Dreamnut: Exploring Veneer Through the Tauari Name
Wood Dictionary
Dreamnut is our trade name, with Tauari used as the English product name. Taking the timber name tauari as a starting point, this article introduces its general background and ways to work with thin veneer.
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 product name
- Dreamnut / Tauari MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
- General classification of tauari
- Several species of Couratari in the Lecythidaceae family ITTO Tauari（Couratari oblongifolia） / ITTO Tauari（Couratari stellata）
- Scientific name of the product timber
- A single species has not been identified. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
- MORI KOUGEI sheet
- A4 (210 × 297 mm); approximately 0.25 mm thick; industrial washi paper backing MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Tauari does not necessarily mean one species
The International Tropical Timber Organization's timber database lists both Couratari oblongifolia and Couratari stellata under the name Tauari. Both belong to Lecythidaceae. Since the trade name is not fixed to a single species, a matching English name alone cannot establish the species of the timber sold. ITTO Tauari（Couratari oblongifolia） / ITTO Tauari（Couratari stellata）
The genus Couratari is described as occurring in tropical South America. Although the product name ends in “nut,” it should not be understood as belonging to the walnut family, Juglandaceae. When exploring timber names, consider the corresponding English name and family together rather than relying only on familiar-sounding words. ITTO Tauari（Couratari oblongifolia） / ITTO Tauari（Couratari stellata）
Pale yellow-brown color and straight grain
As one general example, Couratari oblongifolia is described as yellowish white to pale yellow-brown, with little color difference between heartwood and sapwood and usually straight grain. Couratari stellata is also described as pale yellow-brown and straight-grained. These are general examples of tauari timber, not a statement that every Dreamnut sheet has the same color and pattern. ITTO Tauari（Couratari oblongifolia） / ITTO Tauari（Couratari stellata）
To make use of a quietly colored surface, compare vertical and horizontal grain arrangements with a paper template. In narrow components such as frame pieces, the direction of the lines that remain in the finished object matters. When combining it with dark wood, place offcuts side by side to decide which surface should show a pattern and which should act as a background.
General timber uses and working with an A4 sheet
Furniture, cabinets, and veneer are among the reported uses of tauari timber. Our product is a natural wood veneer sheet backed with industrial washi paper, measuring 210 × 297 mm and approximately 0.25 mm thick. Rather than being carved into shape like solid timber, it is bonded to a substrate to finish the surface with wood color and grain. ITTO Tauari（Couratari stellata） / MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Consider it for furniture edges, decorative facing on small objects, refacing flat wooden surfaces, marquetry, and similar work. Prepare a flat bonding surface and test cutting, adhesion, and finishing on an offcut. The photograph shows one example, so arrange the required shapes on the actual sheet before deciding where to cut. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
View the Dreamnut 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.