4x4 Lace Front Wig Xuchang KANAZI Hair Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.kanazihair.com
Ebony furniture made of solid wood furniture
There's a saying that "a box full of gold is not as good as a piece of ebony." But what exactly is ebony? Is it the same as Wujinmu? Is it a fossil or carbonized wood? And how is it formed? Is it really a type of wood? Are terms like overcast wood, wave wood, Shenjiang wood, and carbonized wood all referring to the same thing? Why don’t we see large pieces of ebony in our furniture?
So, what is ebony? How does it differ from Wujinmu? The difference between Wujinmu and ebony is quite clear. Let’s take a closer look.
**What is Ebony?**
Ebony is a common name used by people in Sichuan for **overcast wood**, not the black wood found on the African continent. It belongs to one of the 33 species under the mahogany family. Specifically, it refers to wood that was buried underground thousands of years ago due to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. These trees were buried in low-lying areas like ancient riverbeds. Over time, under anoxic and high-pressure conditions, microorganisms like bacteria helped transform the wood into what is known today as “carbonized wood.â€
**Ebony is a general term, not a specific type of wood.**
Ebony is often referred to as charcoal wood, but it doesn’t refer to just one kind of tree. Instead, it is a collective name for various types of wood that have been buried for a long time. These woods share common characteristics such as moisture resistance, insect resistance, and corrosion resistance. They are also oily and aromatic.
There are many varieties of ebony, including cedar, fir, nanmu, eucalyptus, wild lychee, bitter, green nan, and iron wood. In different regions, it has different names: in the northeast, it’s called “wave wood†or “Shenjiangmuâ€; in Sichuan, it’s called “overcast wood.†There is even an “Ebony Art Museum†in Chengdu. Therefore, ebony and Wujinmu are two completely different things. Wujinmu is zebra wood from Africa, while the ebony mentioned in Chinese history is actually carbonized wood or Yinmu wood. The concepts and essence are entirely different, and they should not be confused.
**Characteristics and Performance of Ebony**
Also known as ancient sinking wood, overcast wood, oolong wood, sinking wood, charcoal wood, and oriental god wood, ebony is the wood that sank into water and soil in ancient times. Large pieces of precious wood from virgin forests were buried deep in rivers, lakes, and seabeds after being hit by major natural disasters. Over time, these dead roots became submerged and underwent physical and chemical changes. The internal fats and sugars dissolved, creating an environment that repelled insects and bacteria.
Some pieces became harder and more durable, forming a strong and dignified appearance, similar to copper or iron casting. Their colors vary widely—brown, gray, purple, black, and even red or black outer layers. Long-term carbonization makes them appear black like coal, which is truly amazing.
According to scientific research, some ebony has been buried for 3,000 to 12,000 years, and some even longer. What's remarkable is that it remains undistorted, heavy, and highly dense. It resists insects, and some ancient trees can rival rosewood in quality. That's why it's called the "essence of the tree" and the "soul of the wood." Because of its rarity and value, ancient sinking wood is considered a treasure, believed to ward off evil and bring prosperity. As the saying goes, "A box full of gold is not as good as an ebony side."
**Advantages of Ebony**
1. **Hard texture**: Most ebony is black or dark, with some having red or yellow outer layers. The color gradients are rich, ranging from brown-black to black-red and golden hues.
2. **Smooth cut surface**: The wood grain is fine, and when polished, it achieves a mirror-like finish.
3. **Long-lasting**: Some types have properties similar to red sandalwood, never fading, decaying, or attracting insects. It's ideal for making art and antique furniture.
**Disadvantages of Ebony**
1. **Difficult to work with**: Cutting with power tools can cause sparks, and polishing is challenging.
2. **Brittle**: Easy to break.
3. **Low yield**: Many pieces have large hollow areas and long cracks, resulting in very low output.
**Use of Ebony in the Furniture Industry**
While it’s great for making furniture, most ebony is carbonized, so only small parts are usable. Therefore, large pieces are rare, and it’s mostly used for small crafts.
In ancient China, people knew about it. The *Nan Yue Notes* mentioned that “ebony... is widely used by the locals... others can make a few tricks.†The *Yi Zhou Shu* said, “Its color can be used as a device.†Displaying a set of antique ebony furniture is considered top-grade, comparable to famous woods like rosewood, and it always attracts special attention.
Ebony is ancient and elegant, with a unique shape and tough texture. It’s known as “immortal†because of its longevity. In the past, it was used for making enameled items and furniture. After applying vegetable oil, it becomes shiny and black, needing no additional paint. The longer it’s used, the darker it gets. Due to its scarcity, modern people often use it for carvings and root art, making it a prized item among collectors.
**How to Identify Ebony**
1. **Density**: The air-dry density of ebony is 1.14, greater than water, so it sinks.
2. **Oil content**: High oil content causes visible oil phenomena when heated. Steam distillation of sapwood samples shows an essential oil content of 3.58%.
3. **Color and texture**: Black, red, yellow, etc., with a hard, smooth, and clear grain. It is resistant to decay and insects.
4. **Surface characteristics**: Buried in water for centuries, it undergoes physical and chemical reactions, forming a rugged, unique surface with “skinny, transparent, leaky, and wrinkled†features.
**Related Reading:** How is Wujinmu (African zebra wood) furniture made?
**Ebony Carving – “Mountain Flowing Waterâ€**
This ebony art is mainly black, which is the most common color in ebony. However, there are also brown-black, black-red, golden, and yellow-brown varieties. These colors are clean and smooth, like jade. Craftsmen often work with the natural shape and color of the wood, creating an ingenious effect. The mountains are bright and dark, with rich layers and powerful visual impact.
The cut surface of ebony is smooth, and the material is delicate. After careful polishing, it shines like a mirror, emitting a radiant oil sheen without the need for paint. If environmentally friendly, it's one of the best materials available.
After being buried for 3,000 to 12,000 years, ebony is close to a fossil, yet still retains the softness of wood. It feels great and makes an excellent gift. Take a look at the players and listeners in this “Mountains in the Mountains.â€
For example, the texture of Moyu’s movement is much softer and warmer than jade, and the rock and wood behind the piano’s feet are finely carved. This is closely related to the durability of blackwood. Ebony is difficult to polish with electric tools and is prone to breaking. In the history of Chinese furniture, it was commonly used as decoration, rarely as main furniture. This is due to the large hollow areas, long cracks, and low output.
Things are rare, and with the excellent qualities of ebony, it's no wonder people say, “A box full of gold is not as good as an ebony side.â€