Difference between revisions of "Ebony"
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Any of trees of the genus ''Diospyros'', with very dark, hard, heavy heartwood. These trees are native to Africa (black or Gaboon ebony, ''D.dendo''), to India and Ceylon (''D.ebenum''), east India (Coromandel or Macassar ebony, ''D.melanoxylon''), Sri Lanka (Calamander ebony, ''D.quaesita''). Ebony's dense, smooth-grain wood has been valued from the earliest times and was imported to Egypt from Nubia and the Sudan (Kuhn 1986). It is extremely durable and resistant to rotting, fungi and powder post beetles. Ebony, even though it is difficult to work and carve, is valued for decorative items, inlay work, black piano keys, musical instruments, and tool handles. It is rarely found in large pieces. | Any of trees of the genus ''Diospyros'', with very dark, hard, heavy heartwood. These trees are native to Africa (black or Gaboon ebony, ''D.dendo''), to India and Ceylon (''D.ebenum''), east India (Coromandel or Macassar ebony, ''D.melanoxylon''), Sri Lanka (Calamander ebony, ''D.quaesita''). Ebony's dense, smooth-grain wood has been valued from the earliest times and was imported to Egypt from Nubia and the Sudan (Kuhn 1986). It is extremely durable and resistant to rotting, fungi and powder post beetles. Ebony, even though it is difficult to work and carve, is valued for decorative items, inlay work, black piano keys, musical instruments, and tool handles. It is rarely found in large pieces. | ||
| − | Several other dark, heavy woods from unrelated species are also called ebony because of their color. These are: green ebony ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=cocuswood cocuswood]), brown ebony ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=coffeewood coffeewood]), blue ebony and Mozambique ebony ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=African | + | Several other dark, heavy woods from unrelated species are also called ebony because of their color. These are: green ebony ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=cocuswood cocuswood]), brown ebony ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=coffeewood coffeewood]), blue ebony and Mozambique ebony ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=African%20blackwood African blackwood]). |
[[File:1981.406-SC58777.jpg|thumb|]] | [[File:1981.406-SC58777.jpg|thumb|]] | ||
== Synonyms and Related Terms == | == Synonyms and Related Terms == | ||
| − | black ebony (''Diospyros dendo''); Macassar ebony (''Diospyros melanoxylon''); Calamander ebony (''Diospyros quaesita''); | + | black ebony (''Diospyros dendo''); Macassar ebony (''Diospyros melanoxylon''); Calamander ebony (''Diospyros quaesita''); ébène (Fr.); Ebenholz (Deut.); ebano (It.); ébano (Esp., Port.); kokutan (Jap.); (''Diospyros ebenum''); Gaboon ebony; marblewood; partridgewood; acapau; kaki; Coromandel ebony |
== Other Properties == | == Other Properties == | ||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
== Authority == | == Authority == | ||
| − | * | + | * G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 285 |
| − | * | + | * Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing) |
| − | * | + | * Hermann Kuhn, ''Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities'', Butterworths, London, 1986 |
| − | * | + | * F. H. Titmuss, ''Commercial Timbers of the World'', The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965 Comment: 70-80 ppcf |
| − | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Ebony." | + | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Ebony." Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 Aug. 2004 . |
| − | * | + | * Website address 1 Comment: Museum of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts at http://www.nihon-kogeikai.com/ (Jap. term) |
| − | * | + | * H.L.Edlin, ''What Wood is That?'', Viking Press, New York, 1969 |
* ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=69-83 ppcf (1.11-1.33 g/cm3) | * ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=69-83 ppcf (1.11-1.33 g/cm3) | ||
| − | * | + | * Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979 |
[[Category:Materials database]] | [[Category:Materials database]] | ||
Revision as of 07:40, 24 July 2013
Description
Any of trees of the genus Diospyros, with very dark, hard, heavy heartwood. These trees are native to Africa (black or Gaboon ebony, D.dendo), to India and Ceylon (D.ebenum), east India (Coromandel or Macassar ebony, D.melanoxylon), Sri Lanka (Calamander ebony, D.quaesita). Ebony's dense, smooth-grain wood has been valued from the earliest times and was imported to Egypt from Nubia and the Sudan (Kuhn 1986). It is extremely durable and resistant to rotting, fungi and powder post beetles. Ebony, even though it is difficult to work and carve, is valued for decorative items, inlay work, black piano keys, musical instruments, and tool handles. It is rarely found in large pieces.
Several other dark, heavy woods from unrelated species are also called ebony because of their color. These are: green ebony (cocuswood), brown ebony (coffeewood), blue ebony and Mozambique ebony (African blackwood).
Synonyms and Related Terms
black ebony (Diospyros dendo); Macassar ebony (Diospyros melanoxylon); Calamander ebony (Diospyros quaesita); ébène (Fr.); Ebenholz (Deut.); ebano (It.); ébano (Esp., Port.); kokutan (Jap.); (Diospyros ebenum); Gaboon ebony; marblewood; partridgewood; acapau; kaki; Coromandel ebony
Other Properties
Rings: obscure. Pores: diffuse, fine. Grain: obscure or invisible. Rays: obscure.
Extremely hard and heavy.
| Density | 69-83 ppcf |
|---|---|
| Molecular Weight | specific gravity = 1.08 |
Hazards and Safety
May cause skin allergies.
Additional Information
H.Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986.
Additional Images
Macassar ebony Diospyros celebica)
Macassar ebony (Coromendel) (Diospyros Sp.)
Authority
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 285
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965 Comment: 70-80 ppcf
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Ebony." Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 Aug. 2004 .
- Website address 1 Comment: Museum of Japanese Traditional Art Crafts at http://www.nihon-kogeikai.com/ (Jap. term)
- H.L.Edlin, What Wood is That?, Viking Press, New York, 1969
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=69-83 ppcf (1.11-1.33 g/cm3)
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979