What has an
African tribe got to do with naming of a timber first shipped to
answers.
For several centuries, ships made of Mahogany have traversed the globe, one, the mysterious " Mahogany Ship "
allegedly coming to rest at Port Fairy, Victoria long before Captain Cook ventured into southern seas. Mahogany
tables, desks and carvings now enhance the finest dining rooms, boardrooms offices and galleries in the world.
In our homes, furniture made from Mahogany adds a sense of warmth to any room.
The origins of
the two main Mahogany species, from Central and
interest.
There are no Mahogany forests. The tree is scattered here and there and a good "stand " might be an average of two
trees to the acre.
History suggests
that in 1595 Queen Elizabeth was so taken with South American Mahogany timber brought to
England by Sir Walter Raleigh that she commissioned his ship's carpenter to make her a Mahogany table. This is
suggested to be the first Mahogany used in
The name
Mahogany emanated from the
Nigerian Yoruba tribe brought to
( " Oganwo " - meaning " King of the Timber " ), would logically have used the expression " M'Oganwo " for a Jamaican
tree which closely resembled the tree of their Nigerian homeland. After variable usage the name "Mahogany" finally
emerged in 1700.
Characteristics:
Sources suggest that the weather beaten log unloaded at the mill gives little hint of the beauty that lies within.
Leading texts provide the following statistics and details which assist in a comparison :
AFRICAN MAHOGANY CENTRAL AMERICAN MAHOGANY.
(Khaya Ivorensis) ( Swietenia Macrophylla)
Heartwood: Light to deep red / brown Light to dark red / brown
Grain : Straight to interlocked Straight to interlocked medium to coarse and
coarse to medium cross uniform white or dark gum deposits.
Fractures or heartbreaks common.
Weight : 540 - 590 kg/ m3 540 - 640 kg /m3
34 - 36 lb / ft3 34 - 40 lb / ft3
Mechanical Low bending strength. Low bending strength.
Properties: Low shock resistance. Very low shock resistance.
Medium crushing strength Medium crushing strength.
Moderately good steam bending (better than Khaya)
Durability: Moderate. Liable to insect Extremely durable but liable to attack by
attack. beetle and pinhole borers.
Uses: Furniture & cabinet making High class furniture and cabinet making, pattern
office, shop & banking fitting, making and carving, reproduction furniture.
Interior joinery, boat building (Other uses identical to African Mahogany).
and vehicle bodies.
West Indian Mahogany originally came to prominence not only for its colour, lustre, figure and capability of taking a
high polish but also because of its mechanical properties which include relative hardness minimal shrinkage and
its considerable repulsion for beetles responsible for worm holes.
The genuine African Mahogany tree closely resembles the South American species both in foliage, flowers, seed
cases, seeds and in the timber itself. Both belong to the Meliaceae family and can be confined even to the same
sub - division of that family but to different genera - the African being of the Khaya species and the Central
American being Swietenia.
cause of this problem is not certain but it is more common in highly figured timber and can obviously be a cause of
disappointment as the shakes are rarely visible until the timber has been dressed.
Tests carried out by the U.S Forest Products Laboratory supplied the following comparative results as between
Khaya ( African) and Swietenia ( Central American ) Mahogany:
1- South American Mahogany is naturally heavier and in its unseasoned state has a greater moisture
content.
2- African Mahogany has slightly higher shrinkage rate in the course of drying.
3- The impact strength of both timbers is about equal.
4- The compression strength of South American Mahogany is generally superior.
5- The hardness of both timbers is roughly comparable.
6- The " shearing " strength of African Mahogany could be greater.
To find the essential reason for the universal acceptance of Mahogany one need not look past the state of antique
furniture. While it is true that many other woods lose their beauty ( or have been attacked by borers) a well cared
for mahogany piece often seems to be enhanced with age.
It is generally regarded that the Mahogany timber from the upper Amazon is firmer and heavier than that of Central
American Mahogany and that it is preferred for carving by some. Conversely, Central American Mahogany produces
more figure logs.
By contrast African Mahogany is generally more lavishly figure than other Mahogany. The figure varies from
dramatic ribbon grain to complex figures of mottle, crotch and swirl.
Plantation grown Mahogany.
Spasmodic and
limited supplies of plantation grown Swietenia Macrophylla is available from various
sources: Supplies are limited and intermittent. One of the better potential sources has recently prohibited the export
of the this timber indefinitely.
The plantation Swietenia timber varies markedly from it's Central American " parent " in the sense that it is busy
with knots formed from regular branch lopping in the immature tree. Depending upon your point of view. Tradesmen
occasionally complain that the plantation timber is unstable. One reason for this may be the likelihood that the
timber is cut form relatively immature tress.
The " Other " Mahoganies - Look a likes or imposters?
From time to time, marketing technique and physical similarities have caused timber merchants to use the term
"Mahogany " in connection with a product. As Gifford (1944) wrote, " Mahogany is so well and favourably known that
many other woods have taken its name ".
1- " Philippine Mahogany " (from the Dipterocarpaceae family)
This timber is now difficult to obtain but in truth was more like light red Meranti than a true Mahogany.
It was generally paler and more open grained than both African and South American Mahogany.
2-
Rose "Mahogany" ( Dysoxylum fraseranum)
A beautiful dark red Australian species. One problem in working (the classification is "moderate" working
qualities), is the oily exudate which can be removed with alcohol. In contrast with the true Mahoganies,
this species is very slow to dry and dries with some end and facial splitting.
3-
Southern " Mahogany"
Gum (Eucalytus Botryoides)
A red/ pink Eucalypt which has good strength qualities and is used in both furniture and structural work.
Certainly this timber has its own attractions but a real Mahogany it is not!
Some
additional comments about African Mahogany:
It is noteworthy that one respected author (B.J. Rendle - " World Timbers " comments that " since supplies from
the tropical American region have fallen off, the term " Mahogany " - without qualification - in specifications and
description of furniture, joinery etc.
generally means African Mahogany.
Sapele Mahogany or Sapele wood is the term applied to a Mahogany type timber originally shipped from the
Nigerian
texture than African Mahogany. Past experiences indicate that this timber does not lend itself well to air - drying
in hot dry Victorian summers and it is certainly less stable than African Mahogany.
One Khaya species K. Grandifolia is much harder and heavier than general run of African Mahogany and its uses
vary accordingly (eg. Counter tops and block flooring)
Overview:
While the reputation for mystique, charm and grandeur remains with Central and South American Mahogany, its
place is being taken over by African Mahogany. The latter species is clearly less expensive, available in a greater
range of sizes, generally more accessible and arguably possesses significantly more attractive character and colour
than the " M'Oganwo "
tree, first named by African slaves abandoned in
ago.
Source:
World Woods In Colour William A. Lincoln ( Macmillan)
Timbers of The World Alexander L. Howard ( Macmillan)
Wood In
The Mahogany Book George Lamb ( Mahogany association Inc)
Mahogany of
Tropical American
F. Bruce Lamb
(