WHITE QUILTED MAPLE

Also known as: Big Leaf Maple, Oregon Maple

Botanical Name: Acer macrophyllum

Origin: Western U.S.A. and Canada

Description: This species gives us the highly decorative Quilted and Burr Maple veneers. The all white Quilted Maple is generally regarded as being the finest and commands a very high price, particularly with strongly figured examples in longer lengths (door and above). Colour may also be pale pink to pinky-brown and some logs will display a mix of colours when the older heartwood may be darker. There is sometimes confusion with Curly Maple (see under Maple, Hard) but the true quilted figure is of a pommele or blister type and, in the best examples has an almost three dimensional appearance. Maple Burr and cluster veneer is usually a pink to salmon-pink colour and looks very beautiful when finished. Unfortunately the full burr frequently contains pockets of ingrowing bark and the bundles are not usually of a large size, rendering it fairly labour intensive in use. Nevertheless, it is a very attractive veneer for special furniture and for detail work in architectural interiors. The cluster type is generally sounder with some larger sizes often available. See also Maple, Hard.