Maple bassoon wood - an optical illusion!

December 16th, 2020

Maple bassoon wood sometimes exhibits an astounding optical illusion called chatoyance.

In this video we show how this effect can dramatically change how the bassoon looks, depending on which angle you view it from. We have completely re-finished this bassoon, and decided to make more of the natural figuring in the wood than the original finish did. 

Chatoyance, the illusion visible in the video, occurs because of the direction of the woodgrain in the figuring. Some parts absorb more finish, and so the natural striping appears darker when viewed from certain angles. From other angles the striping almost completely disappears!