Not every luxury wood is dark. Some of the most expensive interiors in the world, from superyachts to private offices, use a pale, creamy hardwood with a soft shimmer that changes as you move. That wood is often aniegre wood, also spelled anigre. It is light, fine-textured and, on selected logs, beautifully figured.
In this guide we explain what aniegre is, where it is used, how to finish it, what it costs and how to order it. We supply aniegre from Cameroon and the Congo Basin at Global Timber Trade Hub.
In short
- Aniegre is a pale cream to pinkish-tan hardwood with a fine texture.
- Figured aniegre veneer, with fiddleback and mottled patterns, is highly valued.
- It is used for cabinetry, yacht interiors, furniture, panelling and instruments.
- It is not durable outdoors; it is an interior wood.
- It contains silica, so use carbide tools.
- Our aniegre starts from about $950 per m³, FOB Central Africa.
What is aniegre?
Aniegre is the trade name for several species of the Pouteria genus, formerly classed as Aningeria. These trees grow in Central and East Africa, including Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Gabon and parts of East Africa. The wood is also sold as anigre, anegre, aningre or tanganyika nuss.
The heartwood is pale cream to light pinkish-brown, sometimes with a slight golden tone. The texture is fine and even. The grain can be straight or wavy, and some logs produce striking figure.
Aniegre wood properties
| Property | Aniegre |
|---|---|
| Density at 12% MC | about 520–600 kg/m³ |
| Hardness | Medium |
| Natural durability | Not durable |
| Stability | Good once dried |
| Texture | Fine and even |
| CITES | Not listed |
Figured aniegre: why designers love it
The real magic of aniegre is in its figure. Selected logs show:
- Fiddleback: fine, regular ripples across the grain, like the back of a violin.
- Mottled: soft, irregular patches of light and shade.
- Curly and wavy: rolling patterns that shimmer under finish.
Combined with the pale colour, these figures give interiors a calm, luminous elegance. That is why figured aniegre veneer appears in superyachts, executive offices, luxury hotels and high-end retail.
Best uses for aniegre wood
Veneer and panelling
Most aniegre is sliced into veneer for wall panels, doors and cabinetry. Large, consistent flitches allow whole rooms to be matched.
Yacht and aircraft interiors
Its light weight, fine texture and elegant look make aniegre a favourite in yacht and private jet interiors.
Cabinetry and furniture
Solid and veneered aniegre is used for kitchen fronts, wardrobes, desks and tables, especially in modern, light interiors.
Musical instruments
Some guitar makers use aniegre for backs, sides and tops, where figured pieces look spectacular. See our guide to African tonewood for guitars.
Plywood faces
Aniegre is used as a decorative face veneer on plywood and MDF panels.
Aniegre and stains
Aniegre takes stain very evenly. That is why it is often dyed to imitate other woods, or tinted in soft greys and browns for modern interiors. Dyed aniegre veneer can take on almost any colour while keeping its natural figure. If you plan to stain, test on an offcut first, because the figure can make some areas absorb colour differently.
Working with aniegre
- Silica: aniegre contains silica and blunts steel tools. Use carbide.
- Machining: cuts cleanly; figured pieces may tear out, so use sharp tools and light passes.
- Gluing: glues very well.
- Finishing: takes clear lacquers, oils and stains beautifully.
- Dust: use extraction and a mask, as with all hardwoods.
Indoor use only
Aniegre is not durable. It should not be used outdoors or in permanently damp places without protection. For interior cabinetry, furniture and panelling, this is not a limitation. For outdoor uses, choose a very durable species such as Iroko or Doussie.
Aniegre vs other pale woods
| Species | Colour | Texture | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aniegre | Cream to pinkish-tan | Fine | Veneer, cabinetry, yachts |
| Ayous (obeche) | Creamy white to pale yellow | Medium | Saunas, mouldings |
| Frake (limba) | Pale yellow to light brown | Medium | Furniture, guitars, plywood |
| Maple (non-African) | Cream | Fine | Furniture, flooring |
See our guides to obeche wood and limba wood for guitars.
Aniegre wood price
Our aniegre starts from about $950 per m³ for standard sawn grade, FOB Central Africa. Kiln-dried FAS stock costs more, and figured boards or veneer flitches are priced individually. See our full African hardwood prices list.
Sizes and product forms
- sawn boards 27–75 mm thick, random widths and lengths;
- kiln-dried FAS for furniture and cabinetry;
- selected figured boards;
- veneer flitches, plain and figured;
- instrument blanks.
Sustainability and legality
Aniegre is not CITES listed. We buy only from concessions with valid harvesting permits and send legality and chain-of-custody documents with every shipment, ready for EUDR, UK Timber Regulation and Lacey Act due diligence. Read more on our sustainability page.
How to order aniegre
- Tell us whether you need lumber, figured boards or veneer.
- Give thicknesses, widths and length range.
- State grade and moisture content.
- Describe the figure you want, ideally with a photo.
- Give volume and destination port.
We send photos of the actual boards before loading. Our export process page explains the steps.
Protecting the pale colour
Like most pale woods, aniegre darkens slightly with light, taking on a warmer golden tone. If you want to keep the original light colour, use a finish with UV inhibitors, and avoid strong direct sunlight on unprotected surfaces. On yachts, where sunlight is intense, UV-stable lacquers are standard practice.
Drying and storage
Aniegre dries fairly quickly but can stain or develop blue-stain fungus if left wet. That is why it should be dried soon after sawing and stored dry. We kiln dry aniegre for furniture and cabinetry to 8–12% moisture content. On arrival, keep boards wrapped and indoors, and let them acclimatise before machining.
Common mistakes with aniegre
- Using it outdoors: it is not durable enough.
- Using steel tools only: silica dulls them; carbide is essential.
- Not testing stains: figure can make stain absorb unevenly.
- Storing it damp: pale woods can stain if they stay wet.
Aniegre in modern interiors
Light wood interiors are popular in modern design, from Scandinavian-style homes to minimalist offices. Aniegre fits this trend perfectly. It gives a warmer, more luxurious feel than birch or pine, and its subtle figure adds depth without dominating the room. Designers often pair it with brushed brass, white stone or dark accents in wenge for contrast. In kitchens, aniegre fronts with a clear matt lacquer create a soft, natural look that ages gracefully.
Matching aniegre across a project
For large interiors, consistency is everything. Veneer from a single flitch gives the best match, because all sheets come from the same log, in sequence. For solid parts, ask us to reserve boards from the same logs and to dry them together. Tell us the total area and the number of visible components before ordering, and allow 10–15% extra for selection.
Lead times for aniegre
Standard sawn aniegre can often be prepared in a few weeks. Kiln-dried FAS stock usually takes 4–8 weeks before loading. Figured boards and veneer depend on current logs, so contact us early if your design depends on a specific figure.
Solid aniegre or veneer?
For most interior projects, veneer is the smart choice. A single cubic metre of aniegre sliced into veneer covers hundreds of square metres of panels, doors and cabinet fronts, with a consistent figure across the whole room. Veneered panels are also more stable than wide solid boards. Solid aniegre makes sense for edges, mouldings, handles, table frames and smaller furniture parts that are shaped or handled. Many workshops order both: veneer from a veneer mill and matching solid lumber from us, selected for similar colour.
Finishing aniegre for a modern look
For a natural, light look, use a water-based matt or satin lacquer, which yellows less than solvent-based products. Hard-wax oils give a soft, warm feel but deepen the colour slightly. For a whitewashed or Scandinavian look, a white-pigmented oil or lacquer keeps the wood pale while showing the figure. Sand to 180–220 grit and remove all dust before finishing. Because aniegre is fine-textured, it does not need heavy grain filling for a smooth result.
Who buys aniegre from us?
Our aniegre customers include cabinet makers, kitchen manufacturers, yacht interior specialists, veneer mills and guitar builders. Many order it with darker species such as Wenge or Sapele for contrast in the same project. Mixed containers keep freight costs down and give designers a full palette from a single shipment.
Is aniegre right for your project?
Choose aniegre when you want a pale, elegant, fine-textured wood for indoor use, especially where figure adds value: panelling, cabinetry, yacht interiors and statement furniture. Choose something else for exterior work, wet areas or heavy-wear floors. If you are unsure, send us your design and we will suggest the best species for each part.
Quality checks before loading
Before any aniegre leaves our yard, we measure moisture on a sample of boards, check dimensions against your list and inspect faces for blue stain, splits and pin holes, which matter more on a pale wood than on a dark one. Each bundle is wrapped to keep it clean and dry, photographed and listed with its volume on the packing list. Figured boards are packed separately and labelled so they are easy to find on arrival.
Sources
- Pouteria on Wikipedia
- The Wood Database for anigre properties.
Related guides
- Makore wood
- Obeche wood
- African tonewood for guitars
- Furniture and joinery hardwoods
- African hardwood prices per m³
Frequently asked questions about aniegre wood
Is aniegre the same as anigre?
Yes. Aniegre, anigre and anegre are different spellings of the same trade name.
What is aniegre used for?
Mainly veneer, cabinetry, yacht interiors, furniture, panelling and some musical instruments.
Can aniegre be used outdoors?
No. It is not durable and is best used indoors.
How much does aniegre cost?
Our aniegre starts from about $950 per m³, FOB Central Africa. Figured stock is priced individually.
Get a quote for aniegre
Send your sizes, grade and any figure requirements through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price, photos of available stock and lead time.