Type of wood on this frame, please

Ulmann print, late 1800's. Frame is somewhat light for its size of 26" x 22". Looks like it has a tiger design in it. Thanks for your time.

 

Maybe I just answered my own question. I googled a bit more....is this tiger oak?

 

Oak - quartersawn.

 

Well, I'll be darned, thank you so much Bakersgma!! Wonderful info, and much appreciated.
Can I polish this? It looks a bit dry.

 

I would be very cautious with any cleaning or "polishing." First of all, you'd have to remove the picture. And be mindful that this may be "fumed" oak, intended to be dark. Are those embellishments metal? Another thing to be careful about.

Perhaps @verybrad would have some advice.

 

No harm in cleaning this carefully and polishing with a coat of paste wax. Will look a lot better once done.

 

I would be careful with cleaning.
They used to paint the wood grain on.
See the way the grain is?

And after looking at the back and the front, I think yours might be painted grain.

@verybrad - I could be wrong about this.

 

While it is possible that this is false grain, I think it is probably real. In quarter sawn wood, the medullary rays run perpendicular or at angle to the general grain of the wood. Here is another example.

 

Thank you.

 

Also forgot to mention that the front is likely a veneer. Have handled quite a few similar and this is their typical construction.

 

Now that makes more sense, as the back did not look to have the same grain as the front. That's why I thought it might be painted grain.

After seeing the unstained/unpainted piece you posted, I should have known about the grain.

 

Then why so gray and different from the back if NOT painted with a wash???
Edit.....O.K., later posts make more sense!

AND BY THE WAY....I LOVE IT!!!!! Is it also under GLASS???

 

Wow, you all are so wonderful, sooooo much great info, Bakersgma, Cluttered, Brad & Aquitaine! Thank you all.
Yes, Brad I believe you are correct, it does appear to be a veneer upon closer inspection. Thanks again and I will get some paste wax soon and give it a go!!

Thanks Aquitaine, yes it is under glass, and I love it too, I might decide to keep this one, haven't decided yet.