Have you ever wondered why some wood seems to shimmer? You can blame it on chatoyancy, an optical illusion that gives a seemingly flat piece of wood a three-dimensional appearance. The name itself is derived from the French word chatoyer (meaning to “shine like a cat’s eye”), a term borrowed from gemology. 

How Does it Work?

When light reflects off of wood fibers at varying angles, it creates bands of light and dark that move as you shift your view. The wood fibers grow in non-uniform directions, the shifting end absorbing light and the face grain reflecting it back. It creates a holographic effect, which can cause that “optical illusion” (as mentioned earlier.)

Where can I find it?

Some popular species of wood that house the effect are quilted maple, sapele, bubinga, and black walnut. You might recognize quilted maple, as it’s highly regarded for acoustic guitars and fine furniture. Various types of Nanmu woods from China and South East Asia have this dynamic ability as well.

You can enhance chatoyancy by applying finishes (such as boiled linseed oil), which allows light to penetrate deeper and increase what’s called the “3D shimmer.” You can also use dyes to make the contrast much more dramatic.