American cherry is the quintessential furniture wood for those who appreciate the passage of time. Freshly milled cherry is a modest pinkish-tan — pleasant but unremarkable. Expose it to light and air, however, and a transformation begins. Over weeks and months the colour deepens into a rich, lustrous reddish-brown that ranks among the most beautiful natural finishes in woodworking. This patina develops without any stain or chemical treatment — it is the wood's own response to ultraviolet light.
Cherry grows throughout the hardwood forests of eastern North America, from southern Ontario through Pennsylvania and Virginia. Gerrasimos sources select cherry from sustainable suppliers, choosing boards with clear, consistent heartwood and minimal sapwood for the most even colour development.
The grain of cherry is fine, close, and typically straight, though gentle undulations are common and add subtle visual interest. Occasional pin knots and gum pockets — small, resin-filled voids — are natural characteristics that experienced makers incorporate as design features rather than defects. The wood has a natural satiny luster that becomes almost luminous under a well-applied oil or lacquer finish.
With a Janka hardness of 950 lbf, cherry is softer than oak or maple but harder than cedar or fir. This moderate hardness makes it a pleasure to work — hand planes produce gossamer-thin shavings, chisels cut cleanly, and sandpaper brings the surface to a polish quickly. Cherry is famously receptive to finishes. A single coat of Danish oil or tung oil brings the grain to life immediately, and the wood rarely blotches if surface preparation is done properly.
Cherry's moderate density gives it a warm, resonant feel under the hand — neither cold and hard like stone nor soft and yielding. This tactile quality, combined with its visual warmth, makes it a favourite for pieces that are touched daily: dining tables, serving boards, jewellery boxes, and headboards.
For care, cherry furniture benefits from even light exposure during its early months to promote uniform colour development. Avoid placing objects that will block light and create uneven patches. Once the patina has matured — typically within one to two years — the colour is stable and requires only routine maintenance: dusting, occasional oiling, and protection from heat and excess moisture.
Gerrasimos chooses cherry for projects where the client values character development and traditional craftsmanship. A cherry dining table is not finished the day it leaves the shop — it continues to evolve, growing richer and more beautiful with every passing season.