Ebony Wood

(Diospyros ebenum). Diospyros ebenum is a species of ebony that is found in Sri Lanka. During the 17th century ebony was the commonest wood used for furniture, and was found abundantly throughout the flat dry country of the east and southeast coastal region. The Dutch preferred a dark wood for contrast against the white walls of their residences. Sri Lankan ebenum species excelled above other species in evenness and intensity of its color. Brohier tells us that in the 18th century these darker woods were used for legs and moldings, and that there was a popoluar trend of staining other lighter hardwoods black to look like ebony.