Why Mahogany is a Great Choice for Signage, Furniture and Carving

By Jim Hingst

Many veteran carvers, such as Dr. Francis Lestingi, select mahogany for exterior painted signage because it is a strong wood that will hold detail. Mahogany is also a great choice for interior applications, because when the wood is stained and varnished it is undoubtedly one of nature’s most beautiful gifts. Today, that beauty comes at a higher price than other more commonplace woods.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Francis Lestingi

Mahogany has not only been prized by sign carvers for it’s durability, it also has been a favorite for fine furniture ever since the days of Thomas Chippendale. Prior to his day, oak was the choice for cabinetry and furniture. In part what influenced the change in taste in Georgian England was a growing middle class. With more disposable income, the bourgeoisie could now afford fashion as well as functionality. What also changed tastes was supply. As European powers expanded their control over the New World, mahogany from the West Indies became more available to furniture makers and carvers and, as supply increased, more affordable.

Oak had been the favorite of Englishmen ever since the days when Julius Caesar stepped the country’s shore. Then the island covered with a dense oak forest. The hard work exemplified the personality of the people: tough, practical and unbending. In some ways, the characteristics of oak had an undeniable advantage. Furniture, architectural embellishment and artwork constructed with this wood were durable. The problem was that because this wood was so strong, it was also difficult to work with. The result was that the style of oak carving, which often looked medieval. In addition, the oak furniture, although very sturdily built, looked clumsy and somewhat primitive.   

Mahogany solved some of the shortcomings of working with oak and it also satisfied an unmet market need for more elegant furniture. Compared to other woods, the darker mahogany was more beautiful. It was also strong and resisted rot. Plus, it was easier to fabricate and allowed furniture makers and artists to more easily carve intricate designs and the wood would hold its detail.

The workability of mahogany opened the doors of creativity. What Chippendale was now able to provide the British market was variety of styles. Not only was he a gifted designer and master craftsman, Thomas Chippendale was also a master marketer. Chippendale understood what appealed to the new moneyed class and he aimed to give the customer what he wanted.  His greatest achievement may have been the publishing of his book The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director. This was the world’s first catalog of furniture design. With an offering of 160 designs, Chippendale promised a full range of the popular styles of the day. Working in mahogany, he could deliver on those promises.

The workability of mahogany allowed craftsmen to carve into the elegant designs of the Rococo¹ Period which appealed to the burgeoning middle class. What also appealed to the public’s sense of style was the luxurious color of the wood.  When it is finished, the deep dark reddish brown of mahogany is stunning.

Not all wood that is sold as mahogany is the same. The type of mahogany that Thomas Chippendale worked with came from Latin America. Britain originally imported mahogany from the Caribbean islands such as Jamaica and Haiti. Later a more highly valued type of mahogany was imported from Honduras. Today, Honduran Mahogany is often called “Genuine Mahogany”.   

There are many other the types of Latin American mahogany. Each species of mahogany has its own unique physical characteristics, which include the weight of the wood, its density or hardness and the color. These include Honduran mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and West Indian or Cuban mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) as well as Venezuelan Mahogany, Peruvian Mahogany and Big Leaf Mahogany.

Through the centuries, as the popularity increased, supplies have declined and prices have risen. The overharvesting of Latin American mahogany has endangered this species of wood in some countries to the point that exportation has been banned in some places, such as Honduras.  

As Latin American mahogany has become less available and more expensive, furniture makers, cabinet makers and sign carvers have sought alternatives. One alternative is African mahogany (genus Khaya).  It is a different species, yet still related to the mahogany in the Americas.

While Honduran mahogany is known as “Genuine Mahogany”, African mahogany is no less real. The differences are comparable to Coke, known as the “Real Thing” and Pepsi. One difference between the two types of mahogany is coloration. Honduran mahogany has more rusty color, while African is more pinkish.

The graining of the two woods is also slightly different. Honduran mahogany has a straight and more consistent grain, which makes it ideal for furniture makers. The grain of African mahogany, on the other hand, can vary. That is not necessarily a bad thing. It is all a matter of taste. Variation in the grain of this wood may be regarded as an adding to its character, charm and beauty.

For sign carvers, there are several types of mahogany, which make a great choice. Deciding on the choice of mahogany is not the only choice that you need to make.  If it is a wood that you would like to work with, do your due diligence and properly vet the supplier. As I have explained in this article, not all mahogany is the same. What’s more, there are different grades of mahogany. Know what you are buying and who you are buying from.

Dr. Francis Lestingi reports that most of the mahogany sign blanks that he uses are comprised of laminated pieces. He feels that boards comprised of very narrow strips are structurally stronger, more dimensionally stable and less likely to warp, than if wider pieces were used.  

It seems almost a sin to paint mahogany exterior signs, but it is something that cannot be avoided. Without a good coat of paint, sunlight light will bleach its deep red, luxurious color.

NOTES

¹ Ever the pragmatist, when fashions changed from the more ornate decoration of Rococo Period to the stark simplicity of Neoclassic design, Thomas Chippendale changed his designs to meet the demands of his clientele. 

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About Jim Hingst: Sign business authority on vehicle wraps, vinyl graphics, screen printing, marketing, sales, gold leaf, woodcarving and painting. 

After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 500 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.  Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon. 

Slides of Jim's Artwork

© Jim Hingst 2018