Sycamore is a hard wood in the maple family also called the London planetree. Sycamore is one of the most underrated North American hardwoods for live edge furniture. The grey peeling bark is its signature as it naturally flakes away, revealing different patches of color. Its unique characteristics make it a great “conversation wood.”
It is one of the largest hardwood trees in North America which can reach 130 feet tall and exceed 40 feet in circumference.
Every slab is dramatically different. Unlike Walnut or Cherry, Sycamore can vary from creamy white, light tan, pinkish browns and olive grey. Mineral streaks and spalting often create artwork like patterns.
Sycamore doesn’t grow straight; it twists with itself and so it is very difficult to work with. Twisting happens especially while drying and wasn’t valued for lumber until recently. Local furniture builders love it because of the medullary rays. These are thin bands of living cells in the tree which while alive they transport nutrients and water through the trunk. They are invisible until the wood is cut in a certain way. The slicing across these rays exposes them as beautiful shimmering patterns called ray fleck.
Quarter sawn sycamore creates “lacewood” The flecking is caused by large ray cells, like white oak but much more dramatic. Flat sawn can often look like water as it has ribbon like grains, ripples and subtle chatoyance, a shimmering effect that changes with the light.
Spalting is coloration in wood caused by decomposing fungus. Different mushrooms grow on different woods and can have different effects. The trick is to get the log before it completely deteriorates. It only happens when the tree is no longer alive. The black lines you can see are different species of fungus fighting against each other.
Perishable species with spalting are very rare and valued.