our timbers

brazilian cherry (hymenaea courbaril)

brazilian cherry aka jatoba is prized for its beauty and used for fine furniture and cabinet making. The bark of brazilian cherry is very thick and used for making canoes by native south americans.

a strong hardwood (janka* scale 2820 2.5 times harder than red oak) It is not actually a species of cherry, but has become known in the timber trade as brazilian cherry because of its similarities to sweet cherry, but the jatoba is of course very much harder and than the sweet cherry.

the jatoba tree yields “copal” a golden sticky resinous fluid which turns to amber over millions of years. scientists have discovered many clues to its prehistoric existence through the plants and insects trapped in the beautiful amber, as shown in the movie jurassic park. it is the copal in the tree which gives jatoba its surface lustre and luminescence. Also because of the attractive scent, copal is used to make incense for churches.

freshly milled brazilian cherry has a deep salmon russet colour which turns russet tan and then warm rich reddish chestnut. jatoba has arguably the most beautiful figuring of all the flooring timber. the figure arches are high curved and sweeping and are a feature of a high percentage of the boards across any floor.

a wonderful warm rich more feminine wood but with a masculine strength. for clients who seek a stunning floor with exceptional figure and a red brown tone. elegant and beautiful in elegant classical drawing rooms. dramatic in minimal interiors. for romantic bedrooms with rose faded chintz or pale silks.


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