Gommercial Satinwood

G ATINWOOD. the lovely. satin tJ textured wood idenrified with fine furniture since the 1Sth century, is still treasured today in the elegant cabinetwood of Adam. Sheraton, and Hepplewhite.

Preserved in museums, historical shrines, and the finest ofprivate collections, the original satinwood of commerce, outstanding for its decorative appearance, came from the West Indian satinwood tree (fagara flava) grown in southern Florida and the West Indian Islands.

Characterized by its small size, l0 to l2 meters, approximately 32' to 40', high, the tree yielded logs that were occasionally 50 centimeters, approximately 20", in diameter, but usually much smaller.

Today, and for the past 100 years, Ceylon or East Indian satinwood (chloroxylon swietenia) is also accepted commercially as a true satinwood. Botanically related to the West Indian satinwood, it was used extensively for fine furniture as early as the l9th century.

Today, it is the common commercial satinwood and comes mainly from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), although it also grows in central and southern India.

The tree is of modest size, producing logs 30 to 50 centimeters, approximately 12" to 20" in size. They are often somewhat misshapen.

Creamy to golden yellow in color with a fine, even texture, the West Indian satinwood is distinctive with a bright, satiny sheen. Usually straight-grained, it is occasionally made more lovely with a wavy grain that produces a mottle figure. It is a heavy wood, though not quite as dense as the Ceylon or East Indian satinwood.

Satinwood from the Ceylon tree is characterized by a pale yellow to golden-yellow color and a fine even texture. The grain is variable, interlocked and sometimes wavv with a highly decorative stripe oi morrle figure. The appearance may be marred by gum veins.

Because of its early and specialized use, the technical information available on the West Indian satinwood is limited. It can be dried satisfactorily, and, after it is dry, can be worked to an excellent finish

Story at a Glance

Gomparing satinwood, both West lndian and Ceylon. popular for fine furniture in the 18th and 19th centuries. now im- ported from Sri Lanka... used mainly as quarter-cut Yeneer for inlay in fine cabinet work.

as evidenced by antique furniture. Although it is hard on tools, it turns well, producing when worked a scent similar to that of coconut. The fine dust created is said to irritate the skin.

The Ceylon satinwood is equally decorative, strong, and durable. It can be dried satisfactorilv with care. but tends to surlace check and distort. Also hard on tools, it can be worked to a lovely finish. It also may be sliced to give a fine veneer.

Except for the outstanding examples of cabinetwork inherited from the l8th century, West Indian satinwood is rarely seen today, although some inlay and marquetry done on custom-type furniture makes use of the veneer. A limited number of small items such as bobbins are turned from the solid wood. A few manufacturers use satinwood for the backs of hairbrushes and hand mirrors.

Cabinet makers still use the Ceylon satinwood for inlay work on very fine pieces. It is usually in the form of quarter-cut veneer. Other uses for the solid wood include recorders (musical instrument) and the wooden portion of hairbrushes.

Only the Ceylon satinwood is commercially available today. The thickness is usually 1" with the common length from 6' to 8'. Widths range up to 14". Satinwood veneers are available althoush the price limits their use to the hiehest quality products.

Industry Stats

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Revised Door Standards

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