Makore: Reddish Brown Color and Natural Luster
Wood Dictionary
Makore is an African timber with a pinkish brown to reddish brown surface. Alongside its grain, the luster of a finished surface is often noted as an attraction. If you want to introduce reddish brown into a project, it is worth considering alongside Sapele and Moabi. Hoxan: Makore
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.
Name and basic information
- Trade name and English name
- Makore MORI KOUGEI Makore A4 Veneer Sheet / Hoxan: Makore
- General classification
- Timbers in the genus Tieghemella, including T. heckelii / Sapotaceae USDA Tropical Timbers of the World / Kew Tieghemella heckelii
- Typical source regions
- Africa Hoxan: Makore
- A4 veneer cut
- Quarter cut MORI KOUGEI Makore A4 Veneer Sheet
Its connection to mahogany and cherry names
MORI KOUGEI's product description also lists cherry mahogany and African cherry as alternative names for Makore. Botanically, however, it is a timber in the genus Tieghemella, family Sapotaceae. Having mahogany or cherry in an alternative name does not place it in the same botanical group as those woods. When looking for a reddish timber, begin with the trade name Makore. MORI KOUGEI Makore A4 Veneer Sheet / USDA Tropical Timbers of the World / Kew Tieghemella heckelii
From pinkish tones to reddish brown
Hoxan describes heartwood ranging from pinkish brown to reddish brown, with darker stripes. It also notes the luster of the finished wood. A lightly reddish area and a deep brown area can create different impressions, so use the photographs to understand a range of tones rather than imagining a single color from the name. Hoxan: Makore
Whether you want an overall reddish brown surface or a contrast with a dark border, consider Makore alongside the surrounding materials. It could also provide one of the brown tones in marquetry. Deciding whether to display a broad pattern or emphasize color makes it easier to choose the area and direction of each cut piece.
Texture and workability
Makore is generally described as relatively fine-textured. Workability, however, also depends on the tools and the condition of the material. Rather than applying an account of solid timber directly to thin veneer, test cutting and adhesion with the sheet you will use before proceeding. Hoxan: Makore
Different woods can share a reddish brown color yet display quite different grain and luster. When choosing woods to coordinate by color, compare more than the first impression: consider the direction in which the grain will run and the area it will cover. Closely related colors can create a subtle contrast in pattern.
Quarter-cut A4 veneer for decorative facing
MORI KOUGEI's A4 Makore is a quarter-cut sheet measuring 210 × 297 mm and approximately 0.25 mm thick. It combines natural wood veneer with industrial washi paper. Use it to add wood character to a substrate, such as furniture edges, repairs to flat wooden surfaces, and marquetry. MORI KOUGEI Makore A4 Veneer Sheet
Prepare a flat bonding surface and plan the grain layout before cutting the required shapes. Test any finish on an offcut to check its appearance. Instead of expecting the photograph's exact color and pattern, look for the flow you want to bring out in the sheet you receive. This is part of the pleasure of working with natural wood. MORI KOUGEI Makore A4 Veneer Sheet
View the Makore 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.