Genuine Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla • Exotic/Tropical
Grain Pattern
Interlocked with subtle wavy figure and ribbon striping visible in the quartersawn areas; straight in some sections with a medium, uniform texture.
Color Description
Medium reddish-brown heartwood with a natural golden luster; displays noticeable chatoyance and will darken to a deep, rich brown over time with light exposure. Sapwood is much lighter yellowish-white.
Hardness Rating
900 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and termites, though moderately susceptible to marine borers.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, boat building, musical instruments (especially guitar backs and necks), veneer, and fine joinery.
Geographic Origin
Native to Central and South America; widely grown on plantations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$12.00 to $20.00 per board foot depending on width and figure quality.
Wood Age Estimate
Relatively fresh sawn lumber (under 2 years), evidenced by the lack of significant oxidative darkening and crisp, rough-milled edges.
Sustainability Status
Listed in CITES Appendix II and on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable; significant trade restrictions apply to wild-sourced timber.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools; sands easily and glues well, though interlocked grain may occasionally cause minor tearout during planing.
Notable Features
Features a distinctive faintly sweet scent when worked; prized for its dimensional stability and exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.
Finish Recommendations
Responds beautifully to all finishes; traditionally finished with oil to pop the chatoyance or shellac/lacquer for a high-gloss formal look.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of reddish-brown hue, medium-pore texture, and subtle ribbon-stripe grain is characteristic of Swietenia species.