From our range of exotic burl wood for home decoration, we can supply burl wood boxes, as well as burl wood vases and fruit bowl. Small boxes are used mainly for business cards; however, a large box will be ideally perfect for jewelry.
This burl wood originates from the monkey pod tree or what we call in Thai, “Makaa-Mong”, as described below.
We retail, wholesale and export. For a large order, please feel free to contact us.
A brief description of the Makaa-Mong tree
In Thai, we call this tree " Makaa-Mong" or "Makaa" for short; it generates exotic burl wood for us. In English, we call it the monkey pod wood. Its scientific name is "Afzelia xylocarpa". Its botanical and family names are "A. Siamica" and "Apocynaceae" respectively.
Makaa is a tree grown mostly along streams in tropical areas as well as rain forests in Cambodia , Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. However, it is not found in Southern Thailand. Generally, Makaa is considered as a large-sized tree with an average life of 200-300 years and stands 10-18 meters. An old Makaa tree can measure up to almost two meters in diameter. It has a light brown or brownish pink bark. When the tree blooms, its flowers are red or reddish pink with round petal; and the flowers are about 5-15 centimeters long. The tree bears fruits, which are flat sheaths and measure 7-10 centimeters wide by 12-20 centimeters long. The wood from Makaa is a hardwood. The tree produces the astringent juice from its bark which is called "Pyrogallol" and "Catechol" and this juice can be used for tanning. The wood is very durable, and used mainly for burly constructions, such as a post, sleeper, or structure of a sailing boat or ship, etc., or can be used as a gun's stock, part of a musical instrument, such as a drum. It has a very precious burl. Its burled grain stems from a damage to its trunk caused by an insect's bite or mould. It automatically produces the burl to rehabilitate itself. The burl normally grows out close to its root or a few meters higher up. This special grain without any conduit can be as large as one meter wide; but normally it is considerably a small piece of wood, compared to the whole tree. To get a large piece will take almost a generation. Therefore, large piece is extremely difficult to get. Due to the limited wood supply in Thailand, Makaa products are normally not made in large quantities. Each piece is made by hand and hand-rubbed to enhance the beauty of its unique burled grain.
Please note that the monkey pod wood above is different from the monkey wood or the rain tree wood ( Samanea saman Merr). The monkey wood is a lot softer and abundant in Southeast Asia even at the present time.
