Harewood

English pedesals
MFA# 1984.111

Grey harewood (Dyed English sycamore)(Acer pseudo-platanus)

White harewood (English Sycamore) (Acer pseudo-platanus)

Description

An unstandardized name use for the following timbers:

1) Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). This tree is native to Europe and has a greenish-gray wood used for furniture, inlays and veneers.

2) English sycamore (family Platanaceae). These trees, also called plane trees, are found throughout Europe and Asia Minor. They have a light yellow wood that appears similar to oak. It takes a fine polish and is used for tool handles, flooring, furniture, and veneers.

3) West Indian Satinwood (Zanthoxylon flavuum). Satinwood has an irregular grain an a yellowish color that darkens as it ages.

4) Wood from the English sycamore that has been dyed a brownish gray color.

Synonyms and Related Terms

sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus); West Indian satinwood (Zanthoxylon flavuum); sicomoro, arce blanco (Esp.); padreiro (Port.); Sicomoro (It.); acero montano (It.); English sycamore

Resources and Citations

• Schoch, W., Heller, I., Schweingruber, F.H., Kienast, F., 2004:Wood anatomy of central European Species: Great Maple,Sycamore Maple, Acer pseudoplatanus L.

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• George Savage, Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook, Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954