Consequences of weathering on the user's aesthetic perception of oak wood (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.)

The effects of weathering on the aesthetic perception of oak wood (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) were assessed through interviews realised on the same specimens before and after 500 hours of artificial UV weathering. About fifty people participated to each inquiry, regarding 17 pairs of pieces. Each pair was characterised before and after weathering by the difference of mean colour, colour variations and several ring pattern descriptors between both pieces. Two logistic regression models were proposed to explain the users’ choices through those measurements performed on weathered or non-weathered pairs of samples. The first inquiry, regarding non-weathered samples, showed that the users choose among two samples the one with the lightest, the more red, saturated and homogeneous colour and with the largest ring width. Regarding weathered samples, the users’ perception is slightly different: they still choose considering lightness, hue and colour homogeneity differences but no more considering saturation or ring width.