Mahogany – Brazilian
- South America
- Hardwood
- Durable
Brazilian Mahogany (commonly Swietenia macrophylla, also known as big-leaf mahogany) is a premium tropical hardwood native to Central and South America. It typically ranges in colour from light pinkish-brown to deep reddish-brown, darkening beautifully with age. The grain is usually straight to interlocked, often producing an attractive ribbon or figured effect when quarter-sawn. The wood has a fine to medium texture, machines and finishes exceptionally well, and offers good dimensional stability along with moderate natural durability.
In the timber industry, Brazilian mahogany is highly valued for high-end furniture, cabinetry, veneers, interior joinery and architectural millwork. It is widely regarded as one of the finest luxury hardwoods for decorative woodworking due to its rich colour, workability and ability to take a polished finish. It is also used for boat interiors, musical instruments and bespoke joinery, although its availability is more restricted today due to conservation controls, making responsibly sourced material especially important.
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Suitable for:
Boat and ship construction, decking, framing, keels, masts, planking, spars and stems
Carpentry, joinery (interior)
Decorative and inlay
Flooring
Furniture, cabinet making, bars and worktops
Gun stocks and pattern making
Sculpture, carving, model making and toys
