Solid wood ages well, if you give it twenty minutes a year

Three finishes, three routines

Oil-finished pieces (most seating, tables) — re-oil once or twice a year with raw linseed oil or tung oil. Wipe on with a cloth, let it sit fifteen minutes, then wipe off the excess. The whole job takes about twenty minutes per piece and the oil dries overnight.

Wax-finished pieces (shelving, cabinets) — apply a thin coat of natural beeswax polish every twelve to eighteen months. Buff with a dry cloth once the wax has hazed over, usually after ten minutes.

Raw ebony pieces — left unfinished by design. No oil or wax needed; simply dust and avoid prolonged direct sun, which can lighten the surface over years.

Solid wood moves with the season

Teak, suar, and ebony all expand and contract slightly with humidity. This is normal and expected — it's why we use traditional joinery rather than glue alone, which allows the wood to move without cracking.

If you live somewhere with central heating and very dry winters, a light re-oiling before the dry season helps minimize surface checking. In consistently humid climates like Sumba's, this is rarely an issue.