Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a medium texture and natural luster; the piano fallboard displays a cathedral pattern with some slight wavy figure common in flat-sawn Walnut veneers.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with even darker brown streaks. Color tends to lighten and shift toward a golden brown over decades when exposed to UV light.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though susceptible to insect attack (sapwood). Very stable once seasoned.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, piano cases, musical instruments, gunstocks, veneer, and interior paneling.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America (United States and Canada)
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 to $15.00 per board foot for select grade lumber; veneer-quality logs are significantly higher.
Wood Age Estimate
The instrument and its finish suggest an age of approximately 40 to 70 years, indicated by the deep oxidation under the high-gloss lacquer and the style of the piano's hardware.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable in North America.
Workability
Excellent. Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It glues, stains, and finishes extremely well, though it can occasionally produce tearout in figured pieces.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, nutty scent when worked. Known for its exceptional dimensional stability and high strength-to-weight ratio.
Finish Recommendations
Typically finished with high-gloss nitrocellulose or polyurethane lacquer for musical instruments to enhance chatoyance and depth. Rubbed oils can also be used for a more natural feel.
Identification Confidence
High; the deep chocolate hue combined with the specific cathedral grain pattern and its application on a vintage piano case is characteristic of American Black Walnut veneer.