Some of our most popular and loved collections are made from our most popular timber, sheesham. This wood makes up the Mallani, Thakat and Hathi collections as well as new collection that will be available this spring! (watch this space for more information!)
Dalbergia sissoo (Sheesham/Shisham) is also known as Indian Rosewood and is a beautiful hardwood, indigenous to India, Pakistan and Nepal. The timber is a fast growing species with typical growth rate of around 3 metres per annum. All timber for Myakka furniture is sourced from government managed plantations which are rotated over a 6-10 year period to ensure the wood supply is sustainable.
Sheesham Wood Furniture
The wood has a rich chestnut colour and is ideally suited to furniture making due to its hard nature and close grain that polishes well and finishes to a smooth surface. As a natural material each piece of Sheesham timber has individual markings and characteristics resulting in every item of furniture being totally unique.
There are many advantages to using Sheesham wood in the construction of furniture:
- seasons well which means it is less likely to warp or split
- the wood takes a good polish and finishes to a smooth lustre
- Has a beautiful graining detail and colouring
- Strong and hardwearing
Sheesham Wood Furniture Production
Initially all timber for furniture manufacture is chemically treated to eradicate any resident parasites before being kiln dried to reduce the moisture content to 6-7%, to ensure stability in the UK environment and thereby massively reducing the chance of any movement.
The wood is then processed in the factory using a combination of the latest high-tech German machinery and traditional craftsmanship. Every piece of sheesham Myakka furniture is designed with specific tolerances to absorb any changes to the timber which may occur with the change of climate. Once construction is complete and quality control checks are passed, a stain is applied to the lighter sap wood to create a more uniform colour finish and then each piece of furniture is hand waxed. This is where the true character of this timber is brought to life and the natural lustre of the wood developed.
Sheesham Wood Furniture Care
Once in your home, to protect your new furniture we recommend the use of Mylands Antique Mahogany Wax which helps to nourish the wood. Dependant on the level of use, we recommend re-waxing the furniture every 6 months to maintain the deep lustre and nourish the timber. We do not advise the use of any silicon based furniture polish or wax.
Sheesham wood furniture will look fantastic whilst being hardy enough to deal with the stresses and strains of everyday use. It is a beautiful hardwood that is incredibly easy to live with and offers an exceptionally good value alternative to laminate and veneer furniture.
