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AMBOYNA

Pterocarpus Indicus

Pterocarpus Indicus of the family Leguminosae (subfamily Papilionoideae) the legume or pea family.

Amboyna is a marvelously luxurious burl from the tree that is commonly known as narra. Some reports say that the name amboyna only applies to the veneer made from the burl, but if so that rule is honored only in the breech since all the dealers I am aware of refer to both the solid burl pieces and the veneer as amboyna or amboyna burl, but not narra burl.

A rare, exotic hardwood that grows in Southeast Asia and has a fragrant aroma. It can vary in color from yellow to golden brown to red, and is generally considered excellent for both turning and finishing. Don Mogelefsky of the Exotic Wood Group says "You might think of Amboyna as 'the burl with the swirl.' Thanks in part to its wavy grain, Amboyna Burl is figured with numerous, captivating swirls." His site offers an impressive variety of amboyna burl and other exotics.


my samples:


veneer


web pics


burls


burls sold as guitar-making sets


bookmatched pairs


a very nice burl that has been cut up and quartermatched, and a closeup of one section of it


a 32 inch long burl stick that prorated out to $500 per board foot !!!
(unflawed amboyna burls this long are rare)



burl pen blanks --- the ones in the second set have been oiled and waxed


knife handle blanks and pool cue blanks --- it appears to me that all of these have been waxed


veneer


specifically listed as burl veneer


this was advertised as "dark amboyna burl veneer" and I don't know whether that was simply a comment on the obvious (that it's a dark colored burl piece) or if perhaps "dark amboyna" is a commonly designated subspecies.


this was not listed as a burl and in fact does not look to me at all like a burl, but neither does it look like narra.




box made from amboyna burl


burl bowl


guitar back


This pistol handgrip was made from Phillipine amboyna burl and submitted by a correspondant (Peter from the Philippines). I asked him whether this is perhaps sapwood burl, since it appears that way to me, but I have not received an answer.