Mango Wood – Like The Fruit? Love The Wood
Many people have never heard of mango wood, knowing only of the fruit of the same tree (Mangifera indica). This magnificent species of tree is native to India but over the years has been exported all over the world and is now cultivated on all continents. Preferring a warm climate which is free from frost, the tree is most notably grown in Asia and South America, mainly for its fruit.
The mango tree is an extremely large, long-lived species which can grow as tall as 100 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter. Like most hardwood trees native to tropical climates it is an evergreen tree with leaves which change from red to green and small white flowers. The fruit is consumed all over the world and is a very common ingredient in Indian and East-Asian cuisine.
Although long lived, mango trees stop producing fruit as the age so are felled regularly to allow space for new plantations. At the end of its fruit-bearing life, rather than being wasted, the tree is then used to produce timber for use in furniture, kitchen equipment and decorative carvings. Already a very popular timber wood in much of Asia, the beautiful mango wood is becoming more and more popular the world over.
Mango timber is a relatively hard, dense timber but is deceptively light. It has a wondrous close grain which varies in colour within each tree, changing from a light tan colour all the way through green and grey hues to a mid to dark brown. It is this stunning grin which makes mango wood desirable for furniture and provides a charming rustic look to any home.
The wood, though strong, is easy to cut and shape and as such, it lends itself beautifully to carving or turning as this allows the full range of colours to show through on the surface of the piece. The fantastic grain of the wood also looks beautiful crafted into large flat panels such as those used in more modern cube style furniture, especially larger pieces such as dining tables, bookcases or sideboards.
Mango wood timber products are one of the most sustainable timber products on the planet, being made from what is essentially a waste by-product of the massive mango fruit industry in Asia. As the trees are continually being cut down to create space for younger trees which will produce more fruit, it would be a shame to waste such a valuable and decorative commodity hence the mango farmers sell on the timber to subsidise their livelihood.
Most mango wood products found in western countries are fair trade items. This means the highly skilled craftsmen that produce the furniture, as well as the farmers that grow the wood, are paid a fair price for their produce. As the cost of living in India is substantially lower than that of the UK and US, added to the recycled nature of the timber, means that furniture and decorative items produced from this versatile wood are not only affordable but also provide a good living for the traditional craftsmen and farmers whose hard work produces them.
This article is written by James Rockford, who writes regularly for for prestigious sites such as Mango Furniture. James is passionate about furniture and home decor and also writes regularly for amazing sites such asOak Sideboard amongst others.
Tags: buisness, family, furniture, garden, gardening, home, news, PR
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