Where did Victorian mahogany come from?

The true mahogany tree is native to the Caribbean, together with Central America and the southernmost parts of Florida. Most of the wood imported into England came from Jamaica, although a significant part of the trade passed through the American colonies before 1776.

When was mahogany first used in furniture?

The first reference to mahogany in the statistics of imports filed at the Public Record Office is dated Christmas 1699 – Christmas 1700: “Jamaica. Wood Mohogony….” And it is generally regarded that between 1720 and 1725, the English began using mahogany in the furniture-making trade.

Which country was the chief supplier of timber?

China has grown rapidly over the recent decades to become one do the world’s largest wood producing countries and consumer of forest products, and it has recently overtaken the US in sawnwood production. The country is by far the largest producer and consumer of wood-based panels and paper.

When was mahogany first used in England?

This trade began in the mid-17th century, following England’s capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655. In Britain, the first recorded use of mahogany wood indigenous to the Caribbean islands (Swietenia mahagoni) is found in Nottingham Castle in 1680.

What tree is mahogany wood from?

Swietenia
Mahogany is a straight-grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus Swietenia, indigenous to the Americas and part of the pantropical chinaberry family, Meliaceae. Mahogany is used commercially for a wide variety of goods, due to its coloring and durable nature.

Why is Mahogany Wood illegal?

Following the path of ivory, in 2003, mahogany was listed on the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species in need of strict regulation to prevent its extinction. Because Peruvian mahogany is traded in violation of CITES, it is illegal to trade or possess it under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Is mahogany illegal in UK?

Britain adopted EU regulations in 2013, with the Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations preventing illegally logged Brazilian mahogany, teak and other hardwood from being used in the UK.

What defines Victorian furniture?

Victorian furniture refers to the style of antique furniture that was made during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901). It is often revivalist in style, in that it adopts stylistic motifs from other periods, creating huge waves of revivals with nostalgic nods to the past.

Is mahogany going extinct?

And experts estimate that at current rates of harvest, the mahogany tree will be commercially extinct within a decade.

Which country produces the best wood in the world?

World Top Ten Timber Producing Countries
Country	(CU M)
USA	481,092,992
India	296,234,016
China	284,910,024

Is teak banned?

Since 2014, Myanmar has made it illegal to export wild teak logs like these, photographed in 2005. Half of the world’s remaining wild teak—one of the most valuable tropical hardwoods—grows in Myanmar. Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.