Mahogany: Its Variations & Its Alternatives
Quick Facts about Mahogany Lumber
There are many different tree species and hardwoods commonly referred to as “mahogany.” Commercially available alternative species have gained in popularity over the last several years, although Genuine Mahogany remains the most sought-after of the “mahogany” lumbers. Some alternative woods are part of the mahogany family, but vary significantly from Genuine Mahogany.
Genuine Mahogany
Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) goes by many names, including Honduran Mahogany, Peruvian Mahogany, Bolivian Mahogany, South American Mahogany, Big Leaf Mahogany, and so on. Genuine Mahogany has long been considered the ideal imported wood in terms of stability and properties favorable for finishing.
Because of the characteristics of Genuine Mahogany, the wood is used extensively in furniture making, high end door and window manufacturing, wood turning, and musical instrument production. The color is a rich and consistent brown, giving the wood a deep natural tone which is accentuated with staining and finishing.
African Mahogany
African Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) occurs naturally in West Africa, primarily Ghana and Cameroon. Wood from this region is consistent in grade, color, and texture, and carries a very lustrous grain appearance.
The grain of the African Mahogany is typically coarse and interlocking, giving the lumber a dense, heavy feel when compared to Genuine Mahogany or Sapele. African Mahogany is utilized in finished products such as furniture, high end musical instruments, finished architectural millwork, and window & door manufacturing.
Spanish Cedar
Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) is a softwood native to several countries in South America, including Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Columbia. Spanish Cedar has also been naturalized to grow on plantations in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Spanish Cedar is popular for use in a variety of applications including exterior millwork and trim, siding, window and door manufacturing, architectural panels, and cigar humidors. The South and Central American softwood is especially popular because of its resistance to attack by termites. It is very well suited for exposure to outdoor elements. The heartwood is a reddish brown hue and can contain small streaks of gum.
Sapele
Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) is a moderately priced substitute for traditional Genuine Mahogany. Sapele lumber is indigenous to several countries in Africa; most of McIlvain's Sapele lumber is imported from the Congo.
The color of Sapele is a dark brownish red and can sometimes move into a purplish red hue. McIlvain separates our Sapele according to flat sawn (cathedral) and quarter sawn (straight) grain. Occasionally, we get in a shipment with several highly figured Pomelle boards.
Utile or Sipo
The Europeans have been using Utile or Sipo (Entandrophragma Utile) for years as a beautiful alternative to Genuine Mahogany. Utile is a dark brown color and is known for beautiful, tight flecks that make the wood look radiant and almost glisten. Customers report that they truly enjoy working with Utile. Utile is widely used in window and door manufacturing and in various architectural millwork applications. It is also used for musical instrument manufacturing.
All of the lumber variations mentioned above are sourced with great care for high quality and legality. Legal sourcing is a process we take very seriously—McIlvain employees visit and inspect all lumber purchased at the source. We have long term relationships with suppliers who maintain meticulous records and can track every log back to its origin.
