Art by Nature
Every wood used at GW Exotic Wood is personally chosen by Gene for its
strength, beauty, and character. Each species featured here is part of our
current collection—some already transformed into finished pieces, others still
resting in their raw form, waiting for their turn at the workbench.
When a listing isn’t yet available for a particular wood, it means its
journey is still unfolding. We invite you to check back as new products take
shape, or sign up for our updates on what’s emerging from the workshop next.
Ambrosia Maple
Ambrosia Maple is a variation of Hard Maple (Acer saccharum) found across North America, particularly in the eastern United States and Canada. Its distinctive streaks of gray, brown, and tan are created by the ambrosia beetle, which introduces a natural staining fungus into the wood. Rather than weakening it, this process enhances the maple’s character, leaving behind flowing, watercolor-like patterns that make each piece entirely unique.
Ambrosia Maple is known to symbolize harmony, coexistence, and resilience.
Black Walnut
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a rich, enduring hardwood native to the eastern and central United States. Valued for centuries, it is distinguished by its deep chocolate-brown heartwood with purplish undertones and a fine, even grain that radiates warmth and refinement. Over time, its color deepens into a soft patina, reflecting the wood’s natural beauty and timeless appeal.
Black Walnut is known to symbolize wisdom, grounding, and legacy.
Bocote
Bocote (Cordia elaeagnoides) is a dense, hardwood native to Mexico and Central America, particularly along the coastal regions of Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. It is instantly recognizable for its striking grain patterns—dark brown to nearly black swirls set against golden to honey-brown backgrounds.
Bocote is known to symbolize mystery, confidence, creative power, and bold energy.
Canarywood
Canarywood (Centrolobium spp.) grows throughout Central and South America, most notably in Brazil, Bolivia, and Panama. It earns its name from its brilliant golden-yellow heartwood, often streaked with oranges, reds, and deep purples.
Canarywood is known to symbolize vitality, energy, and transformation.
Cocobolo
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) is a dense tropical hardwood native to Central America, particularly Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. It is part of the rosewood family and is prized for its deep, rich reddish-brown heartwood, often streaked with black, purple, or orange.
Cocobolo is known to symbolize vitality, transformation, resilience, and protection.
Curly Maple
Curly Maple is a figure found primarily in Hard Maple (Acer saccharum) trees native to North America, especially in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The “curly” effect is a naturally occurring variation in the grain, creating a wavy, rippling pattern that appears three-dimensional when finished.
Curly Maple is known to symbolize creativity, artistry, music, and balance.
Gabon Ebony
Gabon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora) is a dense tropical hardwood native to Central and West Africa, particularly Gabon, Cameroon, and the Congo Basin. It is renowned for its deep, jet-black heartwood, fine texture, and natural luster.
Gabon Ebony is known to symbolize power, mystery, wisdom, and spiritual protection.
Honduran Rosewood
Honduran Rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii) is a tropical hardwood native to Central America, primarily Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. It is valued for its deep reddish-brown heartwood with darker streaks, natural luster, and smooth texture.
Honduran Rosewood is known to symbolize love, healing, and emotional clarity.
Italian Olivewood
Italian Olivewood (Olea europaea) comes from olive trees grown primarily in Italy, often harvested from trees that are centuries old or no longer fruit-bearing. Its heartwood ranges from golden honey to deep brown tones, with swirling, intricate grain patterns that give it a natural sense of movement and elegance.
Italian Olivewood is known to symbolize peace, harmony, resilience, and growth.
Kingwood
Kingwood (Dalbergia cearensis) is native to the northeastern region of Brazil, particularly in the states of Ceará, Bahia, and Pernambuco. It belongs to the rosewood family (Dalbergia genus) and was historically prized in Europe—especially during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Kingwood is known to symbolize nobility, refinement, legacy, and mastery.
Leopardwood
Leopardwood (Roupala montana) is a tropical hardwood native to Central and South America, particularly Brazil and surrounding regions. Its name comes from the striking dark spotted markings set against a golden to reddish-brown background, reminiscent of a leopard’s coat.
Leopardwood is known to symbolize individuality, strength, and boldness.
Macassar Ebony
Macassar Ebony (Diospyros celebica) is an exceptionally dense hardwood native to the island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) in Indonesia. It is prized for its bold contrast of jet-black and reddish-brown streaks, creating a natural pattern of dramatic elegance and depth.
Macassar Ebony is known to symbolize strength, sophistication, and balance.
Pau Ferro
Pau Ferro (Machaerium scleroxylon) is a dense, beautifully figured hardwood native to South America, primarily found in Bolivia and Brazil. Often referred to as Bolivian Rosewood, it features rich tones of brown, red, and violet, accented by dark streaks that create a striking visual flow. Its fine texture and smooth polish reveal an understated elegance.
Pau Ferro is known to symbolize creativity, passion, and harmony.
Pau Rosa
Pau Rosa (Bobgunnia fistuloides) is native to tropical Africa, especially countries such as Mozambique, Angola, and Tanzania. It is part of the legume family and is known for its rich, reddish-brown hues streaked with purples, golds, and deep ambers. The name “Pau Rosa” has also been used historically in South America, but true African Pau Rosa is distinct from Brazilian rosewoods—it has a uniquely warm, luminous tone.
Pau Rosa is known to symbolize passion, grounded beauty, and elegance.
Quilted Maple
Quilted Maple is most commonly found in the Pacific Northwest of North America, particularly in western Bigleaf Maple trees (Acer macrophyllum) that grow along the coastal regions of the United States and Canada. The “quilted” effect isn’t a separate species—it’s a rare, naturally occurring figure in the grain, caused by irregular growth patterns that create a soft, rippling, three-dimensional texture across the wood’s surface.
Quilted Maple is known to symbolize warmth, clarity, and transformation.
Sapele
Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) is a tropical hardwood native to West and Central Africa, primarily found in countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, and the Congo. Related to mahogany, it is prized for its deep reddish-brown color and shimmering chatoyance—the ribbon-like sheen that appears as light moves across its surface.
Sapele is known to symbolize strength, sophistication, precision, and tradition.
Spalted Elm
Spalted Elm is a figure found in Elm trees (Ulmus spp.) native to North America and Europe. “Spalting” occurs when the wood undergoes a natural fungal process, creating striking dark lines, contrasting streaks, and intricate patterns throughout the grain.
Spalted Elm is known to symbolize transformation, individuality, and mystery.
Tulipwood
Tulipwood (Dalbergia decipularis; frutescens) is a tropical hardwood native to Brazil, particularly the Bahia region. It is renowned for its rich, rosy-red to reddish-brown heartwood, often streaked with darker veins or purple highlights.
Tulipwood is known to symbolize joy, originality, and creative inspiration.
Zebrawood
Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis) is a tropical hardwood native to West Africa, primarily found in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Congo region. Its dramatic, striped appearance—alternating dark brown and creamy golden hues—gives the wood its name.
Zebrawood is known to symbolize confidence, movement, and duality.
Ziricote
Ziricote (Cordia dodecandra) is a rare hardwood native to Central America and southern Mexico, most notably the coastal regions of Belize, Guatemala, and the Yucatán Peninsula. It's distinguished by its rich, dark chocolate to black grain, often swirling into intricate, spiderweb or landscape-like patterns that appear almost painted by nature.
Ziricote is known to mystery, depth, and individuality.