Figured wood is timber with a distinctive and decorative grain pattern, known as figure, produced by the way the tree grew and the way the log was cut. Figure can result from irregular growth, branching, burrs, compression, wavy fibres or the angle at which the wood is sliced, and it has always been prized by cabinetmakers for its beauty.
Well-known examples include burr or burl walnut, with its swirling clusters of tiny knots; flame or crotch mahogany, cut from the fork of a tree; bird's eye maple; fiddleback and curl figures; quarter-sawn oak with its silvery medullary rays; and the striped figure of rosewood and zebrawood. Because highly figured timber is often weak or unstable in solid form, it was usually sliced into thin veneers and laid onto a more stable carcass, allowing matching sheets to be arranged in quartered, bookmatched or radiating patterns. The quality and arrangement of figured veneers are important indicators of a piece's original cost and the skill of its maker.
