Etymology
– The word ebony comes from Ancient Egyptian hbny.
– It passed through Ancient Greek as ébenos and Latin as ebenus.
– The word eventually made its way into Middle English.
– The etymology of ebony traces its roots through various ancient languages.
– The word has evolved over time but has retained its association with the dark, dense wood.
Species
– Diospyros ebenum is known as Ceylon ebony and is native to southern India and Sri Lanka.
– D. crassiflora, also called Gabon ebony, is found in western Africa.
– D. humilis, known as Queensland ebony, is native to Queensland, the Northern Territory, New Guinea, and Timor.
– D. celebica, referred to as Sulawesi ebony, is found in Indonesia and is valued for its multi-colored wood grain.
– The Dutch extensively exploited Mauritius ebony, scientifically known as D. tessellaria, in the 17th century.
Uses
– Ebony has a rich history of use, with carved pieces discovered in Ancient Egyptian tombs.
– Fine cabinets made of ebony were popular in Antwerp by the end of the 16th century.
– Parisian cabinetmakers, known as ébénistes, also started producing ebony cabinets.
– Ebony is used in the production of musical instruments like clarinets, oboes, and guitars.
– Other applications include crucifixes, piano keys, violin fingerboards, and pool cue butts.
Protection
– The illegal harvesting of ebony has led to many species being considered threatened.
– The US Fish and Wildlife Service raided Gibson Guitar company in 2011 for violations of the Lacey Act.
– The Madagascar wood trade has been compared to Africa’s blood diamonds by an expert at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
– Sustainable practices are crucial to protect ebony and its ecosystems.
– The conservation of ebony species is essential to prevent their extinction.
External Links
– Wiktionary provides definitions and further information on the word ebony.
– Wikimedia Commons offers a collection of media related to ebony.
– The Wood Database provides lumber identification and information on ebony.
– A doctoral thesis on the ebony trade of ancient Egypt can be found on discovery.ucl.ac.uk.
– Websites like Salpoente Boutique and Ventured list ebony as one of the most expensive woods in the world. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebony
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Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus Diospyros, which also includes the persimmon tree. Few Diospyros species such as macassar and mun ebony are dense enough to sink in water. Ebony is finely textured and has a mirror finish when polished, making it valuable as an ornamental wood. It is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world.
