Elm is a hardwood, distinguished by its wide, jagged, open grain, which often has white speckles. Elm is indigenous to Northern Europe And has been used in the solid for construction since the 16C. Elm was particularly favoured by cabinet makers in Britain and the Netherlands. Burr elm  is far rarer than the standard variety and it tends to have a broken surface with tight grains. Furniture veneered with burr elm was often stained to simulate mulberry.