Material / Wood
Quarter-Sawn Oak
Quarter-sawn oak has been used in architectural interiors since the Arts and Crafts movement, prized as much for how flat it stays as for how it looks.
Character
Cutting perpendicular to the growth rings exposes the medullary rays running through the log, which appear as a silvery, sometimes iridescent fleck scattered across an otherwise straight grain. That same cut is also what gives quarter-sawn boards their dimensional stability — they move less with humidity than plain-sawn lumber, which is part of why the cut has stayed in favor for cabinetry.
Fine ray fleck figure
Minimal seasonal movement
Origin
A cut of North American white oak, sawn perpendicular to the growth rings.
Aging
Tends to deepen in tone with age; the fleck pattern often becomes more pronounced under an oil finish.
Applications
- Kitchen Millwork
- Coastal Casework
- Built-ins
Used in Selected Work
More From the Library