Camphorwood

Dainichi Buddha
MFA# 09.531

Description

1) The wood of the camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora, native to southeastern Asia. Camphorwood smells strongly of Camphor and has been used for small carvings and decorative items. The camphor tree is considered an invasive species in Australia.

2) See Kapur.

Camphorwood bowl
MFA# 1991.387

Synonyms and Related Terms

kusu (Jap.); Campherbaum (Deut.); camphrier (Fr.); arbre à camphre (Fr.); alcanforero (Esp.); câmforeira (Port.); canforo (It.); Cynamonowiec kamforowy (Pol.); camphor wood; camphortree; camphor laurel

Physical and Chemical Properties

• 1) Small tree growing to 20 m. Bark=reddish brown with irregular furrows. Leaves=ovate (to 25 cm) with wavy margins and smell of camphor when crushed Fruit=small ball (1 cm), purple when ripe

Additional Images

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  Camphor laurel tree Cannamomum camphora

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  Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora (L.)

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  Stout Camphor Tree Cinnamomum micrantjum

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  Silk dyed with Camphor tree bark; Uemera Dye Archive

Resources and Citations

• See [Uemera Dye Archive (Kusu)]
• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 135

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 8, 2005)

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camphor_laurel (Accessed Oct. 8, 2005)