Ebonizing

Accordion
MFA# 17.1946

Description

Ebonized mahogany chair
MFA# 1992.521

A black wood stain design to imitate the appearance of Ebony. This wood finish was popular during the 19th century for interior millwork, pianos, clocks, and furniture. One ebonizing method used Black shellac while another used ferrotannin complexes.

Synonyms and Related Terms

ebonize; black shellac

Resources and Citations

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996