Curly White Ash: Waves of Figure across Distinct Grain

WOOD DICTIONARY

Curly white ash layers wave-like bands of light and dark over the distinct grain of ash. The Japanese label chijimi, or “curl,” describes figure, not a fault caused by shrinking timber. It offers a different way to enjoy the grain from our regular white ash product. MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet / Bal et al. (2020): Definition of Curl Figure in Wood

Example of Curly White Ash A4 veneer (figured)

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 name: Curly White Ash MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet
Wood and figure: Curly figure in white ash timber, not the name of a separate botanical species MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet / Bal et al. (2020): Definition of Curl Figure in Wood
General classification: Fraxinus, the ash genus, in the Oleaceae family. F. americana is a representative species. USDA Silvics: White Ash / USDA Wood Handbook: White Ash Group (p. 1–3)
Grain options offered: Quarter-cut with curl MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet

Quarter-cut and curly describe different features

The product description “quarter-cut with curl” combines information about the cut and the figure. Quarter-cut refers to the orientation in which the wood is sliced; curl describes a wavy pattern on the surface. There is no contradiction in curly figure appearing over the straight flow of quarter-cut grain. Reading the two terms separately makes product selection clearer. MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet / Bal et al. (2020): Definition of Curl Figure in Wood

Curl figure arises when undulations in the wood’s fiber direction create wave-like or banded changes of light and dark on the surface. The lines have not been drawn on afterward, and their spacing and intensity vary. Because the figure develops as the tree grows, the same waves will not necessarily appear in the same places as in a photograph. Bal et al. (2020): Definition of Curl Figure in Wood / MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet

See two flows as the light changes

Differences in fiber direction also affect the way light is reflected. View a curly surface from more than one angle. Looking separately at ash’s long grain and the finer bands of light and dark that cross it reveals several rhythms within a single sheet. Bal et al. (2020): Definition of Curl Figure in Wood / Cornell University: Figured maple

On a broad surface such as a box lid, the figure can be shown as a cohesive whole. When cutting narrow bands or small pieces, the impression changes with the area of the supplied sheet you choose. Placing a paper template over the veneer before cutting makes the relationship between pattern and shape easier to judge.

The figure name and the properties of the wood

White ash generally refers to Fraxinus timber in the olive family, with whitish sapwood and brown-toned heartwood. The representative species Fraxinus americana is also used for bats and oars, but “curly” does not indicate a strength or water-resistance grade. Here it is a trade category focused on surface figure, not a different set of wood properties. USDA Silvics: White Ash / USDA Wood Handbook: White Ash Group (p. 1–3) / MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet

When comparing it with regular white ash, think not in terms of one tree being better than another, but of whether you want straight lines or a spreading flat-cut pattern to lead, or want to add wave-like bands of light and dark. The choice changes with whether the wood will form a background or become the main visual feature.

Working with thin veneer

MORI KOUGEI A4 sheets measure 210 × 297 mm and are approximately 0.25 mm thick, combining natural wood veneer with industrial washi paper. They are surface materials for covering exposed wood edges, repairing flat wooden areas, and marquetry. They are not intended to be shaped by removing thickness as you would with a solid board. MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet

Prepare a flat substrate and test the adhesive and finish on a small offcut before proceeding. The photograph is one example of curly figure, not a means of specifying the fineness of its waves. Enjoy the material as an opportunity to use the grain unique to the sheet you receive. MORI KOUGEI: Curly White Ash A4 Veneer Sheet

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This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.

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