Wood vs. Veneer
Many people assume that veneer is inferior to wood. Actually each has its advantage and both are used in both the best and the worst products.
When veneer was first used in biblical times, it was hand cut and was an expensive process. Today veneer is mass produced, is relatively inexpensive and is sometimes used to reduce cost, but is also used to improve the product.
By bookmatching, or other matching techniques, veneered surfaces can give a much more uniform appearance than is achieved by lumber. Also, veneer construction is generally much more stable than lumber, with less expansion and contraction, less warpage, and usually no checking (splitting).
Veneer can not be formed into three dimensional shapes. For this and other reasons, wood products often contain combinations of both lumber and veneer.