Mahogany
The genus Swietenia contains three species of tropical hardwood that form the timber known as mahogany. Honduran or big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) ranges from Mexico to southern Amazonia in Brazil and is the most widespread species. West Indian or Cuban mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) grows on islands like Jamaica, the Bahamas, and parts of Florida. A third species, Swietenia humilis, exists only in seasonally dry forests along the Pacific coast of Central America from southwestern Mexico to Costa Rica. Only these three species qualify as genuine mahogany under international trade regulations. Other trees marketed as mahogany belong to different genera such as Khaya or Shorea. The Federal Trade Commission allows certain non-Swietenia species to be sold with a prefix like African mahogany or Philippine mahogany. These alternatives must carry a descriptor because they are not true mahogany. Some unrelated species also bear the name mahogany despite having very different wood properties.
John Ogilby published the word mahogany in his 1671 book America referring to a curious and rich wood from Jamaica. Initial mentions of the tree itself date to 1731 with its first detailed description appearing in 1743 attributed to Swietenia mahagoni by Kemp Malone in 1940. Malone suggested that mahogany originated as a generic term for wood in a native Bahamian language. F. Bruce Lamb disagreed pointing out that the Arawak language's word for wood is caoba. Lamb identified a West African origin for the word in the Yoruba oganwo meaning one which is the tallest or most high used for the Khaya genus of trees. He proposed that Yoruba and Igbo people brought to Jamaica as slaves identified local Swietenia trees as m'oganwo which developed into the Portuguese term mogano. This term appeared in print as the name of a river in 1661 before finally developing into English mahogany between 1655 and 1670. Malone criticized this etymology arguing that the conversion from singular oganwo to collective m'oganwo was unlikely given the tree's solitary nature.
The British Parliament passed an act in 1721 known as the Naval Stores Act removing all import duties on timber from British possessions in the Americas. Importations of mahogany into England reached 525 tons per annum by 1740 and climbed to more than 30,000 tons in 1788 marking the peak year of the 18th century trade. Until the 1760s over 90 percent of the mahogany imported into Britain came from Jamaica. The first Honduras mahogany arrived in Kingston Jamaica in November 1763 with shipments reaching Britain the following year. By the 1790s most viable stocks of mahogany in Jamaica had been cut leaving the market divided between two principal sources. Honduras mahogany was relatively cheap and plentiful but rarely of the best quality while Hispaniola mahogany remained the wood of choice for high quality work. In 1875 Britain alone imported more than 80,000 tons of mahogany a figure never matched again. From the 1880s African mahogany began to be exported in increasing quantities from West Africa dominating the market by the early 20th century.
Swietenia species are now listed by CITES and protected due to concerns over illegal logging and mismanagement. S. humilis was placed on CITES Appendix II in 1975 followed by S. mahagoni in 1992. The most abundant species S. macrophylla moved to Appendix III in 1995 and then to Appendix II in 2003. It is estimated that some 80 or 90 percent of Peruvian mahogany exported to the United States is illegally harvested. The economic cost of illegal logging in Peru places conservatively at $40, 70 million USD annually. Efforts to repopulate mahogany largely failed in native locations due to attacks from the shoot borer Hypsipyla grandella. Erosion in native locations meant seeds could no longer even be planted. However both species grew well in Asia and the Asia-Pacific due to the absence of these shoot borers. Global supply of genuine mahogany has been increasing from plantations notably in Fiji and the Philippines though trees there remain relatively young compared to old growth forests being harvested from South America.
Mahogany has a straight fine and even grain with excellent workability and durability making it favorable for crafting cabinets and furniture. Much of the first-quality furniture made in the American colonies from the mid 18th century was made of mahogany when the wood first became available to American craftsmen. Mahogany also resists wood rot making it attractive in boat construction and outdoor decking. It serves as a tonewood often used for musical instruments particularly the backs sides and necks of acoustic guitars electric guitar bodies and drum shells. Guitars featuring mahogany include many acoustic models from Martin Taylor and Gibson along with Gibson electric guitars such as the Les Paul and SG. In the 1930s Gibson used the wood to make banjo necks as well. Recent production from Mexico and Fiji yields lighter color and density than South American production from the early 20th century.
Common questions
What species of trees are classified as genuine mahogany under international trade regulations?
The genus Swietenia contains three species that qualify as genuine mahogany: Honduran or big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), West Indian or Cuban mahogany (Swetenia mahagoni), and Swietenia humilis. Other trees marketed as mahogany belong to different genera such as Khaya or Shorea.
When did the word mahogany first appear in print and how was it derived from Yoruba language?
The term appeared in print as the name of a river in 1661 before finally developing into English mahogany between 1655 and 1670. F. Bruce Lamb proposed that Yoruba and Igbo people brought to Jamaica identified local Swietenia trees as m'oganwo which developed from the Yoruba oganwo meaning one which is the tallest or most high.
How many tons of mahogany were imported into Britain during the peak year of the 18th century trade?
Importations of mahogany into England reached more than 30,000 tons in 1788 marking the peak year of the 18th century trade. By 1740 importations had already reached 525 tons per annum while over 90 percent of imports until the 1760s came from Jamaica.
Which years did Swietenia species get listed on CITES Appendix II for protection against illegal logging?
S. humilis was placed on CITES Appendix II in 1975 followed by S. mahagoni in 1992. The most abundant species S. macrophylla moved to Appendix III in 1995 and then to Appendix II in 2003.
What musical instruments commonly use mahogany wood for their construction today?
Mahogany serves as a tonewood often used for acoustic guitars electric guitar bodies and drum shells. Guitars featuring mahogany include many acoustic models from Martin Taylor and Gibson along with Gibson electric guitars such as the Les Paul and SG.