June 10, I'JIT 



Figures Due to Pigments 



Hu Maxwell 



Editor's Note 



Perhaps the figure formed in growing wood by the irregular distribution of coloring matter among the 



•). .?.l ™''^' ■'"^"y be classed as the most artistic of all figures Lielonging to timber. Few species possess 



It. Ihere are scarcely a dozen among all the regularly marketed woods of the whole world, though 



examples are rather numerous among minor species which are too scarce to be important. It is greatly to our 



adrantage that this country possesses a large portion of the world's supply of figured wood of this class. We buy 



some trom other countries, but sell more to them, and our supply promises to hold out for many future years. 



ARTICLE TEN 



A class of figures in wood is due to the deposit of pigments or color- 

 ing matter among the fibers of the growing trunk. Figures of that 

 kind are independent of growth rings, rays, and other regular ele- 

 ments of wood, though they are, of course, associated with them. The 

 best known and most highly developed figure of this kind is furnished 

 by Circassian wal- 

 nut. The figure 

 does not appear in 

 repeated patterns, 

 one taking the same 

 form as the rest. 

 There is endless va- 

 riety, yet enough 

 points in common to 

 give character. 



The figure is 

 caused by contrast 

 of color, and the con- 

 trast is due to dark 

 patches of wood in 

 association 

 with lighter patches. 

 The borders are not 

 abrupt and sharp. There are beautiful blends and pleasing harmony, 

 whereby one tone shades off into another. This is different from 

 figures due to growth rings on mcilullary rays where lines are sharp 

 and changes sudden and sometimes not whoUy pleasing. The differ- 

 ence between this figure and some others, as they occur in wood, may 

 be compared with the difference between the soft shades and delicate 

 harmonies of a fine Persian rug in contrast with the sharp, strong 

 stripes of a cheap ingrain carpet. 



This may be considered the highest perfection of wood's natural 



FIGURED .\3IEUICAN WALNUT 



Fine veneers are sawed or sliced from burls and crotches of this wood, 



the most artistic produced In this country 



figures. It is the most artistic. Few woods possess it, otherwise than 

 by rare accident. 



The underlying reason for the deposit of pigments in zones and 

 bands which seem to follow no law, is not known. If the lines of 

 deposit followed annual rings, or medullary rays, or the direction of 

 the fibre, the phenomenon would not be so difficult to account for, 



and explanations 

 would not seem so 

 impossible. But the 

 bands of color cross 

 and re-cross growth 

 rings, pass in and 

 out among mediJ- 

 lary rays, and seem 

 to follow the pur- 

 poseless leadership 

 of chance. Yet, when 

 one inspects a finely 

 figured panel he does 

 not feel that he is 

 looking at a work of 

 chance. There is a 

 unity and a com- 

 pleteness, with one 

 figure blending with another, that give the impression that law must 

 rule, else a thing so exquisite could not take form in the growing 

 woods, simply by the deposit of pigments among the fibers. 

 • With the real cause of the deposit of the coloring matter in that 

 particular way unknown, it is idle to speculate upon how soil, climate. 



r^^^&' 



SANTA CnuZ IRONWOOD 



This small tree of finely figured and little known wood has Its home on 



rocky islands off the coast of southern California 



—14— 



OLIVE STEM AND SWELLED BASE 



Old olive trees no longer useful for fruit l)earlng are valuable for finely 



figured wood tliat goes to souvenir shops 



