Thuya Wood

Thuya wood usually ranges in colour from golden brown to medium reddish brown and is distinguished by its richly figured, almost three-dimensional appearance, often with numerous small dark ‘eyes’ scattered throughout the grain.

It is obtained from Tetraclinis articulata, an evergreen conifer native to the western Mediterranean, particularly Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, with smaller populations in southern Spain and Malta.

The most highly prized wood comes from the burrs that develop underground around the roots of the tree. When cut and polished, these produce the complex swirling figure and distinctive eye formations for which thuya is particularly valued.

Rarely used by English cabinetmakers and box makers, thuya was considerably more favoured by their French counterparts, particularly as a decorative veneer.