Ovangkol: Brown Tones, Dark Stripes, and Luster
Wood Dictionary
Ovangkol is an African timber with dark stripes and luster against a brownish ground. When comparing similarly colored woods, look beyond depth of color to the grain lines and sheen. It is worth considering for a surface that needs variation within a restrained palette. Hoxan: Ovangkol / MORI KOUGEI Ovangkol A4 Veneer Sheet
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
- Ovangkol / Ovengkol MORI KOUGEI Ovangkol A4 Veneer Sheet / Hoxan: Ovangkol
- Typical scientific name and family
- Guibourtia ehie / Fabaceae Kew Guibourtia ehie / USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
- Natural distribution
- West and Central Tropical Africa Kew Guibourtia ehie
- A4 veneer cut
- Quarter cut MORI KOUGEI Ovangkol A4 Veneer Sheet
In the same genus as bubinga
Ovangkol is generally associated with the scientific name Guibourtia ehie. The genus Guibourtia, in the Fabaceae family, also includes trees traded as bubinga. Sharing a genus does not mean that their colors and patterns are the same. Ovangkol's particular character is easier to appreciate by looking at the combination of its brown ground and stripes. Kew Guibourtia ehie / USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1 / Hoxan: Ovangkol
Brown tones layered with dark lines
Hoxan describes heartwood ranging through blackish brown and grayish brown, sometimes with fine black stripes and a steely luster. MORI KOUGEI also highlights its distinctive sheen. Rather than treating the wood as a single shade of brown, consider ground color, lines, and luster separately to choose the qualities you want in your piece. Hoxan: Ovangkol / MORI KOUGEI Ovangkol A4 Veneer Sheet
For a design built around brown tones, compare whether the neighboring wood has fine grain or broad, spreading patterns. This helps when you want a contrast in grain without a large change in color. Ovangkol could cover a whole box lid or panel, or form part of a border.
A timber used for furniture and decorative veneer
Ovangkol is generally used for furniture, cabinets, decorative veneer, and flooring. It has also been described as a substitute for rosewood, but botanically it is distinct from rosewoods in the genus Dalbergia. The word “substitute” can refer to a similar appearance or use; it does not mean the same species. Kew Guibourtia ehie
Making use of quarter-cut grain in an A4 sheet
MORI KOUGEI's A4 Ovangkol is quarter cut, measures 210 × 297 mm, and is approximately 0.25 mm thick. The natural wood veneer has an industrial washi paper backing. To make the grain direction part of the design, lay out the sheet before gluing and compare vertical and horizontal arrangements. MORI KOUGEI Ovangkol A4 Veneer Sheet
The product page lists furniture edges, repairs to flat wooden surfaces, and marquetry among its uses. These are decorative-facing applications; a sheet should not be expected to perform like solid flooring or furniture timber. Prepare a flat substrate and test the adhesive and finish on an offcut before working. MORI KOUGEI Ovangkol A4 Veneer Sheet
Rather than planning around perfectly matching colors and stripes, consider a layout that makes use of natural variation. If you want more distinct stripes as the focal point, compare Zebrawood; if you want to explore reddish woods, Bubinga is another option.
View the Ovangkol 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.