Mahogany is a hardwood, dense and water resistant.  It’s reddish brown and sometimes has fantastic variations in the grain. It came to France as a result of exploration of Central American and the West Indies, in fact, it is said to have been discovered by in Hispaniola by Christopher Columbus. There was great demand for it in the 16th and 17th centuries, as it was very fashionable in Europe. There are a number of Mahogany species, and their various hues made it popular as a raw material for marquetry. The Oeben table was veneered with Mahogany, and also used marquetry of this wood.