Curly Maple: Wavy Figure That Shifts in the Light
WOOD DICTIONARY
In curly maple, bands of light and shade seem to ripple across the lengthwise grain. “Curly” describes a type of figure, not a species of tree. Its appeal lies in the remarkable sense of depth it brings to a wood surface. Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure / Cornell University: Figured maple
The photographs are examples of the color and grain associated with each wood or figure. Every piece of natural wood is different; the sheet you receive will not have exactly the same color or grain as the photographs.
Names and basic facts
- Trade and English names
- Curly maple MORI KOUGEI: Curly Maple A4 Veneer Sheet / Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure
- Meaning of the name
- Wavy curl figure in maple, not a separate botanical species Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure
- Classification
- Wood of Acer, the maple genus, in the Sapindaceae family. The figure name alone does not identify a single species. Kew POWO: Acer saccharum / Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure
- Product category
- Figured A4 veneer sheet MORI KOUGEI: Curly Maple A4 Veneer Sheet
The waves come from the direction of the fibers
Curl figure is associated with undulations in the direction of the wood fibers. On a cut surface, these appear as alternating bands of light and dark. The effect is not a printed pattern; it comes from the structure of the wood itself. The spacing and intensity of the waves vary, from fine ripples to broader, more continuous bands. Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure
The apparent light and dark areas shift as the lighting direction or viewing angle changes. Cornell University’s research into the appearance of wood illustrates how highlights move with fiber direction. This does not mean the surface has physical ridges and hollows: the sense of depth results from the interaction of light and wood structure. Cornell University: Figured maple
“Curly” is not the opposite of “hard maple”
Hard maple is a timber category principally covering sugar maple and black maple. Curly figure can occur within that group. University research also examines curl in red maple. A curly maple is therefore not necessarily outside the hard maple group, and curl alone does not establish that it is hard maple. USDA Wood Handbook: Hard Maple and Soft Maple (p. 1–7) / Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure
Align the flow with the orientation of your piece
Before cutting curly veneer into small shapes, look at how the waves flow across the whole sheet. A box lid can showcase a single broad surface; on a frame, consider grain direction in relation to the vertical and horizontal members. This helps make the arrangement feel intentional. It is a way to use the particular sheet you receive, not a method of specifying a particular pattern.
Figured maple has been used in furniture, decorative objects, and face veneers. Even in a small project, turning the surface toward the light reveals qualities that a fixed photograph cannot fully convey. Unlike the dot-like figure of birdseye maple, curly maple is characterized by sequences of bands and waves. USDA Wood Handbook: Hard Maple and Soft Maple (p. 1–7) / Bal et al. (2020): Research on Maple Figure / Cornell University: Figured maple
Working with an A4 sheet
MORI KOUGEI sells curly maple as figured A4 veneer. The 210 × 297 mm sheet is approximately 0.25 mm thick and combines natural wood with industrial washi paper. Suggested applications include marquetry and covering exposed furniture edges. Its purpose differs from that of a thick board that can be carved or shaped. MORI KOUGEI: Curly Maple A4 Veneer Sheet
Prepare a flat substrate and test the adhesive and finish on a small offcut before proceeding. Color and the expression of the waves vary even within curly maple, so use the photographs as examples of curl figure rather than an exact preview of the sheet you will receive. MORI KOUGEI: Curly Maple A4 Veneer Sheet
Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.