Many people have never heard of mango wood, knowing only of the fruit of the same tree (Mangifera indica). This magnificent species of tree is native to India but over the years has been exported all over the world and is now cultivated on all continents. Preferring a warm climate which is free from frost, the tree is most notably grown in Asia and South America, mainly for its fruit.
Growing up to a massive 100 feet in height and a diameter of up to 5 feet, a fully grown, mature mango tree is a real giant. As with many tropical hardwood trees, its leaves are evergreen and have a striking colouring turning from a pale orange when young to red and then green as the leaf ages. Its fruit has been popular all over the world for many years but is most widely used in Asian and Indian cooking.
Although long lived, mango trees stop producing fruit as the age so are felled regularly to allow space for new plantations. At the end of its fruit-bearing life, rather than being wasted, the tree is then used to produce timber for use in furniture, kitchen equipment and decorative carvings. Already a very popular timber wood in much of Asia, the beautiful mango wood is becoming more and more popular the world over.
Mango wood is a hard, dense timber, although is far lighter than most other hardwoods such as teak or oak. Its beautiful grain is often made up of many different colours and tones, ranging from a dark or light green through browns and light tan colours. This stunning grain looks lovely in its natural form but looks even better with a coat or two of beeswax polish and provides a look that betters with age.
The wood, though strong, is easy to cut and shape and as such, it lends itself beautifully to carving or turning as this allows the full range of colours to show through on the surface of the piece. The fantastic grain of the wood also looks beautiful crafted into large flat panels such as those used in more modern cube style furniture, especially larger pieces such as dining tables, bookcases or sideboards.
Mango Furniture the benefits
Mango wood timber products are one of the most sustainable timber products on the planet, being made from what is essentially a waste by-product of the massive mango fruit industry in Asia. As the trees are continually being cut down to create space for younger trees which will produce more fruit, it would be a shame to waste such a valuable and decorative commodity hence the mango farmers sell on the timber to subsidise their livelihood.
Ensure when purchasing mango wood furniture for your home that the items you are buying are fair-trade. This means that the farmers who grow the timber and the traditional, highly skilled craftsmen who manufacture all of this delightful furniture by hand are paid a good price for their produce. As the cost of living in the countries that produce the furniture is substantially lower than in western countries, the benefits work both ways. You get a stunning piece of furniture for a very affordable price while the skilled workers who produce it earn a good living.
If you enjoyed this articles, and would like to find out more please visit Mango Wood Furniture. This article was written by James Rockford, who has a passion for furniture and writes regularly for sites such as Oak Sideboard amongst others.
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