Aboutmaura macaluso Expertise I can answer all questions regarding woodcarving, chip carving, scroll sawing, carving tools and techniques and can answer most questions regarding wood. I am not an appraiser of carvings nor an antique dealer.
Experience I am a custom commission woodcarver. I have been carving for many years now, have won numerous awards, and am very well connected in the world of woodcarving. I am the owner/operator of www.carvinginnyc.com
Organizations national association of woodcarvers, woodcarvers of queens, Richmond county carvers club, carving life panel of experts
Publications Chip chats, carving magazine
Education/Credentials Have taken many, many classes and instruction from many fine carvers, I was originally self taught which is the best way to learn. Many thousands of carving hours later and I find that I am now well-respected.
Awards and Honors best of show staten island & queens
numerous 1st place and other title awards at many venues
Past/Present Clients My work is now in international collections
Question QUESTION: I recently ordered an expensive mahogany table and when it arrived it was bright orange/red with major swirls and stripes of darker color. It was very different from the model I saw when I ordered the table and doesn't go with my room. It is a beautiful table however and I wonder if the color will mellow with age--will it get more brown? or will it just get a deeper red? Also, it's a particularly beautiful and unique table and I wonder if the rich red color and the pronounced but uniform stripes make this a more valuable table or is that considered low quality mahogany? Thank you in advance for your time and attention to this matter. (i will try to attach a picture--i hope you can see it.) IMAGE: new mahogany table
ANSWER: Hi Monica,
Wow, what a striking table top that is. If you went looking for something like that, you'd probably have a tough time finding it. There are lots of different varieties of Mahogany. While the tree is of the same family, the color and grain of mahogany can vary widely depending on where its from. I can't swear to it but it looks like some highly figured African mahogany but could even be a south American variety. Honduras and Cuban Mahogany have the straightest, reddish brown even tone and are the cream of the crop when it comes to mahogany, they also are extremely expensive. Example, I once carved a two door front entrance which had trim all around it, all Honduran Mahogany and know that the carpenter spent over $9000. I have also seen a study in a home being paneled with built in book cases in Cuban which ran well over $100,000 just on the raw wood. But to consider your mahogany an inferior mahogany would do it an injustice. Some people would love to have the bright streaked mahogany that you have, particularly guitar makers and some furniture makers.
It really would come down to personal preference. Some prefer the more even tones, some the more figured. I guess you are one of those who prefer the more uniform reddish brown. I myself prefer the more uniform but can also admire the beauty of your table and know that some craftsmen purposely seek out that type of dramatic characteristic. As to whether they were cutting corners using that mahogany, is probably debatable as wood is a commodity which changes price constantly. It is not the premium mahogany like the Cuban or odorous but was probably not the cheapest either.
As for the aging of your wood. Mahogany is one of those woods which will easily darken over time with exposure to air and sunlight. The finish used affects how long it will take to darken and I am assuming a good quality furniture manufacturer would use good finishing techniques which will slow the mellowing. The bright colors in your table will also add a considerable amount of time before it all really darkens. When we are talking time, though, I'm not talking months but rather years and with the bright colors, possible many decades. My honest opinion is that you would probably be happier trying to exchange your table for a more even toned table, especially since it was not what you expected and does not blend in with your other furnishings. Any reputable company should not have a problem with the exchange. Do not ask for the exchange insinuating that it is an inferior product but rather that you simply would prefer a more even tone. I would also do this in good time as I'm sure there are a limited number of the same type tables being manufactured. I hope this helps you decide what to do. thanks for the question and good luck with your table.
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QUESTION: I just wanted to make sure you saw my commentary/rating. I am extremely grateful for your timely, thoughtful, thorough and knowledgeable response to my question. I got the table from a reputable company and have already told them of my concern and they acknowledged the difference between the table and the floor model and said they would make it right. Thank you for telling me what I need to know to follow the best course of action.
Answer Hi Monica,
I am only glad to help. Luckily you asked your question of someone who's favorite carving wood is Mahogany and who has carved many different types. I am also one of those people who also thinks thats it not good enough to just know how to do something but I am also a very avid reader about woods and woodcarving, that extends into furniture. In the last few years I have been doing a good amount of antique restoration work and have had the opportunity to work with different pieces made from Mahogany, some as much as 250 yrs old, so I have had first hand knowledge of how the mahogany actually darkens with age. I could have really bored you and gone into it much more deeply but told you what I thought you would need to know to make your decision. I am glad that you didn't have any problem with the company and hopefully your exchange will go smoothly.
Thank you for the wonderful rating and feedback. It is nice to know that all my personal knowledge gathering and experience really pays off sometimes and is appreciated by someone needing my help. Hope you've had a great Turkey day and Thanks again.
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