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Page twelve of our veneer
descriptions brings us up from numbers 133 on to number 144 which, in
their specie' range from Purpleheart to Rosewood Tulip.
As, so often seems usual these days, many of the veneers mentioned here
are no longer available commercially, but none the less, you could be
lucky and chance upon a few samples of those veneers, in which case do
yourself a favour and add them to your veneer bank.
Let's start then on the first of this twelve veneers - number 133
Purpleheart:
133/.
PURPLEHEART: Peltogyne, spp.
Central American veneer.
It is also known as
Amaranthe, violet-wood, sucupira. It has a purple hue, with an interlocked
grain and a weak striped figure. It is fine textured and very hard and
brittle to cut. This is a rare veneer obtainable in widths up to about 12
inches (30cms) and is expensive. Mostly used to depict costume and
drapery, distant hills, roofs, walls, doors and in floral subjects. Purple
heart is one veneer that must be used with restraint. It tends to dominate
a picture if used in large areas but quickly fades when exposed to
sunlight to a purplish brown. An important point to watch out for with
this veneer is that it’s colour will leach out into light veneers placed
next to it, I find it a good idea to sanding sealer this veneer before
doing much else with it (its just a touch of insurance really)
134/. RAMIN:
Gonystylus Macrophyllum. This veneer originates from Malaysia. Can
also be known as Sarawak and Melawis. This is a yellowish coloured
straight grained veneer. It is commonly used for the purposes of picture
frame manufacture due to it's resistance to warping.
135/. RHUS:
Rhus Typhina. Canada. A copper to bronze coloured veneer with
interesting dual coloured stripes of wavy grey overlaid with smoothly
curving brown stripes. Rather unique.
136/. ROBINA:
Robinia Pseudoacacia. A veneer of European origin. Straw coloured
and fine grained. Unfortunately I have no other
information regarding this veneer in my notes, perhaps Dear Reader if you
have some knowledge of this veneer you may like to get in touch and help
us to update our database - for which we would be immensely obliged.
137/. ROSEWOOD
BOMBAY: Dalbergia Latifolia.
India. It is also
known as Malobar, Bombay rosewood. This veneer is purple brown in colour,
straight grained, fine textured and fairly easy to cut, although it may be
brittle and require papering. It is available chiefly in quarter cut,
which reveals a very close stripe and when purchased in crown cut form,
has a most attractive marble hardwood figure. The quarter-cut veneers are
ideal for borders, cross-bandings and depicting fences, planking, roofing
and wooden subjects generally. The crown cut veneers are sometimes
suitable for water effects, night skies and costume and drapery.
138/. ROSEWOOD
MADAGASCAR: Dalbergia Greveana.
Madagascar. It is also
known as French rosewood. It is somewhat pink in colour with red stripes,
wavy grain, a very close striped figure, medium texture and of normal
hardness and cutting potential. It is difficult to obtain and is rarely
available over 8 inches (20cms) in width and is very expensive. It is
mostly useable for borders, cross bandings, and to depict roofs, fencing,
planks, etc.
139/. ROSEWOOD
PALLISANDER: Dalbergia Nigra. South America. Brazil. Can
also be known as Cabiuna.
This rare and
beautiful veneer is best seen in the whole veneer leaf, and is used
extensively for panelling in and in high class cabinet making. Four
consecutive leaves of Rio Rosewood, when made into a matched panel, is
probably the most strikingly effective of any veneer. Its use in
marquetry, by use of its striking nature, is limited to foregrounds, rock
formations and turbulent water effects. If you build a selection of
various pieces of Rio Rosewood you may find along the darker streaks of
the figure parts you can depict the roundness of tree trunks, complete
with shading.
140/. ROSEWOOD
RIO: Dalbergia Nigra. South America. Brazil. This veneer
is also known as Pallisander and it's description is the same as veneer
number 139. The piece of this veneer you will find in our pictorial veneer
gallery is a very dark reddish brown colour with smooth black stripes.
141/.
ROSEWOOD RIO (2): Dalbergia Nigra.
South America. Brazil. This veneer is also known as Pallisander and it's
description is the same as veneer numbers 139 & 140. The piece of this
veneer you will find in our pictorial veneer gallery is a bronze coloured
example with distinctive wavy black lines.
142/. ROSEWOOD SAN
DOMINGAN (or sometimes DOMINICAN): Dalbergia Grenadillo.
(or Cordia Spp) Originates from Central America/San Dominica. This
veneer can also be found as Grenadillo. This is a crown cut veneer with
extremely attractive figuring and a colour range which varies from a light
sandy colour through reddish brown to a violet brown. Can be found in
widths of 6 to 16 inches (15 to 40 cms approx)
143/. ROSEWOOD
SANTOS: Dalbergia Spp. South American veneer. An orange
brown veneer with a dark brown figuring. Can be used in place of Rosewood
Rio if wished.
144/. ROSEWOOD
TULIP: Dalgeregia Variabilis (or Dalbergia Frutescens).
Brazil. Also known as Pinkwood in USA. Often used for cross-banding in
marquetry picture "mounts". This very pleasant veneer has red rose stripes
on a yellowish background. It is a hard and fairly brittle veneer for
cutting, so the best recommendation is to use gummed tape on the veneer
and to lubricate your cutting blade well with wax.
Click on any of the numbers below for a quick
link to its respective veneer description page:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 13
14
15
16
17
As you will note, we have included eight
examples of Rosewood in this pages' descriptions of veneers. The Rosewood
family are generally a very attractive veneer variety which is highly
praised for its use in cabinet and furniture work. The figuring is often
strikingly distinctive and consequently very useful for we marquetarians
inasmuch as it can virtually almost make a picture on its own!
Our next twelve veneers will begin with veneer number 145 which will be
Sandalwood.
So, until then, as always, please enjoy your marquetry.
Best Wishes, Roy. |