Important Notice

Ebony, cane
33 x 44 x 21 in (83.8 x 111.8 x 53.3 cm)

Ebony has a long history of being a prized and coveted material in furniture design. Found only in certain parts of Africa and Asia, this 'exotic' wood was so highly valued that 17th century cabinetmakers would stamp their pieces with the word 'eben' to prevent imitation materials from devaluing their work (David Linley, Charles Cator and Helen Chislett, "Materials", Star Pieces: The Enduring Beauty of Spectacular Furniture, Thames and Hudson, London, 2009, pg. 33). In Asia, ebony is found on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, and is called Makassar Ebony, while others refer to it as Coromandel, or Indian Ebony. In Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria are famed for their Ebony, which manifests in varying shades of its trademark intense black colour.
Yet, it is not merely the richness of the wood, or its rarity, that makes it so valuable. Ebony is dense and difficult to work with; its hardness makes it ideally suitable for small, decorative objects and veneering. It was a delight for cabinetmakers, who called themselves "Ebenistes" in the 17th century, taking pride in working with this material. While Ebony remained a favourite through the centuries, the Art Deco movement further popularised it among craftsmen who found the wood ideal for creating clean and simple designs.

Ebony, cane
33 x 44 x 21 in (83.8 x 111.8 x 53.3 cm)

Ebony has a long history of being a prized and coveted material in furniture design. Found only in certain parts of Africa and Asia, this 'exotic' wood was so highly valued that 17th century cabinetmakers would stamp their pieces with the word 'eben' to prevent imitation materials from devaluing their work (David Linley, Charles Cator and Helen Chislett, "Materials", Star Pieces: The Enduring Beauty of Spectacular Furniture, Thames and Hudson, London, 2009, pg. 33). In Asia, ebony is found on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, and is called Makassar Ebony, while others refer to it as Coromandel, or Indian Ebony. In Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria are famed for their Ebony, which manifests in varying shades of its trademark intense black colour.
Yet, it is not merely the richness of the wood, or its rarity, that makes it so valuable. Ebony is dense and difficult to work with; its hardness makes it ideally suitable for small, decorative objects and veneering. It was a delight for cabinetmakers, who called themselves "Ebenistes" in the 17th century, taking pride in working with this material. While Ebony remained a favourite through the centuries, the Art Deco movement further popularised it among craftsmen who found the wood ideal for creating clean and simple designs.