​ Antique Woods Guide and Encyclopedia | Mark Goodger Antiques
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Woods

Wood has been used in the making of furniture, boxes, and decorative objects since the earliest civilisations. Long before industrial production, cabinet makers relied on the natural properties of timber, its strength, stability, grain, colour, and scent to create objects that were both functional and enduring. In the world of antiques, wood is not simply a material; it is a historical record of trade, fashion, craftsmanship, and technological progress.

This guide provides an overview of the principal woods used in antique furniture and boxes, outlining their origins, characteristics, and historical use. From widely recognised timbers such as mahogany, oak, walnut, and rosewood, to more specialised and exotic woods including satinwood, coromandel, amboyna, kingwood, and sycamore, each material played a distinct role in furniture making across different periods and regions.

The availability of timber, driven by global trade routes, colonial expansion, and evolving manufacturing techniques, directly influenced furniture design. The development of veneer, first used by the Ancient Egyptians over 5,000 years ago, allowed rare and expensive woods to be used efficiently, maximising visual impact while maintaining structural stability. This technique reached exceptional levels of refinement during the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian periods and remains one of the defining features of fine antique furniture and boxes.

Many of the woods featured in this guide are no longer commercially available in meaningful quantities. Species such as coromandel, certain rosewoods, and large-scale mahogany have been logged to near extinction, making surviving antique examples increasingly important. The aged surface, natural oxidation, and accumulated patina of these woods cannot be replicated and form a crucial part of an object’s authenticity and value.

As our stock is constantly evolving, this page will continue to grow as new woods and examples are added. Each wood listed is represented within our collection, whether in furniture, boxes, or decorative objects.

Caring for Antique Woods – A Practical Guide

Proper care is essential to preserve antique wood, its surface, and its patina. With correct maintenance, antique furniture and boxes will remain stable and visually rich for generations.

Routine Cleaning

  • Dust regularly using a soft, dry cloth or microfibre duster. Dust acts as an abrasive if allowed to build up.
  • For heavier dust, a vacuum with a soft brush attachment may be used gently.
  • Avoid feather dusters, which can scratch delicate surfaces.

Light Cleaning

  • If necessary, use a barely damp cloth, wrung out thoroughly to remove surface dirt, followed immediately by a dry cloth.
  • For greasy or stubborn marks, a small amount of neutral pH cleaner may be used. Museum-grade products such as Vulpex are preferred.
  • Always test cleaning products on an inconspicuous area first.

Waxing & Feeding the Wood

  • Apply a high-quality beeswax or traditional antique wax polish once or twice a year (we recommend Harrells).
  • Use a soft cloth to apply sparingly, allow it to settle, then buff gently.
  • Clear wax is suitable for lighter woods; medium or dark waxes are often better for oak, walnut, and mahogany as they enhance depth and disguise minor wear.
  • Avoid silicone sprays and modern chemical polishes, which can damage finishes and complicate future conservation.

Environmental Care

  • Keep antiques out of direct sunlight, which can fade veneers and dry the wood.
  • Avoid placing pieces near radiators, fireplaces, or heat sources, which can cause cracking or lifting veneer.
  • Maintain stable humidity to prevent expansion and contraction.

Preservation & Restoration

  • Patina should never be stripped or sanded; it is integral to value and authenticity.
  • Loose veneer, lifting inlay, or structural issues should always be addressed by a professional conservator.
  • Brass or metal mounts should not be aggressively polished; gentle waxing or specialist care is preferable.

At Mark Goodger Antiques, conservation is approached with restraint and respect. We prioritise originality, correct materials, and minimal intervention, ensuring that each piece retains its historical integrity while remaining fit for continued use.

1776

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Amboyna

Amboyna, also known as Amboyna burl, Andaman Padauk, Narra, or Malay Padauk, is among the most highly prized decorative woods used in luxury boxes and fine cabinetry. The name derives from Ambon Island in Indonesia, from where much of the earliest figured material was exported to Europe. Amboyna is not a distinct species in itself, but refers specifically to the burl wood taken from trees of the Pterocarpus genus, most commonly Pterocarpus indicus (Narra), though burls from Pterocarpus macrocarpus are...

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Antique Tea Caddy

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Ash

Ash is a strong, pale hardwood belonging to the Fraxinus genus, long valued for its straight grain, resilience, and ease of working. It has been widely used across Britain and Europe for both structural and decorative purposes, particularly where strength and clean appearance were required. Commercially, ash most commonly appears as White Ash (Fraxinus americana) or Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra), though several other species share similar characteristics, including European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Green Ash (F. pennsylvanica), and Oregon Ash (F....

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Birch

Birch is a pale, fine-grained hardwood from the Betula genus, native to temperate regions across the Northern Hemisphere. It has long been valued for its clean appearance, consistent texture, and strength, making it a versatile material for both practical and decorative uses. The wood is typically light cream to pale yellow-brown in colour, with a close, straight grain and a smooth, even surface when finished. Its uniform structure allows it to be worked, turned, bent, and polished with ease, and...

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Birdseye Maple

Birdseye maple is not a separate species of maple, but a naturally occurring figured variation found almost exclusively in hard maple (Acer saccharum). It is native to the forests of northeastern North America and is immediately recognisable by the dense pattern of small circular markings scattered across the surface of the wood, resembling tiny eyes set within the grain. This distinctive figure is believed to form when maple trees grow under environmental stress. In such conditions, the tree repeatedly attempts...

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Blackthorn (Sloe)

Blackthorn botanically Prunus spinosa is a dense slow growing hardwood derived from a thorny deciduous shrub or small tree native to much of Europe and western Asia. Although best known for its fruit the sloe the timber has long been valued for its strength weight and ability to take a fine polish. The wood itself is close grained and hard with a colour that ranges from pale brown to deeper reddish or purplish tones often darkening with age. Growth is...

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Boxwood

Boxwood is the timber of Buxus sempervirens, a slow growing evergreen native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. It has been prized for centuries for its exceptional density, strength and ability to take extremely fine detail, making it one of the most technically refined woods used in decorative and functional objects. The wood is typically a pale cream to soft yellow in colour, darkening gently with age and exposure to light. Sapwood and heartwood are generally indistinguishable, giving boxwood...

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Burr Elm (Carpathian Elm)

Burl elm, often referred to as Carpathian elm, is a highly decorative figured wood produced by abnormal growths that form on elm trees in response to stress, injury, or disease. These burls create complex swirling grain patterns with tight knots, eyes, and wave like movement, making each piece visually unique. The texture is fine to moderately coarse, and when carefully finished it develops a rich and lustrous surface. The colour of burl elm typically ranges from light to medium brown,...

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Burr Walnut

Burr walnut, also known as burl walnut, is one of the most prized and visually striking decorative timbers used in fine furniture and luxury objects. It is formed from abnormal growths that develop on walnut trees as a result of stress, injury, disease, or environmental conditions. These growths produce dense, highly figured wood with complex swirling grain, tight knots, and dramatic patterning that cannot be found in straight grown walnut. The colour of burr walnut typically ranges from warm golden...

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Burr Yew

Burr yew, often referred to as English yew burr, is among the rarest and most sought after decorative woods used in fine antique objects. Yew trees are native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of western Asia, and are renowned for their extreme longevity, often taking several centuries to reach maturity. Burr formations occur only under specific conditions and are unpredictable, making usable material exceptionally scarce. The colour of burr yew ranges from warm yellow brown to rich orange brown,...

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Calamander

Calamander is a highly decorative variegated ebony most closely associated with the species Diospyros quaesita, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. It belongs to a small group of striped ebonies within the Diospyros genus and is closely related to woods commonly referred to as Coromandel and Macassar ebony. Historically these names were often used interchangeably due to their visual similarity and shared characteristics. The wood is immediately recognisable by its dramatic contrast of hazel brown ground colour crossed with bold...

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Cedar

Cedar is a softwood valued for its distinctive aroma, natural durability, and long historical association with fine craftsmanship. True cedars belong to the genus Cedrus within the pine family and are native to the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean and the western Himalayas. Other woods commonly known as cedar share similar characteristics but are botanically distinct. Cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, has a light to medium brown heartwood and a medium fine grain that is generally straight, though it may...

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Coconut (Palm Wood)

Coconut palm wood is a distinctive timber substitute derived from the coconut palm, a monocotyledon rather than a true hardwood or softwood. Known variously as coconut timber, coco lumber, cocowood, or red palm wood, it is sourced from mature plantation grown palms that have reached the end of their productive fruit bearing life, typically after fifty to seventy years. These palms were widely planted across the tropics during the early twentieth century for coconut cultivation, and their trunks were traditionally...

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Coromandel

Coromandel, also known historically as calamander or East Indian ebony, is one of the most dramatic and visually striking hardwoods used in fine decorative work. Native primarily to India and Sri Lanka, its name is derived from the Coromandel Coast of southeastern India, from where much of the timber entered European trade during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The heartwood of Coromandel is characteristically jet black, often broken by rich reddish brown or purplish streaking, creating bold natural contrasts. The...

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Cuban Mahogany

Cuban Mahogany, also known as West Indies Mahogany, is widely regarded as the original and finest form of true mahogany. Native to the Caribbean and southern Florida, this timber played a defining role in European and British cabinet making from the early eighteenth century and is closely associated with the golden age of furniture making. The heartwood varies in colour from pale pinkish brown to deep reddish brown, with darker tones generally indicating older, slower grown trees. Over time the...

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Ebony

Ebony is a dense, fine textured hardwood most commonly associated with an almost jet black appearance, sometimes showing subtle reddish or purplish undertones. True ebony comes from several species within the Diospyros genus, a group that also includes the persimmon tree. Only a small number of these species produce the deep black heartwood traditionally associated with ebony, and even then only a minority of individual trees yield uniformly dark material. The wood is extremely slow growing and trees are often...

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Elm

Elm is a tough, resilient hardwood derived from trees of the Ulmus genus, widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Species are found throughout Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, where elm has long been valued for its strength, flexibility, and resistance to splitting. Historically, elm trees grew to great size and age, making them an important source of timber for both structural and decorative purposes. Elm woods are commonly divided into hard elms and soft elms. Hard elms such...

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Flame Mahogany

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George III

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Georgian

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Goncalo Alves (Tigerwood)

Gonçalo Alves, commonly known as Tigerwood, is a striking tropical hardwood sourced from several species within the Astronium genus, most notably Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens. Native to Central and South America, from Mexico through to Brazil, it has long been admired for its dramatic natural colouring and durability. The heartwood of Gonçalo Alves ranges from warm reddish brown to deep chocolate tones, marked by bold, irregular streaks of darker brown or black. These contrasting markings give rise to the...

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Harewood

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Harewood (Sycamore Maple)

Harewood is the name given to sycamore maple that has been deliberately stained and chemically treated to alter its naturally pale colour to darker tones. Originally pale cream or off white, the wood was processed to achieve silvery greys and metallic hues, which with time and natural oxidation mellow into warm browns often with subtle grey or green undertones. This transformation is a defining characteristic of historic harewood seen in antique furniture and marquetry. The timber itself is sycamore maple,...

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Horse Chestnut

Horse chestnut is a pale, lightweight hardwood derived from Aesculus hippocastanum, a tree native to southeastern Europe and widely cultivated throughout temperate regions. The timber is typically creamy white to light yellow brown in colour, with little distinction between heartwood and sapwood, giving it a uniform appearance well suited to understated interior uses. The grain of horse chestnut is often wavy or gently interlocked, with a fine and even texture. While visually modest compared to more decorative cabinet woods, it...

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Hungarian Ash

Hungarian Ash, sometimes referred to as Hungarian Flower Ash, is an exceptionally rare and highly decorative form of ash veneer prized for its dramatic three dimensional surface effect. This distinctive appearance is created by an unusual wavy growth of the wood fibres, producing a rippled and billowing figure that appears to rise and fall across the surface. The veneer was used from the Renaissance period onwards, particularly on elaborate cabinet facades and fine furniture intended to display wealth and craftsmanship....

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Kingwood

Kingwood, sometimes known as violetwood, is one of the most highly prized decorative timbers used in fine furniture and cabinet work. Native to Brazil, it is recognised by its rich violet brown to purplish heartwood, marked with fine dark striping and occasional swirling figure. The colour can deepen with age, producing a dramatic and refined surface well suited to luxury objects. The wood is yielded by a relatively small tree, which limits the size of usable material and explains why...

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Laburnum

Laburnum, sometimes known as Golden Chain, is a dense European hardwood valued for its rich colour and fine texture. The heartwood ranges from warm orange brown to deep violet brown, darkening noticeably with age, while the sharply defined sapwood remains a pale buttery yellow. This strong contrast made laburnum particularly attractive for decorative cabinetmaking, inlay work, and small luxury objects. The wood has a fine, even grain with a natural lustre and is generally straight grained, though wide rays can...

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Lacewood (London Plane)

Lacewood (also known as London Plane) is a decorative hardwood best known for its striking lace like figure, created by exceptionally wide medullary rays that are most visible when the timber is quarter sawn. The heartwood is typically a warm reddish brown, contrasted by pale rays that form a bold flecked pattern across the surface. This distinctive appearance has made lacewood a favoured choice for visually prominent veneers and refined decorative work. The grain is generally straight, though the texture...

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Lignum Vitae

Lignum vitae is one of the heaviest and densest timbers ever used in cabinetmaking and engineering. The heartwood ranges from olive brown to deep greenish black, often darkening further with age and exposure to light. Its exceptionally fine texture and high natural oil content allow it to be polished to a deep, almost glass like finish, while the surface can feel noticeably oily to the touch. The grain is typically interlocked and extremely tight, giving the wood remarkable strength and...

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Lime (Linden) Wood

Lime wood, also known as linden, is a pale and finely textured hardwood valued for its softness and uniform appearance. The wood ranges from white to light cream in colour, with very subtle growth rings and little contrast between heartwood and sapwood. With age, surfaces gently mellow to a light yellow or pale brown tone. The grain is straight and even, giving lime wood a smooth and predictable working surface. Its low density and consistent structure make it exceptionally easy...

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Linden (Lime) Wood

Linden wood, also known as Lime, is a pale and finely textured hardwood valued for its softness and uniform appearance. The wood ranges from white to light cream in colour, with very subtle growth rings and little contrast between heartwood and sapwood. With age, surfaces gently mellow to a light yellow or pale brown tone. The grain is straight and even, giving lime wood a smooth and predictable working surface. Its low density and consistent structure make it exceptionally easy...

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London Silver

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Macassar Ebony

Macassar ebony is one of the most visually striking members of the ebony family, immediately recognisable by its bold, striped appearance. The heartwood displays dramatic bands of dark brown to black set against a golden yellow to reddish brown ground, creating strong natural contrast. The pale sapwood is sharply defined and is usually excluded from decorative work. The grain is generally straight, though it can be interlocked in places, and the texture is fine and even with a natural lustre...

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Mahogany

Mahogany is a straight-grained, reddish-brown tropical hardwood prized for its stability, workability, and refined appearance. The term traditionally applies to a small group of closely related trees in the Swietenia genus, native to the Americas, whose timber became one of the most important cabinet woods in European and British furniture making from the seventeenth century onward. True mahogany is derived from three species: Honduran or Big-leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), Cuban or West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), and Swietenia humilis. Of...

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Maple

Maple is a pale, fine-grained hardwood valued for its strength, versatility, and clean appearance. It is used extensively in furniture, flooring, musical instruments, and specialist items where durability and a smooth finish are required. Commercially, maple is divided into two broad groups: Hard Maple and Soft Maple, a distinction based on density and working properties rather than botanical classification alone. Hard Maple (Sugar Maple) Hard maple comes primarily from Acer saccharum, native to northeastern North America. The sapwood, rather than...

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Masur Birch

Masur Birch is not a distinct species of birch but a highly decorative figured grain variation, most commonly occurring in Silver Birch and Downy Birch. It is also widely known as Karelian Birch, named after the Karelia region between Finland and Russia, where this distinctive figure has historically been cultivated and prized. The figure is characterised by dense clusters of small dark flecks and irregular markings set within a pale, creamy to lightly pinkish ground. These markings are caused by...

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Mulberry

Mulberry wood comes from several species within the Morus genus, including white mulberry, black mulberry, and red mulberry. Red mulberry is native to eastern North America, while other species are found across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Although better known historically for their fruit and for silk production, mulberry trees also yield a durable and visually distinctive timber. The heartwood is a rich golden brown that gradually deepens to a warmer reddish brown with age, while the sapwood is...

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Oak

Oak is a hardwood from the genus Quercus, a large and ancient group of trees native across much of the Northern Hemisphere. With hundreds of species, both deciduous and evergreen, oak has been one of the most important and enduring timbers in European and global woodworking traditions. Its strength, durability, and versatility have ensured its continued use for centuries. Oak timber is typically strong, hard, and heavy, with a pronounced grain that can range from clean and restrained to bold...

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Olive

Olive wood comes from Olea europaea, a slow growing fruit tree native to the Mediterranean region and cultivated for thousands of years. While best known for olive oil and fruit production, the wood itself has long been valued for its distinctive appearance, density, and historical associations. The heartwood of olive is typically yellow to light reddish brown, marked by dramatic darker brown or black veining that gives each piece a highly individual character. Sapwood is paler and usually clearly defined....

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Padauk (Padouk)

Padauk is a tropical hardwood obtained from several species of the genus Pterocarpus, most notably African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii), native to central and west Africa. It is immediately recognisable for its vivid reddish orange colour when freshly cut, which gradually deepens with exposure to light and air into a rich reddish brown or purplish brown. The grain of padauk is usually straight, though occasionally interlocked, with a coarse open texture and a natural lustre. While not highly figured, the strength...

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Partridgewood

Partridge Wood, also known as Cabbage Wood or Angelim, is a South American hardwood most commonly identified with the species Andira inermis. It is found from southern Mexico through Central America and into northern South America. The wood is named for its distinctive surface pattern, which resembles the mottled feathers of a partridge. The heartwood varies widely in colour, ranging from golden yellow and red brown through to deep brown and near black tones. One of its defining characteristics is...

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Pear

Pear wood, most commonly from Pyrus communis, is a fine European hardwood long valued for its subtle colour, exceptional texture, and remarkable stability. Native to central and eastern Europe and widely cultivated across temperate regions, pear has traditionally been associated with precision work and high quality decorative craftsmanship. The heartwood ranges from pale pink to light reddish brown, with sapwood that is only slightly paler and rarely distinct. Pear is often steamed to deepen and even out its natural pink...

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Pine

Pine refers to a wide and highly varied group of softwoods from the genus Pinus, and despite its reputation as a single, uniform material, pine encompasses an enormous range of densities, strengths, and appearances. Used for centuries across Europe, North America, and beyond, pine has played a fundamental role in construction, furniture making, and interior joinery. Broadly, pines are divided into soft pines and hard pines, a distinction based not on botanical softness alone, but on density, grain structure, and...

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Pollard Oak

Pollard Oak refers not to a distinct species of oak, but to an oak tree that has been managed through pollarding, a traditional pruning method practised in Britain and across Europe since medieval times. Pollarding involves repeatedly cutting back the upper branches of a tree at a fixed height, encouraging dense regrowth from a swollen head or knuckle at the top of the trunk. This method was historically used to control tree size, prolong lifespan, and produce a regular supply...

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Repoussé Silver

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Rosewood

Rosewood is a collective term used for a group of richly coloured, dense hardwoods most traditionally associated with the Dalbergia genus. True rosewoods are valued for their deep brown to purplish hues, often enhanced by darker veining, high natural oil content, exceptional density, and their ability to take an extremely high polish. Historically, the most celebrated rosewood is Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), also known as Bahia rosewood. Renowned for its striking appearance and distinctive sweet fragrance, it became the benchmark...

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Sandalwood

Sandalwood is a group of highly aromatic hardwoods from the Santalum genus, prized for their warm yellow colour, fine grain, and distinctive fragrance that can persist for decades. Unlike many scented woods, sandalwood retains its aroma long after harvesting, making it one of the most valuable woods in the world. The most historically significant species is Indian Sandalwood, Santalum album, long revered for religious, medicinal, and perfumery use. Its heartwood contains high concentrations of fragrant oils, particularly alpha santalol, which...

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Satinwood

Satinwood is a name given to a small group of rare hardwoods prized for their rich yellow to golden colour, high natural lustre, and striking depth of figure. The name comes from the wood’s visual similarity to satin fabric, as the surface appears smooth, luminous, and subtly reflective even without heavy finishing. Traditionally, true satinwood is defined by several key characteristics. It displays a warm yellow or gold tone, often deepening with age, combined with exceptional natural sheen and chatoyance....

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Silver Tea Caddy

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Sterling Silver Tea Caddy

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sycamore

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Sycamore (European Sycamore)

Sycamore wood, also known as sycamore maple or European sycamore, comes from the maple species Acer pseudoplatanus and is native to Europe and southwestern Asia. Despite its common name, it is not related to American sycamore and is firmly part of the maple genus. Sycamore maple is valued for its pale, clean appearance and fine texture. Unlike many hardwoods, the sapwood is most commonly used rather than the heartwood. The sapwood ranges from almost white to light golden or softly...

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Tea Plant Handle

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Thuya

Thuya Wood comes from the burl of the Tetraclinis articulata tree, native to the Atlas Mountain region of North Africa, particularly Morocco. It is best known for its warm orange to reddish brown colouring, strong natural fragrance and dramatic swirling grain filled with dense burl eyes. The wood has been prized since antiquity and was highly valued in Roman times for fine furniture and decorative objects. Today it is most often used for veneers, small boxes, carvings and luxury decorative...

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Tulipwood

Tulipwood, also known as Brazilian Tulipwood or Brazilian Pinkwood, is a rare and highly decorative hardwood from northeastern Brazil. It belongs to the Dalbergia genus and is considered a true rosewood. The heartwood is instantly recognisable for its striking combination of warm yellow, pink, orange and red streaks, creating a vivid and highly variegated appearance. The tree itself is small and produces only narrow sections of usable timber, which has historically limited Tulipwood to veneers, inlay and small decorative elements...

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Walnut

Walnut refers to several species within the Juglans genus, with European Walnut Juglans regia and Black Walnut Juglans nigra being the most important timbers in historical and contemporary woodworking. Walnut has been valued for centuries for its combination of beauty, strength and excellent working qualities. The heartwood ranges from pale brown to deep chocolate brown, often with darker streaks and occasional grey, purple or reddish tones. The sapwood is sharply defined and much paler, almost white. Figured material such as...

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William Vincent

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Yew

Yew is an evergreen softwood from the Taxus genus, most notably European yew Taxus baccata and Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia. Despite being classed as a softwood, yew possesses density and strength more commonly associated with heavy hardwoods, making it a unique and highly respected timber. The heartwood is typically orange brown to reddish brown, sometimes with darker purple or brown tones, while the sapwood forms a narrow band of pale yellow or tan. The colour deepens naturally with age, developing...

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