At Matanda, we strive to provide our customers with handcrafted, functional artwork that meets our own exacting specifications. We uphold a standard that far exceeds industry best practices. Therefore, we advise our customers to be cautious when faced with advertising claims that can be misleading and difficult to decipher. Some examples of standard woodworking descriptions follow: Claim: Meaning: "Solid hardwood with a mahogany finish" Inexpensive, soft, lightweight wood, often poplar, stained and toned to resemble the more attractive, durable, and expensive mahogany (or other desirable hardwood) "Hardwood cherry finish" A sub-quality wood stained, dyed or painted to look like natural or antique cherry - the wood’s true identity is unknown "Appearance of solid wood" A material masquerading as wood - often particle board, plywood, fiberboard or other wood substitute commonly used in the construction industry "Finest veneers" Any of the above materials with a very thin layer of desirable wood adhered to the surface At Matanda, we maintain traditional craftsman’s standards. Only genuine, quality materials that are painstakingly crafted by hand leave the Matanda facility. In purchasing a Matanda piece, you are guaranteed: Your choice of the finest North American and exotic hardwoods with beautiful colors, grain patterns, strength, durability and solid quality. Modern wood adhesives with internally reinforced joinery, precision fitted drawers and doors, brass or hardened anodized steel screws for durability that can be measured in centuries. Proven, clear protective finishes that enhance the natural beauty of each piece while protecting it for generations. Design artistry and traditional craftsmanship to respond to special requests. A individual who understands your needs and is dedicated to a mutually beneficial relationship. Matanda Woods Domestic - Many beautiful, native North American woods lend themselves to handsome art. Of the 43 species I have used, the most popular are: walnut, figured maples, cherry, ash and red oak. However, regional woods (like redwood on the West coast, or sugar maple from a Vermont forest) and what I call heritage woods (mesquite from the family ranch in Texas, barn wood from the family farm) often hold special meaning. The emotional ties and memories we attach to such materials add exceptional significance to pieces built to perpetuate their appeal. Exotic - Beyond North America, this earth produces some wonderful and unusual woods worldwide. Woodworkers refer to these collectively as "exotics." Many artists and craftsmen avoid them as exotics are more difficult to obtain, are typically more expensive, and often difficult to work with. But…exotic woods are also more colorful (red, purple, variegated, yellow, black), with spectacular grain patterns and virtually indestructible. Because they’re so strikingly different from the woods North Americans are accustomed to seeing, they tend to be quite popular. Central and South America, Africa and the lands surrounding the Indian Ocean produce most of the woods I admire and use regularly. Endangered woods - Some of the most beautiful of the exotics have been harvested in excess and are now endangered. Like many other wood artisans with respect for our planet, when I use wood from endangered species I purchase from importers I trust, and who purchase only from plantations committed to sustaining these irreplaceable treasures. At Matanda, we plan the use of exotic woods so there is little left but shavings and sawdust when I’m through. Even small pieces become material for the wood pens and pencils. Virtually no endangered wood goes to waste. Matanda Quality Matanda guarantees the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship in each and every piece. The designs - Matanda designs are original and carefully considered prior to the original sketch. Design is a complex process that extends beyond a few drawings on a sheet of paper. Color, texture and shape must be considered as well as component compatibility and durability. Some things simply can’t be built as they were originally conceived. Dimension ratios are carefully considered to ensure height, width and length proportions are used that appear most pleasing to the average eye, regardless of the size of the piece. With some allowance for personal creativity, Matanda pieces are designed with these proportions in consideration. They are aesthetically pleasing and satisfy my own sense of balance and symmetry. The woods - Vic personally selects the wood for each project then combines modern technology in tools, adhesives and finishes with old-world craftsmanship. Matanda woods are kiln-dried to around 6 - 8% moisture content. This prevents the wood from shrinking when exposed over time to the relatively dry air in most American homes and buildings. Shrinkage can cause cracks, either along the grain or where two parts meet. Air drying the wood, promoted by some woodworkers as being more "natural", does not reliably remove moisture to less than 11 - 12% in most regions. Eventually, that moisture content is going to stabilize at 6 - 8%. As it does the wood shrinks measurably - and cracks. The finishes - The finish on a particular piece depends on the characteristics of the wood. Some woods do better with time-tested nitrocellulose lacquer or one of its modern variants. For others, hand-rubbed Danish Oil brings out the depth of the grain and the three-dimensional figure of the wood (the "chatoyance"). Nitrocellulose lacquer: the finish of fine furniture for centuries. Several coats of lacquer are hand-rubbed to a satin finish to retain the exact natural colors of the wood, while protecting it from wear, natural skin oils and water damage. Hand-rubbed oil: Danish oil finishes penetrate the surface to bond with the wood and provide long-lasting protection from wear, natural skin oils and most other liquids and solvents. This finish imparts a soft, warm glow to any wood and brings out subtle colors that hide from other finishes. It leaves the wood feeling smooth and natural. The joinery – At Matanda we use time-honored raised panel, rail-and-stile construction. It’s the way fine cabinetry and chests have been built for centuries, but in miniature. The special cutters that make this possible were only recently developed. The rails and stiles form a subtle, 3-D profile frame around each central raised panel. In other pieces, where parts fit together, you’ll find carefully fitted miters reinforced with metal or wood splines for exceptional strength and durability. Often the point where two or more parts join is virtually invisible. It appears to be one piece - a mark of master craftsmanship. The craftsmanship – Custom craftsmanship is the only way to produce Matanda Art. Quality and craftsmanship are critical to our way of doing business, and they drive every decision I made about every piece created. There is no quality control substitute for a master craftsman’s eye and touch. Proud of his work, Vic personally signs every piece so that you can be assured that each is an authentic Matanda work of art.