Mahogany: African Mahogany and Its Reddish-Brown Surface
Wood Dictionary
The wood MORI KOUGEI calls mahogany is African mahogany. Its reddish-brown surface makes it an option when a quiet, warm character is desired; it is generally used for furniture and decorative veneer, among other applications. Knowing how it differs from similarly named woods makes comparisons easier.
International delivery
For delivery outside Japan, please contact MORI KOUGEI before placing your order. Shipping availability depends on the material’s species and origin, the destination, and any permits or certificates required. Any required permits or certificates must be arranged before dispatch.
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 / African mahogany at MORI KOUGEI
- Common English name and classification
- African mahogany / Genus Khaya (Khaya spp.), family Meliaceae Kew: Khaya / USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
- Natural distribution of the genus
- Tropical Africa Kew: Khaya
- A4 specifications
- 210 × 297 mm, approximately 0.25 mm thick MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany A4 veneer sheet
African mahogany is timber of the genus Khaya
The timber name mahogany covers several different groups. African mahogany comes from the genus Khaya in the family Meliaceae. It is a different group within the same family as Swietenia, the mahoganies known from Central and South America. MORI KOUGEI sells African mahogany under the trade name Mahogany. Kew: Khaya / USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
A range of reddish tones
African mahogany heartwood generally ranges from pale pink to deep reddish brown. Interlocked grain, in which the fiber direction alternates, is also common. The strength of the red tone alone cannot identify a wood, but observing the background color separately from the flow of the grain helps reveal its character. USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
On a box lid or the face of a frame, for example, a broad area can showcase the wood's color. For smaller pieces, a coherent tone can take precedence over pattern. Its effect also changes when paired with pale wood or with similar browns, so consider it alongside the other materials in the finished work.
How it differs from sapele and mahogany burl
MORI KOUGEI treats sapele and African mahogany as distinct woods. The product called Mahogany Burl is our trade name for sapele burl. It does not mean that our regular mahogany has developed burl figure. Keeping the timber group and the name of the figure separate makes the product differences clearer.
Do you want a calm reddish-brown surface, flowing stripes or the variation of burl figure as a focal point? Rather than deciding by the sound of the name, consider the role you want the grain to play in the piece. That gives you a clearer basis for comparison.
Add the character of natural wood with an A4 sheet
African mahogany is generally used for furniture, cabinets, interior components and veneer. MORI KOUGEI's A4 product is a 210 × 297 mm veneer sheet approximately 0.25 mm thick. Separate those general timber uses from the role of a thin sheet, which brings a wood surface to a supporting substrate. USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1 / MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany A4 veneer sheet
The product page describes uses such as covering furniture edges, repairing flat wooden surfaces and wood inlay. Even when aiming for a close color match in a repair, the sheet may not match the existing furniture exactly. Prepare the surface and test adhesion and the finished appearance on a small piece before proceeding. MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany A4 veneer sheet
For international orders, please contact us before ordering. Include the material name, quantity and destination in your message.
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Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.
References
- Kew: Khaya
- USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
- MORI KOUGEI: Mahogany A4 veneer sheet