Elsbeere / schweizer Birnbaum
The wild service tree is a deciduous tree common in Central and Southern Europe. It grows quite slowly, which is reflected in its density and hardness. The wood of the wild service tree is sold together with other woods, including pear wood, under the name Swiss pear tree. However, one should not be misled by this term, because although the wild service tree bears fruit, this fruit has about as much in common with a pear (as we know it) as an apple has with a pear.
The service tree is used in high-quality interior design (until 2000, service tree was a very expensive and sought-after wood) and in furniture construction for bedrooms, living rooms, and office furniture or paneling.The wood of the service tree has a warm, elegant character. The surface is even, fine-pored, smooth, and without twisted grain or similar. It has a light, reddish-purple color. The wood is tough, flexible, and very elastic. It planes very smoothly and is easy to polish. It is difficult to glue.
Mechanical processing is easy and straightforward with all tools. Drying is quite slow and should be carried out carefully.
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Translated from German to English via AI (DeepL)
Sources:
Fritz Kohl, 2012, „Furniere“, Seite 133Begemann, Helmut F., 1962, Lexikon der Nutzhölzer, Seite 272
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsbeere letzter Aufruf: 10.10.2025 15:00
Bilder: "Templin Furnier e.K."