Olive Walnut: Light-and-Dark Contrast in Picana Negra
Wood Dictionary
Olive Walnut is a timber known for the contrast between light areas and dark stripes. Hoxan lists it under the name Picana Negra. Here we explore the background of a name that refers neither to olive nor to ordinary walnut.
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.
Name and basic information
- Trade names
- Olive Walnut / Picana Negra Hoxan: Olive Walnut
- Family and general trade regions
- Hoxan lists Boraginaceae and South America. Hoxan: Olive Walnut
- Scientific name
- The species of the timber sold 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
Shared names do not mean the same plant
Hoxan describes Olive Walnut as a timber in Boraginaceae. Olive belongs to Oleaceae, while ordinary walnut belongs to Juglandaceae. A trade name containing both words does not mean that it is a hybrid of the two or a type of walnut. It is important to distinguish timber trade names from botanical classification. Hoxan: Olive Walnut / Kew Olea europaea / Kew Juglans nigra
Picana Negra appears in the English-name field of Hoxan's entry for the same timber. This article follows that name correspondence. Because no scientific name is provided there, it does not assign the wood to a particular species, focusing instead on the name used in the veneer trade and the general character of the timber. Hoxan: Olive Walnut
White sapwood and dark heartwood
Hoxan describes white sapwood and heartwood with dark brown to deep brown stripes. Sapwood lies nearer the outside of the trunk, while heartwood is toward the center. With a material that includes light and dark areas, deciding which should lead and where to show the boundary helps shape the composition. Hoxan: Olive Walnut
A sheet does not necessarily contain both areas in a fixed proportion. Treat the product photograph as a guide to the color range and appearance of the lines, not as a set pattern. If you want to show the grain over a broad area, lay the project's template on the sheet first to reserve the space you need. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Small decorative surfaces that make use of the pattern
A simple shape, such as a small box lid or part of a frame, can let the grain lead. In marquetry, you might distinguish between areas where the pattern itself is the feature and areas that use a small dark-colored piece. When combining woods, compare line direction and tonal contrast separately to make the arrangement easier to decide.
Using paper-backed A4 veneer
MORI KOUGEI's A4 product is a sheet approximately 0.25 mm thick, combining natural wood veneer with industrial washi paper. Consider it for bonding to a substrate on furniture edges, refacing flat wooden surfaces, small objects, marquetry, and similar work. Because it is a thin facing, an appropriate substrate must provide the shape and strength of the piece. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Prepare a flat bonding surface and test adhesion and finishing on an offcut before beginning. When comparing it with the similarly named Olive or Walnut, consider not just botanical classification but also the role you want the colors and grain to play in your project. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
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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
- MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
- Hoxan: Olive Walnut
- Kew Olea europaea
- Kew Juglans nigra