The most valuable wood in the world - ebony
Ebony is a plant that grows in the tropics, belonging to the persimmon genus, which has a black (in some regions black with stripes) core. Distribution area: tropical forests of Africa, the islands of the Indian Ocean, some parts of Ceylon and India, southeastern and southern zones of Asia. Wood sinks in water. Other plant names: "music tree", black, "zebra", mpingo. Since antiquity, mankind has used the bark, foliage and wood of this plant, considering it magical.
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Varieties
Ebony refers to several species. Among the most popular are:
- Cameroon ebony is mined in Africa and is most commonly found on the market. The wood is mostly black, and some specimens have gray veins. A distinctive feature of such a material is the presence of open pores.
- Ceylon ebony from this region is of the highest quality. Therefore, getting it is problematic. Among the main properties of ebony, they are distinguished: high hardness, excellent processing, the best effect is achieved during polishing, with close examination there are practically no visible pores, wood is resistant to water and termites.
- Makassar ebony is mined in Indonesia. Otherwise, it is called colored ebony due to the yellowish-white sapwood and the interesting color of the core itself. It is black with an intricate pattern of stripes of light yellow and brown. By its properties, such wood is very durable, dense.
- Madagascar ebony. The wood is dark brown in color, quite dense, resistant to termites and water, small pores are visible on close examination.
- Moon ebony is obtained in Vietnam and Laos. The properties of wood are similar to the Madagascar variety.
Advantages and uses
The value of wood in its color (all beauty can be assessed by the photo of ebony) and resistance to various external influences. It is noteworthy that even insects do not harm the tree. The wood is quickly polished and after this procedure acquires a metallic sheen and becomes cold to the touch.
Due to its dense structure and resistance to moisture, musical instruments (flutes, oboes, clarinets, piano keys) are made from ebony. Wood for guitars is of particular value. Some parts of this instrument are made of it. So, the neck transfers the center of gravity of the guitar and does not wear out much, and the polished shell does not emit extraneous sounds when playing, when the pick slides off the strings.
Chess (black pieces), knife handles, and various exclusive souvenir products are made from ebony. Of course, their cost is far from low.
Wood has gained immense popularity in the furniture industry. Back in the 17th century, craftsmen appreciated it and used it in inlay and veneering.
At the beginning of the 19th century. Egyptian, Roman and Greek culture became fashionable, which led to the manufacture and distribution of curule chairs. The products were very durable, but at the same time graceful and outwardly seemed weightless.
Since, as in the ebony situation, ebony is often counterfeited, it is important to know how to identify a truly valuable breed.
Authenticity is fairly easy to determine. To do this, you need to take the object in your hand and assess its weight.A real ebony product will be heavy even at a small size.
Nuances of working with wood
Processing and preparation of ebony for further work is a laborious process, since wood is very difficult to dry, cut and saw.
During harvesting, pre-drying is used. To do this, two years before cutting the tree itself, circular notches are made on the trunk. Thanks to them, the plant stops growing. To prevent sawn wood from drying out too quickly, it is sheltered from drafts and sunlight. Additionally, the ends are treated with a special material. Before working with ebony (for example, cutting sculptures), the tree should dry out for about 2-3 years.
When working with it, you need to use very sharp and durable tools that prevent the wood from splitting or cracking. As for the properties, the massif is practically not wetted with liquid solutions. Nevertheless, the wood is highly polished and the product can be given a mirror finish. Another excellent quality of many types of ebony wood is that it bends after hot steaming. In addition, it can be added that the tree is very beautiful, has unique qualities, and therefore does not need any antiseptic treatment or etching.
Protective equipment should be worn when working with ebony, as ebony dust is highly irritating to the lungs, skin and eyes.
Ebony is not found in mass consumption, because it is very valuable and accessible only to the wealthy segment of the population. Therefore, if the market claims that in front of you is an ebony product, then they are trying to foist you on a fake or the product is made of cheap breeds. Keep in mind that it is problematic to take out even a sculpture made of raw wood, because it is registered with the state.