What is Figure?
Figure refers to decorative patterns in wood beyond regular grain. Highly figured wood commands premium prices and is prized for fine furniture, musical instruments, and decorative items.
Types of Figure
Natural Anatomical Figures
Ribbon/Stripe Figure:
- Alternating light and dark stripes
- Caused by interlocked grain
- Reflects light differently when planed
- Classic in mahogany and sapele
- Costa Rican example: Fine mahogany (Swietenia)
Ray Fleck ("Medullary Rays"):
- Shiny perpendicular lines or plates
- Visible wood rays in quarter-sawn lumber
- Prominent in oak, beech, sycamore
- Not common in Costa Rican tropical hardwoods
Birdseye:
- Small circular or oval marks resembling bird eyes
- Caused by bud formation compression
- Famous in maple
- Rare in tropical species
Quilted:
- Puffy, pillowy appearance
- Caused by wavy grain and light reflection
- Prized in maple and mahogany
- Creates 3D appearance
Curly/Tiger Stripe:
- Wavy perpendicular lines across grain
- Caused by wavelike grain formation
- Also called "fiddle-back" (violin wood)
- Creates chatoyance (shimmer effect)
Stress and Defect Figures
Burl:
- Swirling, irregular grain patterns
- Caused by tree burls (growth abnormalities)
- Extremely valuable and decorative
- Costa Rican example: Pochote burls
Spalting:
- Dark zone lines from fungal infection
- Creates artistic patterns
- Wood must be stabilized before decay
- Popular in turned bowls and art pieces
Crotch Figure:
- V-shaped pattern from branch junction
- Feathery grain radiating from center
- Highly prized but structurally weaker
- Used for decorative veneers
Fiddleback:
- Tight wavy grain pattern
- Named for violin back wood
- Creates shimmering effect
- Prized in musical instruments
Cutting-Induced Figures
Quarter-Sawn:
- Boards cut perpendicular to growth rings
- Emphasizes ray fleck
- More stable than flat-sawn
- Premium lumber cut
Rift-Sawn:
- Cut at angle to growth rings
- Minimizes figure, emphasizes straight grain
- Very stable
- Used where uniformity needed
Rotary-Cut Veneer:
- "Unrolled" log creates cathedral patterns
- Wide, dramatic grain patterns
- Used in plywood faces
Costa Rican Figured Woods
Premium Figured Species
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa):
- Dense rosewood with striking figure
- Orange-red to purple-black patterns
- Natural oils enhance figure
- Highly valued for small projects
Caoba/Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla):
- Classic ribbon stripe figure
- Interlocked grain creates shimmer
- Premium grades show best figure
- CITES-protected, limited availability
Cristóbal (Platymiscium pinnatum):
- Rosewood family with beautiful figure
- Golden-brown with dark streaks
- Occasional quilted or curly patterns
- Excellent for fine furniture
Laurel (Cordia alliodora):
- Can show wavy or interlocked grain
- Best logs have subtle figure
- Popular for domestic furniture
- More affordable than mahogany
Pochote Burls:
- Spectacular swirling patterns
- Rare and highly valued
- Used for turned bowls, art
- Must be properly dried to prevent cracking
Recognizing Figure Potential
In Standing Trees:
- Burls visible as lumps on trunk
- Wavy bark may indicate curly grain
- Crotches worth examining
- Stress from lean creates compression wood
In Logs:
- End grain shows growth irregularities
- Burls obvious on outside
- Professionals use moisture/light to preview
- High-figure logs command 5-10x premium
Woodworking Implications
Working Figured Wood
Challenges:
- Irregular grain direction causes tear-out
- Difficult to plane and sand
- Requires very sharp tools
- May need scraping instead of planing
Solutions:
- Reduce planer depth of cut
- Use high cutting angle (60°+)
- Sand with progression of grits
- Consider hand-scraping for finest work
Finishing Figured Wood
Enhancing Figure:
- Clear finishes emphasize patterns
- Oil finishes bring out chatoyance
- Avoid opaque stains that hide figure
- Multiple thin coats better than thick
Best Finishes:
- Danish oil for cocobolo
- Shellac for traditional look
- Lacquer for production furniture
- Polyurethane for durability
Market Value
Price Multipliers
Standard Lumber: 1x base price Subtle Figure: 2-3x Moderate Figure: 3-5x Exceptional Figure: 5-10x+ Burls: 10-50x+
Factors:
- Species rarity
- Figure type and intensity
- Size of figured area
- Market demand
- Cultural preferences
Conservation Consideration
Sustainable Use
Figured wood is rare:
- Only small percentage of trees show figure
- Selective logging for figure = more waste
- Burl harvesting can damage/kill trees
- Consider plantation alternatives
Responsible Choices:
- Verify legal/sustainable source
- Check CITES documentation for protected species
- Consider domestic species over imports
- Use figured wood sparingly as accent
- Value and preserve historic figured pieces
Why It Matters
Understanding figure helps with:
- Wood selection: Choosing appropriate species for projects
- Pricing: Understanding why some boards cost more
- Woodworking technique: Adapting methods to grain
- Sustainability: Appreciating rarity drives conservation
- Identification: Figure patterns help ID wood species