West Indian mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) originates from the Caribbean. It was first imported to Europe around 1650 from the West Indies, the islands discovered by Columbus while searching for a new route to India. Also known as island mahogany, this is the only ‘real’ mahogany, but its immense popularity and demand have almost led to its extinction. The wood is incomparably beautiful in structure and color, which, when exposed to light, takes on a fresh pinkish-red to deep dark red hue with incredible luster and lustre that has been highly prized for centuries. It carves beautifully, and machines like a dream! Easily finished, the wood takes an excellent polish and has a natural high lustre. It is one of the most dimensionally stable woods in the world. Typical features include fine lime deposits in the pores, interlocked grain, and a very high specific weight: the wood weighs approx. 800–900 kg/m3. A real rarity for finest work!
