Variegated ebony is a group of valuable hardwood varieties, generally obtained from several species in the genus
Diospyros, related to genuine
ebony. The wood generally features a pattern of darker and lighter stripes, with the various kinds sometimes being difficult to tell apart. The wood has been used for
furniture but also in
carpentry,
luthiery, and
sculpture.
Coromandel wood
Coromandel is a kind of variegated ebony from the species
Diospyros melanoxylon native to India and Sri Lanka.
The wood features a pattern of stripes in black and brown.
The name is derived from the
Coromandel Coast in India from where it was first exported. It makes up the majority of timber referred to as
East Indian ebony.
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Calamander wood
Calamander is a variegated ebony from the species Diospyros quaesita
The use of calamander wood has led to extensive logging of the trees in the past, leaving D. quaesita a vulnerable species. Presently, the availability of calamander wood is limited and antique calamander furniture is highly prized, so recycling it is an unlikely proposition.
Macassar ebony
Macassar ebony is obtained from Diospyros celebica, endemic to the island of Sulawesi of Indonesia. It is named after the city of Makassar, involved in the export of this wood.
