Refined Secretaire with Inlays Italy 20th Century

Maple

Hard, light wood used for inlays. It grows mainly in Austria, but it is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere, from Japan to North America, passing through China and Europe. It is one of the lightest woods ever, tending to white, it is similar to lime or birch wood. The briar is used in the production of ancient secretaires .

Brazilian Rosewood

It is a hard, light blond wood, but with strong red and pinkish veins, which is obtained from tropical trees similar to rosewood. Its veins are reminiscent of striped tulips, which is why it is called tulipwood in English-speaking areas. It is used for inlays, often combined with bois de violette. In the 1700s and 1800s it was highly appreciated and used in France and England for precious veneers. It gives off scent for decades if not centuries after curing.

Boxwood

With a yellowish color, it is a very compact and hard wood, of oriental origin, which is obtained from evergreen shrubs of the Buxaceae family. It is used for inlays and for all-round workings both as furniture finishes and as small objects and sculptures.

Various Wood Essences

Walnut

Walnut wood comes from the plant whose botanical name is juglans regia , probably originally from the East but very common in Europe. Light or dark brown in color, it is a hard wood with a beautiful grain, widely used in antique furniture. It was the main essence in Italy throughout the Renaissance and later had a good diffusion in Europe, especially in England, until the advent of mahogany. It was used for solid wood furniture and sometimes carvings and inlays, its only big limitation is that it suffers a lot from woodworm. In France it was widely used more than anything else in the provinces. In the second half of the eighteenth century its use decreased significantly because mahogany and other exotic woods were preferred.