Ebony or African ebony wood (Diospyros Crassiflora) is a very popular wood for its quality and dark hue. It is native to the southern half of the African continent, more specifically from countries such as Gabon, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Congo or Zambia.
Since the time of the Egyptians, Ebony is known and imported for its great quality. In fact, the art of manufacturing quality furniture is known as joinery.
Trees can reach 18 meters high, although today it is very rare.
The price of ebony wood is one of the highest in the world. It is due to its scarcity, the low production due to the size of the tree and the very high demand for the manufacture of all kinds of articles where its color offers an ideal contrast.
The best known and differentiating feature of ebony wood is its dark, almost black color. These dark tones are found in the heartwood, although sometimes brown or gray lines appear. On the other hand the sapwood may have light tones.
It is a relatively difficult wood to work due to its high density and the wear it produces on machinery. It has excellent behavior against sawing, machining and finishing. Gluing can give some problem due to its natural oils.
