in moulds. The article was rubbed
Elmdown until smooth and then painted several times
Somewhat similar in appearance to oak, this woodand decorated; each layer of paint was baked gently
was in use during the seventeenth century and later.in an oven to harden the coat and produce the final
It is as hard as oak, but it tends to twist with agehigh gloss. Trays and tea-caddies were among the
and is susceptible to woodworm.earliest articles made from papier-mache, but during
Hare woodthe nineteenth century small tables, chairs and even
The veneer of the sycamore, stained a grey colour,bedsteads, were also produced.
was called 'hare wood' in the eighteenth century. ItIn the above we can know how these woods
has pleasing rippled markings, and was popular eitherappear and how they can be helpful. Some of these
as a veneer or for use in inlaying.are more expensive than those oak, walnut,
Lignum vitaemahogany and satinwoods.