The sky, the wood whose designers have turned its flaws into qualities

I recently had to think about finishing the sky wood for a client. I have to tell you, it was pretty hard. Do you know why? Because sky wood is so beautiful that you're afraid of ruining it, of covering up its natural colour, of over-uniforming it, of adding effects that would detract from its natural structure.

Although it looks very much like oak, it has been in the shadows for many years, being used for fencing or as firewood. But people with ideas and creativity eventually saw its natural beauty and turned its flaws into qualities.

Sky wood is related to oak tree, the Latin name being Quercus cerris. It is also known as Turkish oak or Austrian oak. Its range is SE Europe and Asia Minor, but it is also found in Italy, Austria and parts of France. The tree can reach a height of 40 m and a diameter of 2 m. The bark is dark grey in colour and very wavy and cracked. Sometimes older trees have cracks that appear orange and are very visible because of this.

The colour of the wood is light reddish brown with darker patches that can go to dark brown. The pores are medium to large and more gathered in the late wood area. It has good rot resistance and grows relatively fast.

The big problem with sky wood is its tendency to crack. It naturally has deeper, more obvious cracks and knotty areas, and for a long time these defects have led to it being used as firewood or for fence construction. Lately, however, the return to the simple, to the traditional and authentic, as well as designer designs inspired by rustic furniture, has led to furniture where cracks and irregular colouring are no longer considered defects. On the contrary, cracks are accentuated by mechanical machining or highlighted with materials or finishing techniques.

Cherry tabletops best showcase the naturalness of the wood, but they are not the only furniture designs where the characteristics of this wood species add value.

Natural cracks can be accentuated to make the wood look old and long used. Thus, through mechanical machining, wood can be structured or sablat, and the table top can be made of lumber that also has the sapwood part, removing only the bark. This way the edges will be irregular accentuating the rustic effect.

Plain, waxed or uleiateor those with varnishes with natural effectare the best fit. They provide the strength needed for a table top, but leave the wood looking simple and natural. Cracks can be highlighted with patinas or special effect finishes (white washed, natural grey).

It is preferable for the effects to be discreet, designed to enhance what exists naturally. Natural or classic coloured woods are preferred, but their effect should not be uniform in order not to lose the natural colouring of the wood.

It is the perfect wood for rustic furniture, rustic industrial furniture and modern, simple lines. Being a hard, strong wood, it works very well combined with metal, with dark stains looking great in this combination.

Sky wood does not go unnoticed by artists or people with such inclinations. Artistic knife handles or spoons made from cherry wood are truly exquisite.

The sky is also used for stair treads or floors. Being a hardwood it is very suitable for such uses, and the 'flaws' help a lot when it comes to rustic or antique fittings.

Sky wood really deserves all our attention. Carefully and skilfully crafted and finished, it can be transformed into an eye-catching piece of furniture.