Ebony: photo, color. Fruit of ebony. Products from ebony wood

The ebony tree has a pure black or with colored strips of wood. It does not have pronounced annual rings. Very heavy and hard, it is, perhaps, the most valuable of all tree species. Such properties are inherent in some representatives of the genus Hurma from the Ebony family.

Description and characteristics

Ebony (photo is placed in the article) is a scattered-vascular core hardwood with a white narrow sapwood (a layer of wood directly adjacent to the cortex). Has a core with imperceptible annual layers of black color with a glossy surface. Its heart-shaped rays are very narrow, so they can not be seen on any of the sections. Small vessels, collected in radial groups, are most often filled with sound substances, painted in black.

The density of dried ebony wood can vary from 1000 to 1300 kg / m³. Zabolon fairly narrow and sharply contrasting with the dark color of the nucleus. However, the Caucasian persimmon, as well as several other species of trees, have one significant difference. It lies in the fact that their sapwood and ripe wood are exactly the same in color.

Fruit

I must say that from ancient times the black tree was covered with mystical legends and beliefs. For example, the ancient Greek scholar Pausanias wrote that it is barren and does not even have leaves, but consists only of the roots that the Ethiopians use to heal.

Most ebens growing in the tropics and subtropics are evergreen, but there are deciduous species common in temperate climates. Caucasian persimmon also belongs to this genus. The fruit of the ebony tree is very large and tasty, resembling a tomato in appearance. In ancient Chinese scrolls about him wrote 3 thousand years ago. Persimmon can be eaten raw, and also cook jam, candy, candied fruits and even wines and liquors from it. In addition, it is considered a good dietary product.

African varieties

Such a concept as ebony ebony combines several breeds that grow in Asia (Sri Lanka, India) and Africa (Cameroon, Nigeria, Zaire, Ghana). Its main feature is the very dark core color of the core.

Cameroonian ebony is the most common type of wood that is imported from the continent. It has a deep black color, sometimes with gray veins. The main feature of this wood is the pronounced open pores, because of which it is appreciated much less than other fine-porous varieties.

Madagascar ebony is dark brown wood with a density of up to 1000 kg / m³, having almost imperceptible pores, extremely resistant to moisture, it is not afraid of termites.

Asian varieties

Makassar ebony - "colored" wood, sapwood which has a yellowish-white color, grows in Indonesia. The core of black color with brown or light yellow stripes has a very dense structure, reaching up to 1300 kg / m³. The dust of this tree, as well as the rest of the ebony, is very toxic. It can cause various allergic reactions in the human body, for example, irritation on the skin or mucous membranes.

The Moun eben is a wood very similar to the Makassar, but it comes from the territory of Vietnam and Laos.

The Ceylon ebony has the best qualities: solid, with invisible pores, perfectly polished, extremely resistant to moisture and harmful insects. Products made of it are very hard to find, since they are quite rare and are considered the most high-quality and expensive. It is from such wood in the 16-19th centuries that the best craftsmen made their furniture.

Exclusive grades

The lunar ebony is a very rare species of the mabolo species. It grows in the Philippines and is found exclusively in the impenetrable tropical forests of Myanmar. This ebony tree, whose color has unusual light colors, looks very nice. So, immediately after cutting, white wood predominates with soft, greenish divorces, but after drying, the color range changes to a golden-yellow shade with black patterns, stripes and veins. Sometimes, instead of dark ones, you can observe other shades, for example, blue or chocolate.

By the way, the lunar ebony in Myanmar is cut down and taken out of the country strictly prohibited. Quotas for its procurement are sold very rarely, and even in small quantities. Such rigor is due to the fact that only trees that are 400 to 1000 years old are used for cutting. It is interesting that the lunar ebony does not differ in appearance from others. Its color will be visible only after cutting.

Drying Features

The ebony tree grows quite slowly: centuries can pass before it reaches its commercial dimensions. It is because of this that the wood becomes so dense (up to 1300 kg / m³) and drowns easily in water. Its mechanical properties are very high: the flexural strength of some Indian and African species reaches 190 MPa, and the hardness is 2 times that of oak. In addition, the eben perfectly withstands large shock loads.

Drying of such wood is not an easy task. If you break the technology, it will greatly decrease in volume. Therefore, in countries where it is engaged in harvesting, as in ancient times, make special pre-cutting 2 years before cutting. It is produced in this way: in the circle at the base of the trunk the layers of sapwood are cut to stop the growth of the tree.

After the preparation and sawing of the trunk are completed, the finished boards, the ends of which are carefully treated with lime or other material, are stacked. The place for their further storage should be sheltered from the sun and not have drafts. Only by observing all the above conditions, you can avoid too fast drying the wood. Usually this process takes at least six months. If at least one of the rules is violated, the boards may be shattered and covered with numerous cracks.

Production features

At once it is necessary to note that the ebony tree can be treated quite heavily, that's why men usually do this. Such laborious work requires a lot of effort, and even making a small figure can take a very long time. In addition, before you start working with a wooden piece of ebony, you need to take care of safety. As already mentioned above, dust and sawdust can cause an allergic reaction, so masters usually wear glasses and a gauze bandage.

Indeed, the ebony tree is very difficult to cut because of its high density, as well as the various mineral inclusions that are present in it. These properties adversely affect the cutting edges of tools, which are very quickly blunted. The hardest workpiece is the one whose fibers have a wavy structure. In addition, the wood of some species is prone to chipping, especially in the case of the Indonesian macassar. However, it is treated well on lathes. After the product is ready, it is polished and thus gives it a beautiful matte luster.

Application in the manufacture of musical instruments

People began to use ebony for their needs in ancient times. It is worth noting that it has always been in price, so it was used mainly for making various religious objects, sculptures, and, of course, expensive furniture. In addition, it is believed that wood ebony tree is able to neutralize poisons, for this reason, it is often used to produce dishes.

Eben is widely used in the manufacture of such musical instruments as a flute, oboe and clarinet. Also ebony is great for piano keys and parts of guitar, especially shells and vultures. Professional musicians appreciate such instruments very much. So, the polished armor on the guitar, made of ebony, does not produce unnecessary extraneous sounds, even if the mediator accidentally "jumps" off the string.

Application in the furniture industry

In the 17th century, the ebony tree was used not only in incrustation, but also in veneering. But the greatest interest to it began to manifest only after 200 years, when the fashion began to be formed based on stylization for other cultures, for example, Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Indian, etc. Special demand was used for curule chairs with X-shaped legs. In ancient Rome, they were made of ivory or bronze, and in the century before last - from ebony. It looked light and elegant, but in fact it was a solid and reliable design.

Nowadays, to become a happy owner of furniture made from ebony is an unheard-of luxury that many people can not afford. Due to its properties ebony wood, products from which are appreciated all over the world, is considered very expensive material. Vases and statuettes, canes and candlesticks, skillfully carved by talented craftsmen, will become truly valuable and rare acquisitions that can decorate any home.