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Wood is a naturally occurring material that can be shaped into functional forms without artificial or synthetic alterations. The raw tendencies of growing in nature– the exposures to weather, the elements, the pests, the people, the fungi–are all reflected in the final design of a piece of wood. The connection between nature and wood is best captured in the words of California-based architect Juan-Carlos Fernandez: “Bad design is smoke, while good design is a mirror.” In other words, the beauty of wood is governed by the laws of nature. These laws provide wood’s highly versatile and dynamic applications, with wide ranges of rigidity, toughness, color, and figure.
But what is figure? Simply put, figure is what makes wood pretty. Figure is the distinctive patterns or appearances in the grains that add aesthetic variation or value by annual growth layers, rays, and knots; by irregular coloration; and deviations from straight, regular grain. Figures in wood add interest and sometimes unpredictability because they are imprints of nature, formed in a tree by natural alterations, such as species type or variety, wood type, or exposure to stress. The non-uniform figure in wood creates exceptional ways to catch and reflect light, distinguishing wood design from other materials. Does figure change from one piece of wood to the other? Yes, and there are specific ways to describe the types of figures with words like “chatoyance.”
Chatoyance is often the first type of wood figure that draws attention due to its striking, three-dimensional effect. This intriguing visual quality, which resembles the shimmering appearance of a ‘tiger-eye’ gemstone, is caused by the way light reflects off the wood. Chatoyance occurs when the wood fibers change direction, allowing us to see deeper into the grain and creating a captivating, almost holographic effect. This mesmerizing figure is just one example of the incomparable characteristics that make wood a fundamental element in design, architecture, and art.
Wood’s unparalleled qualities—like its natural imperfections and the unique marks left by environmental influences—set it apart and make it a frequent inspiration for synthetic materials. The widespread use of wood and its look-alike counterparts highlights the necessity for designers to understand how to feature and articulate the extraordinary aspects of figured wood pieces. When selecting wood for a prominent feature in a home or as a focal point in furniture, it’s advantageous to understand the intricacies and story told through wood grain and figure.
This leads us to examine how wood anatomy, especially the distinctions between hardwoods and softwoods, impacts the prominence of these figures. A key factor in the development of these figures is the difference in cell structure and grain patterns between hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods use pore-like vessel elements to transport water throughout the wood. These pores are what give hardwood a more prominent grain than softwoods. The prominence of grain can amplify figure.
Different nomenclature is used in various industries to describe figure types. The U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Products Laboratory is working to develop a report categorizing the different nomenclature to attempt to create consistency in assigning value to these features and their applications. There are typical words to describe the most common types of figures. These include but are not limited to:
Chatoyance
Derived from the French word “cat” and resembling a tiger-eye effect seen in gemstones. Light is reflected differently based on where the grain is located.
Spalting
Spalting is a type of wood figure caused by fungi. These fungi can create beautiful, colorful patterns in the wood, often resembling black lines or "tiger stripes" that trace where the spores have spread. This discoloration, sometimes called traumatic heartwood, represents the tree’s natural defense against the invading fungus. The tree’s defensive response produces some colors, while others result from chemicals secreted by the fungi.
Karelian Burl/Karelian
This is a notable figure found in birch trees, particularly those growing in the Karelian region of Finland. Similar figures can also be found in other species like maple, walnut, cherry, and oak. The term ‘Karelian’ is often used to describe these figures, characterized by the sound and appearance of ingrown bark, a feature commonly associated with birch in specific parts of Finland.
Burl
Burl is a figure that forms due to injury to the tree, creating a gnarly, dense mass of woody tissue. This figure typically appears as swirls or clusters of distorted tissue, giving the wood an often highly prized and rare appearance.
Ray Fleck
Ray Fleck is a figure that resembles rays of sunlight spreading across the wood. It typically occurs in quartersawn oak due to its tight grain structure, which enhances this striking visual effect.
Curl
Curl refers to a wavy or distorted grain pattern that creates a ripple effect in the wood. This figure adds a dynamic visual texture, making the wood appear to have flowing lines.
Fiddleback
Fiddleback is a curled figure characterized by tight, evenly spaced ripples, usually less than a quarter of an inch apart. This figure is often found in woods used for musical instruments, such as violins, and is commonly seen in species like Mahogany, Maple, Hawaiian Koa, and English Sycamore.
Quilt
A quilt is a figure that looks like a bubbling or quilted pattern on the surface of the wood. It creates a visually soft, rounded texture.
Flame
The flame figure resembles the flickering of a fire, with a pattern that falls somewhere between quilt and curl. It adds a dramatic, fiery visual element to the wood.
Bee’s Wings
Bee’s wings is a figure that appears as a checkerboard-like pattern in the grain, resembling the delicate wings of a bee. This mottle figure adds a unique texture to the wood.
Birdseye
The Birdseye figure appears as small, conical depressions in the outer rings of the wood, resembling tiny knots or peck marks. This figure is frequently found in species like Maple.
Blister
The blister figure resembles a collection of rounded, blister-like bulges on the wood's surface. Indented annual growth rings cause it and are most commonly found in West African reddish woods such as Mahogany, Sapele, and Makore.
Crotch
The crotch figure looks like ripples in a pond, formed at the intersection where a branch meets the trunk, creating an eye-catching interference pattern in the wood.
This is not a comprehensive list of figured wood types, but it is some of the most common to use when describing the one-of-a-kind qualities highlighted in a design. Emphasizing figured wood in your next design project can result in an unexpected intrinsic characteristic that is a product of nature’s endless possibilities and complexities. Figured woods are a great way to add interesting visual effects to a project. They can be rare, prismatic, and authentic to tree species, region, or ecosystem.
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