Cherry

Like all fruit trees, cherry belongs to the rose family and was used as early as 400 B.C. by the Greeks and Romans for furniture making. Cherry helped define American traditional design because colonial cabinetmakers recognized its superior woodworking qualities. Today, cherry helps define shaker, mission and country styling. The wood from the cherry tree can be described in a single word: beautiful. Its rich red-brown color deepens with age. Small dark gum flecks add to its interest. Distinctive, unique figures and grains are brought out through quarter sawing. It has an exceptionally lustrous appearance that glows. The finish is satiny to the touch.

Color: Rich, reddish-brown. Cherry darkens considerably with age and exposure to sunlight.

Grain: Straight-grained and satiny. Small gum pockets produce distinctive markings.

Characteristics: Light, strong, stiff and rather hard. Cherry's grain is more subdued than some other hardwood species, with very interesting character.

Finishing: Cherry is unsurpassed in its finishing qualities, its uniform texture takes finish very well.