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LABURNUM

Laburnum spp.
Laburnum spp. of the family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae) the legume, pea, or bean family. Generally, this is Laburnum anagyroides (European laburnum, golden chain tree), but Laburnum alpinum (generally called Scotch laburnum) and Laburnum waterei (generally called waterer's laburnum) are also sometimes included.

A favorite of turners because of the high grain contrast and the somewhat ulmiform pore groups that make for attractive feathering in the face grain

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions

a branch chunk of golden chain tree / Laburnum anagyroides loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. Also shown is an end grain closeup, and the END GRAIN UPDATE --- HUGE enlargements are present.


both sides of a sample plank of laburnum golden chain tree / Laburnum anagyroides --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. This sample was made from the branch shown directly above.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a small piece given to me as golden raintree, and which I had on the golden raintree page for a while but which I have since realized is actually laburnum. Unfortunately, "golden raintree" (which refers to Koelreuteria spp.) is also used in some countries to refer to laburnum.


face grain closeups from the piece directly above


both end grains of the piece directly above


end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above but from the other end than the one used in the closeup, and after it was cut-off perpendicular to the length of the piece.


These are "mine" only in that the pics were provided to me by a correspondent, Iain Rankin, whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

web pics:

logs


plank listed as golden chain laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides)


planks


boomerangs


oyster veneer with inlayed lines and an oyster veneered table top


oyster veneer chest of drawers and detail of one corner


bowls


box


goblet (or, some might call this a pedestal bowl)


a sculpture and two views of a drop spindle


misc turnings


bowl with a color that just seems ridiculous


laburnum carved bowl and closeup


vases, all from the same turner --- I can't say from direct experience, but I believe that there is way too much red in these pics, particularly the first two.


vases


vase with a carved and painted upper section --- very nicely done


hollow form


vases by Steve Earis, who tells me that the color in the very red vases just up from here, where I had questioned the color, is POSSIBLE although at the outside range of likelihood. I stil think the pics in the first two probably overemphasize the color but I am grateful to Steve for the first-hand comments letting me know that it CAN get more red than I was aware. On Steve's second vase, BIG enlargements are present thanks to Steve's excellent photography.