Mahogany Burl: Our Trade Name for Sapele Burl
Wood Dictionary
Mahogany Burl is MORI KOUGEI's trade name for sapele burl. This product focuses on figure that changes across the surface rather than on long, flowing stripes. Because it refers to a different wood from our regular Mahogany, we begin with the relationship between the names.
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 identification
- Trade name
- Mahogany burl (sapele burl) MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany burl A4 veneer sheet
- Our description of the underlying material
- Sapele burl
- Botanical name and family of sapele in general references
- Entandrophragma cylindricum / Family Meliaceae Kew: Entandrophragma cylindricum
- A4 specifications
- 210 × 297 mm, approximately 0.25 mm thick MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany burl A4 veneer sheet
Connecting the product name and the wood
MORI KOUGEI calls African mahogany Mahogany, and sapele with tamamoku figure Mahogany Burl. Although the product names are similar, we do not group them as different patterns of the same regular mahogany. This page is about sapele burl. Use the product name when searching the store, and sapele as well when researching the wood's characteristics.
Figure on the surface of sapele
Sapele is generally identified as Entandrophragma cylindricum, a tree of the family Meliaceae distributed in tropical Africa. It has reddish-brown heartwood, with darker examples also showing purplish brown. Separating this description of the wood from the description of its figure makes the relationship between species and appearance easier to understand. Kew: Entandrophragma cylindricum / Hoxan: Sapele
The Japanese term tamamoku draws attention to rounded changes of light and dark. It does not mean a pattern of evenly arranged circles; their size and spread are those of natural wood. Rather than trying to match every small detail, enjoy the movement and cohesion of the surface as a whole.
Let figure lead, even on a small surface
Consider it for work that presents a visible face, such as a box lid, part of a frame or a decorative panel. Surrounding it with quieter-grained wood can define the area where the figure takes center stage. If covering the entire object in the same material, think about where the patterns of the separate pieces will continue and where they will change.
Before cutting narrow strips or small shapes, check how much of the original sheet's figure will remain visible. Lay a template of the required shape over several positions and orientations to find the area you want. Even with the same product name, avoid a design that depends on receiving the exact pattern shown in a photograph.
Using A4 veneer
MORI KOUGEI's A4 product is a veneer sheet measuring 210 × 297 mm and approximately 0.25 mm thick. Suggested uses bring a wood surface to a substrate, including furniture edges, repairs to flat wooden surfaces and wood inlay. Consider the strength and general uses of solid sapele separately from the performance of an object covered in thin veneer. MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany burl A4 veneer sheet
To make the most of the figure, consider both the size of the area and the placement of the pattern. Try the sheet in position before bonding and, if applying a finish, test the appearance on an offcut. Regular Sapele, which emphasizes a longer flow of grain, is another useful comparison. MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany burl A4 veneer sheet
View mahogany burl A4 sheets ↗
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This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.