Khaya or African Mahogany comes from Western Africa, Ivory Coast and south.  There are a number of different species that are sold as “African Mahogany” which was a practice that began in France.  Acajou, which means Mahogany in French also refers to Sipo, Utile, Kosipo (pretty much any African reddish wood) having a Mahogany quality, including Khaya.  Sapeli was also included in this mix, but maintained it’s name as Sapeli Mahogany, which is completely a misnomer.

Khaya logs are large dimension and offer flat sliced and quartered veneers.  Some logs yield veneers that can look very plain, very uniform, whereas others might produce more of a stripey appearance, even with some horizontal type figures like fiddleback.  Color ranges from a medium / pale amber to a deep red.  Khaya stains very well.

Khaya Swirls and Crotches (the joint between two limbs) were and still are prized.  See Khaya Crotch for more information.

Shown here, Quartered Khaya with a ribbon stripe.