Research Note

Sapeli [Sapelia]

Terence Lynock & Dave Stevens

Sapeli or Sapelia is a member of the Mahogany family and is used in the UK for window frames, door casements and internal work in buildings, nowhere near as good as 'real' Mahoganies it is softer and more open grained, to be honest I don't think any of the Mahoganies have a place in period ship construction, I have yet to see any period ship model or Dockyard model containing any of the Mahogany family in its Construction
{Terence Lynock}

thanks Terry that was the clue "Mahogany" although you Brits spell it Sapeli. We spell it Sapele. anyhow its a wood that grows in Zaire and Uganda. and it belongs in the same botanical family as true mahogany (Meliaceae). It also listed as scented mahogany, Aboudikro, Penkwa, Muyovu. Mystery solved - "Sapelia" is another spelling for a common African Mahogany.
{Dave Stevens}

Back?