Thread: The Hannah Cabinet - what species is this part?

The first picture looks more like a type of Zebra Wood. Not too sure about your cabinet.

In the 50s as an apprentice we used heaps of Qld walnut ply, thats what it looks like. John.

Thanks chaps. Here is a better pic of my cabinet. The yellowing is due to UV exposure, not so much the timber (I think).

IMG_20190121_133116.jpg


IMG_20190121_133013.jpg

Brett, provenance is a very big help when it comes to identifying wood! So many woods look alike (hence the confusion of common names!), so many vary so much between individual trees they look like different species.

My first guess for Geoff's veneer was 'Zebrano' (Microberlinia brazzavillensis). Geoff isn't precious about using only local species, nor does he shy from staining & shading - he uses what he needs to get the effect he wants, so it could be anything from anywhere.

If your cabinet was made in Aus in the '30s, Qld Walnut would be a fair guess. It was a popular choice for the Art Deco styles. Qld walnut (formerly Endiandra, now Cryptocarya), has a wide range of grain patterns, from plain to striped to some of the most stunning fiddleback I've seen (though I think the latter must be rare, as I've only seen figure like that once). I've noted similar veneers to yours used on a couple of pieces that I know were made locally.

From the pics, the veneer looks to be in amazingly good condition - can see very little chipping of the edge-banding - must've been well cared for!?

Cheers,