ARTE GALERIE

EXOTIC AFRICAN WOODS used by the Galerie Arte Dakar

Senegalese name	Scientific Name	Ghana	Cameroon	Gabon	Cote d’Ivoire
Ronier
Sipo	Entandrophragma utile	Utile	Asseng	Assi	Sipo
Vene
Dibetou	Lovoa trichilioides	Dubini-biri	Bibolo	Eyan	Dibetou
Linke (Lingue ?)	Afzelia africana	Papao	M’banga
Dimb
Padouk	Pterocarpus soyauxii		Mbel
Wengue	Millettia laurentii		Awoung
Bete	Mansonia altissima	Aprono	Koul
Movingue	Distemonanthus benthamianus	Bonsamdua	Eyen	Movingue	Barrre
Iroko	Chlorophora excelsa	Odum	Abang	Abang
Makore	Tieghemella heckelii	Baku		Douka
Ebene	Diaspyros crassiflora		Mevini	Evila

Species	ORIGIN	description	Finish	Value	Use	Regulation
Ronier	Sénégal	A palm tree that grows in Senegal in sandy soil and in a Sahelian climate. Only the bark is used. The inside part resembles cotton.	An irregular surface, the wood grain is unequal because the long fibers of the wood are intermixed. This gives the wood an exceptional look with alternating hues of white, black, gray and brown. The tangled fibers measure between 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Resistant to decay.	Precious Price 10/10	Small auxilliary pieces of furniture, decoration for marquetry, plating because the widths and thicknesses of the bark are fine. Used in Europe for furniture by Art Deco designers.	Local law allows only the cutting of trees that pose a danger to people (trees uprooted in a storm, for example). Such cutting is supervised by competent authorities. Classified by the Convention of Washington.
Wengué	Congo	Black wood, veined with brown nuances, graphic designs. Very hard.	In Europe, its exceptional color is very much in fashion and is imitated by the application of a black color on oak, called « wengue finishing. » Resistant to decay.	Precious. Price 10/10	Cabinet work, plating, marquetry.	Rare wood classified by the Convention of Washington. Plantation grown. Obtaining supply from Congo is difficult given the unstable political situation.
Ebony	Zambie, Tanzanie	Black wood, very hard, fine grain. Only the heart of the wood is used, the sections are small (max. 10 cm)	Regular surface, fine grain, sometimes with white veins. Resistant to decay.	Precious Price 10/10	Marquetry, small objects, plating.	Only fallen trees are authorized for use. New cutting of trees is prohibited. Controlled by the Convention of Washington.
Vene	Southern Senegal, Mali.	Brown wood, very veined. Very appreciated for the designs of its veins and its high-end apperance.	Regular surface, medium grain, very heavy and very hard wood. Resistant to decay.,	Precious Price 9/10	Cabinet work.	An annual quota for harvest is authorized by municipal law and supervised by competent authority (Water and Forest Service of Senegal). Classified by the Convention of Washington.
Padouk	Gabon, Cameroun, Ghana	Red-wine colored wood that sometimes looks dark brown.	Regular surface, medium grain, Resistant to decay.	Semi-precious Price 8/10	Cabinet work. Flooring.	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced on plantations.
Iroko	Sierra Léone, Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire	Light to dark brown wood with exceptional gilded and silky glints	Regular surface, thick grain, rustic finish Resistant to decay.	Semi-precious Price 8/10	Carpentry and cabinet work.	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced on plantations.
Dibétou	Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana	Honey-colored to dark brown wood.	Regular surface, fine grain, tender wood.	Semi-precious Price 8/10	Carpentry and cabinet work.	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced on plantations.
Bété	Côte d’Ivoire	Grey-brown colored wood that can have dark maroon tones.	Regular surface, fine grain, tender wood.	Semi-precious Price 8/10	Carpentry and cabinet work.	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced on plantations.
Movingué	Côte d’Ivoire Guinea	Lemon yellow-colored wood with an ochre or green tone and brown veins.	Regular surface, fine grain.	Semi-precious Price 8/10	Carpentry and cabinet work.	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced on plantations.
Dimb	Southern Sénégal, Casamance Region	Dark honey-colored wood.	Regular surface but a rustic grain. It adapts very well to a la céruse Very heavy, very hard wood. Resistant to decay.	Precious Price 8/10	Cabinet work. Used in Senegal to make certain Djembé drums for its resistance to decay.	An annual harvesting quota is authorized by a municipal law and supervised by the Water and Forests Service of Senegal. Classified by the Convention of Washington.
Linké	Southern Sénégal, Casamance Region, Mali	Clear brown-colored wood with orange and red tones and with graphic vein patterns.	Regular surface, average grain. Hard wood, used in Senegal to make Djembé drums for its resistance to decay.	Precious Price 8/10	Cabinet work	An annual harvesting quota is authorized by a municipal law and supervised by the Water and Forests Service of Senegal. Classified by the Convention of Washington.
Teak	Guinea-Bissau	Clear brown-colored wood, nuances of brown and honey color, very veined, very graphic vein patterns.	Regular surface, average grain. Guinean teak is different from Asian teak. The tree trunks are narrow and sinuous.	Precious Price 8/10	Accent furniture because the planks are narrow. Used in inlays.	An annual harvesting quota is authorized by a municipal law and supervised by the Water and Forests Service of Guinea-Bissau. Classified by the Convention of Washington.
Makoré	Cote d’Ivoire	Wood from the mahogany family. Color varies from dark brown to reddish, sometimes with an orange tone.	Regular surface, average grain, good base for wood that is dark maroon (wengue), sometimes the color varies according to the trees and soil.	Semi-precious Price 7/10	Carpentry and cabinet work	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced by plantations.
Sipo	Gabon, Cameroon, Ghana	Wood from the mahogany family. Color varies from pale pink to dark brown with a reddish tone.	Regular surface, average grain, good support for wood that is dark maroon (wengue), sometimes the color varies according to the trees and soil.	Semi-precious Price 7/10	Carpentry and cabinet work	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced by plantations.
Sapele (Holoptelea grandis)	Gabon, Cameroon, Ghana	Wood from the mahogany family. Color varies from pale pink to dark brown with a reddish tone. More veined than sipo.	Regular surface, average grain, good support for wood that is dark maroon (wengue), sometimes the color varies according to the trees and soil.	Semi-precious Price 7/10	Carpentry and cabinet work	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced by plantations.
Fraké	Côte d’Ivoire	Whitish colored wood with dark maroon veins, good support for patinas, color tinges and la ceruse.	Regular surface, fine grain, tender wood.	Ordinary Price 6/10	Carpentry and cabinet work	Classified by the Convention of Washington. Produced by plantations.