Sipo (Entandrophragma utile), also called Utile or Sipo Mahogany, is a West and Central African wood from the mahogany family. It's considered the closest in looks to Genuine Mahogany, though it isn't a true mahogany.The heartwood is a rich reddish-brown that deepens with age. Its interlocked grain gives quartersawn boards a striking light-and-dark striped look, which can be stunning in more chatoyant pieces. It's similar to its cousin Sapele, but a little more porous and richer in color, with a more even ribbon.It's easier to work than African Mahogany, with less tear-out, and its hardness falls between that and Genuine Mahogany. It glues and finishes well and is moderately durable. Like many such woods, it can stain when in contact with iron.Its modest price has made Sipo a highly regarded mahogany substitute for furniture, cabinetry, windows and doors, boatbuilding, guitar necks and bodies, carving, turnings and veneer.