ID This Veneer?

[Jason Durno]

Hi all, new poster here - thanks for letting me join the group. I'm a casual amateur woodworker but interested in improving my skills beyond making painted cabinets and bookshelves. Anyway, I need to replace the veneer on the top of a dresser made by John Widdicomb Co I am guessing around 1930's. The drawer fronts are walnut burl and the dresser sides and top have the veneer in photo below. I wetted part of the veneer with water to bring the color out a little. Anybody know what species it is? Should I try applying some mineral spirits to better define the grain and color?
Thanks very much for any help.
Jason.

[Malcolm McLeod]

I'd guess at mahogany, but tough to get right from one pic.

[Jason Durno]

Thanks Malcolm, I think mahogany is a good guess based on looking at some veneers online. I have attached another photo in daylight after applying some veneer softener.

437911

[Robert Hayward]

Spanish cedar is my guess.

[John K Jordan]

Does kind of look like mahogany or one of the mahogany substitutes.
https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/mahogany-mixups-the-lowdown/

BTW, I don't like using water to show the grain/figure/color but instead use naphtha on small areas since it drys so fast, otherwise mineral spirits.

Any distinctive smell? Spanish cedar usually has a cedar smell.

JKJ

[Tom Bender]

90 years old, not much odor left.

There are many varieties of Mahogany and much variety in a single tree.

Best bet is to find some veneer that matches without worrying about species.

[Jason Durno]

Good point Tom, the dresser already has a couple different veneers on it (dresser side vs drawer fronts) so I'm just going to pick one (mahogany) that I think matches and will look good on the unit.
Thanks for all the replies gents.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Be sure to show us a picture of the process or at least the final result. Good luck!