Pyrus communis
European Pear
Master-grade carving and cabinet wood with a fine even texture. Slab-size pieces are rare and prized when they appear.
Grown commercially in EuropeFamily: Rosaceae
Tree
Native across Europe, from orchards and hedgerows. Most pear comes in small sections from old orchard trees, so a true slab is uncommon stock — usually a long-lived garden or estate tree that grew large enough to mill.
Wood appearance
Pale pinkish-tan to warm salmon, deepening to a soft russet with age and light. Texture is dense, even, and almost poreless under the hand. Figure is quiet — gentle ribbon and the occasional fine fleck — which is exactly why carvers and marquetry workers prize it. The grain doesn't fight you, and detail holds crisply.
- Pale pinkish-tan when fresh off the saw
- Warm salmon to soft russet with age
- Steamed pear takes a uniform pinkish hue
- Stains evenly to deep black for ebonised work
- Subtle ribbon figure; rarely dramatic
- Mild UV warming, no harsh colour shift
- Very fine even texture; subtle figure.
Mechanical properties
| Density (kg/m³) | 650–740 kg/m³ |
|---|---|
| Janka hardness (N) | 6,800–7,800 N |
| MOR: modulus of rupture (MPa) | 75–90 MPa |
| MOE: modulus of elasticity (GPa) | 7.0–8.5 GPa |
| Radial shrinkage | 4.0–5.0 % |
| Tangential shrinkage | 10.5–12.0 % |
| Volumetric shrinkage | 11.5–13.5 % |
| Natural durability (EN 350) | Class 5 — Perishable |
Working with it
1 = difficult · 5 = excellent
Carves, turns, and planes superbly — this is a benchmark wood for fine work. Cuts cleanly across the grain without tearing, holds knife-edge detail, and turns to crisp profiles. Sands to a near-polished surface straight off the tool. Glues and screws well. Steam bending is moderate — the low stiffness helps it bend, but it can compress unevenly, so test on offcuts.
- Sawing
- Planing
- Sanding
- Turning
Drying
Honest tradeoff: tangential shrinkage is high (10.5–12%) against modest radial movement, so drying rate matters. Pear that's rushed will check, cup, and case-harden. Air-dry slowly under weight, then finish in a kiln on a gentle schedule. Once stable, it sits well indoors. Quartersawn or rift-sawn stock is the safer cut for wide panels.
Finishing
Sands to a glass-smooth surface — one of the cleanest finishes you can pull off any European hardwood. Takes oil, wax, and shellac evenly with no blotching. Steaming produces the uniform pinkish tone historically used to imitate ebony when stained black (the piano-key trick). For natural finishes, hard-wax oil holds the warm tone; lacquer can flatten it. Expect mild warming in UV.
Durability and safety
- Class 5 — Perishable
- Food contact safe
Food-contact safe — pear has a long tradition as kitchen utensil and treen wood. Not a commonly reported dust sensitiser. Standard shop dust extraction is enough.
Best uses
- Heirloom carving and sculpture
- Fine cabinetry and case pieces
- Marquetry and inlay
- Jewellery boxes and instrument cases
- Small statement tables and side tables
- Turned bowls and treen
- Drawing instruments and tool handles
- Ebonised detail work (piano-key tradition)
Pairs and substitutes
Often substituted for
Sourcing and sustainability
- Grown commercially in Europe
- IUCN: LC — Least Concern
IUCN Least Concern, no CITES listing. Native European species, often sourced from orchard clearances and estate trees rather than dedicated forestry, which means supply is opportunistic and slabs are scarce. Decay class 5 — perishable — so this is strictly interior wood.
Buyer questions
Is European Pear a good choice for furniture?
European Pear is best matched to projects such as Heirloom carving and sculpture, Fine cabinetry and case pieces, Marquetry and inlay, Jewellery boxes and instrument cases, Small statement tables and side tables, Turned bowls and treen, Drawing instruments and tool handles, Ebonised detail work (piano-key tradition). The final choice should consider grain, finish, movement allowance, and the room where the piece will live.
How hard is European Pear?
The listed Janka value is 7,420 N and the density is 700 kg/m³. Use these as comparison signals, not as a guarantee of how a finished surface will wear.
What should I check before buying European Pear slabs online?
Check measured length, width stations, thickness, drying method, moisture notes, colour variation, defects, and origin. Compare the measured outline against the finished drawing before reserving the slab.
Current stock
European Pear pieces available now
Get notified about European Pear
We email you when fresh European Pear slabs land at KORENA. Each piece is one of one, so early notice matters.
Sources
- The Wood Database(accessed 2026-05-09)
- USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-190 (2010)(accessed 2026-05-09)
- Meier, E. — WOOD! Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide (2015)(accessed 2026-05-09)
