Favoured by some of the world’s leading designers, including Renzo Piano and Rafael Moneo, American cherry (Prunus serotina), also known as American black cherry, is a shining example of the sustainability of American hardwoods.
It grows throughout the states of the eastern US, including Virginia, West Virginia and New York states, with much of the commercial supply coming from private land. In the federal-owned Allegheny Forest, which spans parts of Pennsylvania and New York states, the species has
benefited enormously from the extensive programmes of regeneration that began in the US over 100 years ago. The statistics speak for themselves: by 1900 forest cover in the state of Pennsylvania had been reduced to less than 10% of the land and four years later fire and disease increased the damage. Sixty or so years on, 68% of Pennsylvania was covered by forest as a direct result of the careful management of natural regeneration, forest graduate training and legislation. The state is now one of the largest annual producers of hardwood lumber in the US.
The American cherry, with its prolific power of regeneration, has proved to be a perfect species for good forest management because it does not need to be replanted.
With a heartwood that varies from rich red to reddish brown, American cherry wood is used for a wide range of applications including furniture, panelling, flooring and joinery as well as musical instruments and consumer goods such as toys.
The simple lines of 19th century Shaker furniture show off its distinctive, fine, uniform grain and smooth texture.
It is a quite outstanding species, often with distinctive and unique markings which enhance its appeal and reputation as one of the most beautiful of American hardwoods.
Gum pockets and pin knots, as well as sapwood, found in cherry are permitted under the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grading rules for this species.
And it’s these characteristics that can result in very individual pieces which are much sought after by designers and architects around the world.
Uniform grain
American cherry’s red to reddish brown heartwood will darken on exposure to light to contrast with a creamy white sapwood. This medium-weight wood has a fine
uniform straight grain, sometimes similar to that of hard maple, which is less dramatic than in many other American hardwood species.
It has a smooth texture and may contain the brown pith flecks and small gum pockets which provide its unique appearance. It’s hard and stable with a smooth texture that takes a finish very evenly, resulting in a silky lustre.
American cherry is of medium density and strength, with good wood bending properties and shock resistance. It is easy to machine and its stability means that it nails and glues well, making it versatile across a range of applications from cabinet making to musical instruments.
When sanded, it stains and polishes exceptionally well, with a smooth result which dries fairly quickly. Shrinkage rate is moderately high, but it will stay dimensionally stable after kiln drying.
The heartwood is classed as moderately resistant to pre-servative treatment, but rated as resistant to decay. The sapwood can be liable to attack by the common furniture beetle.
When designer Renzo Piano won his battle with the Rome city authorities to use wood in his designs for a new auditorium in Rome, he chose American cherry for the floors and walls throughout a group of performance venues which were part of the auditorium complex.
With solid wood for the flooring and joinery of the venues and veneer for the acoustic and ceiling panels, the complex has become a showcase for the beauty and versatility of American cherry. Even the rehearsal rooms, one of them large enough for a full symphony orchestra and chorus, are like black cherry boxes, sealed from the distractions of the outside world.
One for the archive
For Spanish architect Rafael Moneo the rich red tones of American cherry made it a natural choice for the wall panels and furniture in a major renovation project for the Navarra National Archive in Pamplona. In stunning contrast with pale maple flooring, Moneo specified American black cherry for its natural qualities, warm tones and unique colour variations which are enhanced by the building’s lighting.
And its distinctive grain and intense colour also made it the natural choice for architects designing a new headquarters for the oldest watch manufacturer in the world, Vacheron Constantin, in the home of watchmakers, Geneva, Switzerland. The combination of the warmth of American cherry floors throughout, juxtaposed with the precise lines and luminosity of stainless steel, and the use of natural light gave the building, situated in natural parkland, a sense of space and form.
At a time when sustainability is the watchword for architects and the building industry, there is a great story to tell about American hardwoods and the natural regeneration which keeps American forests growing. American cherry, one of the fastest growing and most versatile and adaptable of species, is a great example.
It is widely available from European importers in a full range of specifications and grades as both lumber and veneer for a wide range of applications. More information about this unique species is available from www.ahec-europe.org.
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When sanded, cherry stains and polishes well |
