Figure

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