Copalwood

Reclaimed parquet flooring

Copalwood (Guibourtia coleosperma)

Copalwood is the most unusual and beautiful timber. Also known as African Rosewood, or Senegal Rosewood  the species comes from Western Africa: Guinea, Nigeria, Mali, Benin and Senegal. It occurs naturally in Southern Congo, Botswana, Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

It is rare to find but occasionally occurs in public buildings or colleges, usually dating from the 1960s onwards.

Copalwood characteristics

The heartwood is pinkish brown or pale red-brown with pinkish or reddish stripes. Over time it darkens to a rich mahogany-like red-brown colour with the stripes becoming paler. The heartwood is distinct from the yellowish white to pale pink sapwood. The sapwood can be up to 9 cm wide, with equal strength to the heartwood. The grain of the wood is straight or interlocked. The texture moderately fine and even and in addition the wood is dense and heavy.

This wood has an attractive figure sometimes walnut like in appearance.  It also exudes a fragrant smell when freshly cut and sanded.

Uses include: construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, furniture, mine props, ship building and railway sleepers. As well as tool handles, turnery and decorative veneer. Traditionally it is also used for canoes. On the international timber market however this timber is only traded in small quantities.

This is a rare species which has such beauty and interest. It will make a wonderful charactered floor, extremely hard-wearing and of the first quality.

You can but this species here, but first, we recommend that you order a sample.