Makassar Ebony, high glossSupplied and installed glue down by Parky Italia – New Bond Street, London UK

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Ebony was the first woodspecies to be given a name. The name derived from ancient Egyptian hbny . During the time of the Pharao's, ebony was used for sarcofage and golden mask decoration. Via the Greek and the Latin Ebenum, the middle English became comon.

Ebony is known for its heavy black, fine grained with irregular terra cotta color lines heartwood. By contrast, the sapwood is white.

It takes about 20 years for an Ebony tree to become black. Due to the heaviness of the wood, the sapwood is usually removed in the forest and not harvested.

Makassar Ebony trees are small to medium sized evergreens, reaching maximum 25 m tall. Ebony has a small 2 cm berry fruit, similar to a small persimom.

Ebony is the worlds most intense black wood. Combined with its heavy density and its ability to be polished smoothly, it has become the worlds most valuable ornamental wood.

Plaster relief from the temple of Beit el-Wali, Nubia , showing gifts to the pharao (British Museum, London)

During the 17th century, the Dutch, at that time the biggest commercial fleet in the world, harvested Makassar Ebony in the area of Port Rotterdam, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Makassar, the locals name for Port Rotterdam, became the name for the particulary beautiful kind of Ebony wood. Initially the wood was used for shipbuilding. Its strength and hardness were a distinguishing competitive advantage to the Dutch fleet.

Few decades later, also the French started systematic Ebony harvesting. French used Ebony for luxury furniture. By the end of the 18th century, Antwerp became a centre of fine Ebony cabinet manufacturing. After a while also in Paris cabinetmakers began producing ebony panels. Soon they were called "ébènisters".

Centuries of unsustainable harvesting have caused almost all Ebony species to become threatened and endangered. In most western countries, import restrictions on solid Ebony are in place. Modern use of Ebony is restricted to small sized musical instruments (piano, violin), chess pieces, lacemaking bobbins and jewelry.

In many cases, instead of Ebony, so called ebonized wood is applied.

Mercedez Benz Pappas Gruppe, Salzburg, Austria

Makassar Ebony at De Beers, Printemps, Rue Haussmann, ParisDesign by Caps Architects, Zurich, CHSupply and installation by Floor Tade AG, Schindelegi, CH

Makassar Ebony, auditorium at House of the Futurre, Brussels

Makassar Ebony.