Ebony 6. See what "Ebony" is in other dictionaries

Woodworkers have always been looking for wood species that will give products a special strength and aesthetic value. One of the most valuable breeds, without exaggeration, is an ebony tree. It is a hard and heavy material, the density of which at a standard humidity of 15% reaches 1300 kg/m³. Several varieties of ebony trees are known, each of which has its own distinctive features.

Wood or fruit?

The ebony tree belongs to the genus Persimmon. Many people know this genus due to the sweet, fleshy fruits of a bright orange color. But not always the fruit of an ebony tree is edible. Delicious fruits are produced by Eastern, Caucasian and Virgin Persimmon, as well as the Maloba and Black Sapota varieties. Today, persimmon can be grown in any country with a warm climate. Chocolate varieties appeared on sale and large berries resembling a black apple. Even the Philippines has begun to grow an edible persimmon variety with bright red berries called "Velvet Apple". In Israel, the Sharon variety was bred, in which there are no seeds, and the taste does not have astringent notes. These fruits are bought by supermarkets in many countries. Other varieties are better known for their valuable wood.

Where does the ebony tree grow

Ebony, producing black or striped black wood valuable variety, grows in African tropical forests, in South and Southeast Asia, on some islands in Indian Ocean. Ebony trees can be found in moist forests India and the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

A bit of history

Since today the main story is about wood, the conversation will focus on the history of the use of this particular material, and not edible fruits. The blackwood tree has had many names. The Africans called him "mugembe" and "mpingo". The name "musical tree" and "zebra tree" also sounded. Ancient tribes used bark, leaves, and wood in the economy. They were prone to the deification of nature, and the ebony tree in Africa was also endowed with supernatural properties. It was believed that if you enclose a dwelling with a palisade of ebony wood, then evil spirits they won't be able to get into it. Valuable wood was used to make amulets and ritual weapons. The craftsmen made caskets of ebony, in which they kept ritual objects so that the gods would not turn away from them and retain their magical qualities.

Ebony products were found by archaeologists during excavations of Egyptian tombs. But later studies showed that this is not an ebony tree, but an African pink Dalbergia from the legume family.

Persia highly appreciated the properties of ebony wood. This is evidenced by the fact that Persia received tribute from the Ethiopians in ivory, gold and ebony bars.

Peter I brought fashion for black wood products to Russia. At that time, black ebony was widely used for the manufacture of knick-knacks, interior items and furniture. This emphasized the status and position in society. In addition, the presence of expensive furniture made of precious wood spoke of wealth and good taste.

Wood characteristics

Trees from the Eben family, which have valuable wood, have powerful trunks. The diameter of many plants exceeds 1 m, and their height is up to 10 m. Ebony trees grow very slowly, this is what gives the wood a high density. According to the characteristics, the density of black wood exceeds the density of oak by more than 2 times.

The bark and sapwood of the ebony tree is of no value. They are used only by local healers for their potions and craftsmen for household utensils. Unfortunately, the bark and sapwood that is removed before sale can make up 60-70% of the entire trunk.

In addition to high density, heartwood has lubricity and the ability to withstand changes in temperature and humidity without losing stability. Ebony wood can have black, chocolate and lilac-violet color. It can be uniform or striped; there are no distinguishable annual rings in heartwood. This type of valuable wood does not rot and is not subject to damage by insects.

Procurement problems

As already noted, the ebony tree grows very slowly. This in itself is already a problem. But besides this, the wood is very poorly exposed to drying. To speed up the process without compromising the quality of the material, they came up with a method of preliminary preparation. Drying of wood begins 2-2.5 years before felling.

To do this, circular notches are applied to the trunk, designed to stop growth.

Felled wood cannot be dried quickly. After cutting, it is covered from the sun and protected from drafts. The ends of the logs are covered with lime or other material with similar characteristics.

Types of wood. Eben of Cameroon

Types of ebony wood could be listed for a very long time. In total, there are about 500 of them in nature. However, only those that have a beautiful intense color and shine of heartwood are popular. This is associated with special microbiological processes inside the trunk.

The most common variety is Cameroon ebony. This wood is delivered from Africa. It has a rich black color, occasionally it can be decorated with gray streaks. Despite the high aesthetic qualities of wood of this variety, it is rated lower than other varieties. This is due to the fact that the wood has open pores.

Ceylon view

Ceylon ebony is considered the highest quality and most expensive grade of ebony. It is very hard and polishes perfectly. The variety belongs to the finely porous, which affects its quality. Ceylon ebony is not afraid of exposure to water. It is this wood that is called Black Ebony. All expensive trinkets and furniture of the 16th-19th centuries were made from this type of wood.

Madagascar ebony

From the name it is clear that this tree grows on the island of Madagascar. But you can also meet him in the Seychelles. The wood of this variety has an anthracite-black color. A fresh cut may have a metallic sheen. Often the wood of the Madagascar variety is dark brown, this is not a marriage, but a varietal feature. The material is finely porous, the density of the core is 1000 kg/m³, it is not afraid of water and insects.

Indonesian variety - Makassar ebony

Trees of this species grow in Indonesia. This ebony is classified as a colored species. The base of the wood is black, but it has characteristic yellow and light brown streaks that create a beautiful pattern. Among the ebony varieties, the Makassar variety is one of the densest.

When processed, this type of ebony, like all others, forms a dense and persistent dust. It can irritate the skin and cause redness in the eyes. In addition, this dust is harmful to the lungs.

Lunar ebony - features of wood

Such a sonorous name was given to the wood of the Mabolo tree. This is very rare variety black ebony growing in the Philippines and impenetrable jungle Myanmar.

The wood of this variety is light, with a very beautiful texture. On the saw she can have White color with green stripes. Dried wood becomes golden yellow, and the veins turn black. In some plants, divorces and stripes are bluish or chocolate. In spite of unique beauty, felling and export of moon ebony is prohibited. Occasionally, Myanmar sells permits to cut down small lots of trees. In this case, we will talk about plants whose age is from 400 to 1000 years. Younger trees are strictly prohibited. In this variety of ebony, the bark and sapwood make up up to 70% of the entire thickness of the trunk.

After drying, the heart part of the moon ebony loses its volume greatly. Additional properties of wood are given by the presence of a large amount essential oils. Thanks to them, moon ebony is not afraid of water, termites and the influence of external environments. Exclusive souvenirs, expensive billiard cues, musical instruments and interior items are made from this variety of ebony. Masters do not always take up the processing of wood of this quality. The material is too expensive and hard. It can only be processed with a special tool, which not everyone has.

Use of ebony wood

This is not to say that ebony has a wide consumption. It's expensive and valuable material inaccessible to the average consumer. Unique exclusive things are made from it. These can be decorative figurines, musical instruments, tables, chairs, cabinets or chests of drawers, parquet or billiard cues. But the list is supplemented based on the imagination and qualifications of the master.

Tree from the Red Book

The demand for ebony wood has led to the fact that there is a threat of their widespread extinction. Since 1994, the ebony tree (many of its species) has been listed in the Red Book.

Today, 103 species are classified as endangered. Fourteen species are listed as "endangered" and another fifteen species are "extremely endangered". There are 21 species with "low danger" and "out of danger" that are allowed for harvesting. However, most of these 21 species are valued for edible fruit and not wood.

An ebony tree is a black (or black with stripes) wood of some trees of the genus Persimmon (Diospyros) of the ebony family (Ebenaceae). Heartwood without visible growth rings is very hard and heavy and is one of the most valuable tree species. The yellow-gray sapwood, which is removed from the tree immediately after felling, can occupy up to 70% of the trunk and is never sold because it is considered ugly. The density of ebony is 1050 kg/m3 at 15% humidity. This means that this wood sinks in water.

The concept of "Ebony" unites different breeds with black wood. The most famous are the Ceylon ebony, which grows in India, Sri Lanka, and the African ebony, which grows in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Zaire.

Among dealers in exotic woods, there is a fair amount of confusion in the identification and names of wood. In the distant past experienced craftsmen determined wood by eye and touch by color, texture and density, rarely making mistakes, because a small number of domestic and foreign tree species. But when the timber of numerous tropical species from Asia, America and Africa, errors in identification became inevitable, especially in color, which is not uncommonly similar in wood different kinds and families. Hence the confusion with red and ebony.

Nevertheless, ebony is the common commercial name for the wood of some trees belonging to different families (ebony, acacia, legumes, etc.). The color of wood in these species is usually dark or black. It is due to microbiological processes occurring in living wood, as well as the color of the resin, characteristic of each species. In addition to the color of the core wood, these species are united by others. general properties: high density and hardness, resistance to biological damage.

Ebony- hearty scattered vascular hardwood with narrow white sapwood. The core is glossy black, the annual layers are invisible, the core rays are narrow, not visible on any section. The vessels are small, collected in radial groups of 2-3 together; the cavities of the vessels and fibers of the libriform are often filled with accumulations of black nuclei. The density of dry wood of the first of these botanical species is 1190 kg/m3, the second - 1030 kg/m3. The sapwood is narrow, sharply contrasting in color with the heartwood. Caucasian persimmon and some other species are sapwood, in which ripe wood and sapwood do not differ in color.

Ebony varieties:

Cameroon ebony(Diospyros crassiflora) comes from Africa and is the most common variety of ebony on the market, usually deep black or veined with gray. It is characterized by pronounced open pores, as a result of which it is valued significantly lower than other, finely porous varieties.

Ceylon ebony(Diospyros ebenum), which is almost impossible to obtain nowadays, is of the best quality: very hard, highly polishable, practically no visible pores, well workable, resistant to termites and water. In the 16th-19th centuries, it was from this variety of ebony that the best furniture was made.

Madagascar ebony(Diospyros perrieri) has a dark brown color, very fine pores, is resistant to termites and water, its density is about 1000 kg/m³.

Macassar ebony(Diospyros celebica) (Indonesia) is considered a "coloured" ebony, its sapwood is yellowish white and its heartwood is black with a very characteristic pattern of light yellow and brown stripes; very dense and persistent, its dust causes irritation to the skin, eyes and lungs (the dust of other ebony too). Density ranges from 1100 to 1300 kg/m³.

moon ebony(Diospyros mun) comes from Laos and Vietnam and is similar in coloration to Macassar ebony.

The sapwood of an ebony tree is white, yellowish-white, beige, darkening under the influence of the sun and air. Caucasian persimmon has gray to dark gray wood. y core different types and even individual representatives of the species has a different color. Individual trees produce jet black wood (D. dendo) or with a brownish, sometimes purple tint (other species) without noticeable, lighter stripes. However, these species often have a core with brown and dark brown sexes. It has been noticed that the older the wood of these species, the closer it is to black, the less visible the stripes.

Macassar, or ebony South-East Asia, has a core with black brown, red-brown, sometimes beige stripes.

The wood of all tropical species has a natural luster, most often matte, and only in some species (D. Dendj and D. Discolor) - metallic.

The fibers of the ebony core are straight, sometimes twisted or wavy. The texture is rich (especially in species with a striated nucleus) and even. The texture of some species (especially D. discolor) resembles marble.

Ebony wood is very dense and heavy. Only backout and some types of rosewood have a higher density. The density of wood of almost all types of ebony is in the range from 900 to 1100 kg / m3 (at a moisture content of 12%). The densest - Ceylon ebony - 1190 kg / m3.

The mechanical properties of ebony wood are very high. The flexural strength for the main African and Indian species has a value of 180 to 190 MPa. The hardness is more than 2 times higher than that of oak. Ebony wood resists shock loads well.

Ebony wood is very difficult to dry. In countries where this wood is harvested, preliminary (two years before harvesting) cutting of trees is still used. It lies in the fact that at the base of the trunk, layers of cambium (sapwood) are cut in a circle in a circle to stop the growth of the tree. After harvesting and sawing, the boards are stacked, the ends are covered with lime or other material and carefully covered from the sun and strong drafts in order to avoid the wood drying out too quickly. Drying time is at least 6 months. In case of violation of the drying regimes, warping of the boards and intensive formation of cracks occur. Ebony wood dries out a little.

All types of ebony are difficult to cut due to their high density and the presence of mineral inclusions in the wood. Due to this, the cutting edges of the tool quickly become dull. Workpieces having wavy fibers are especially difficult to process. In addition, ebony, especially Macassar, has a tendency to chip. Works well on lathes. If you need to use nails or screws, you must first drill the blanks. Ebony wood is polished to a mirror finish.

The bonding ability of different species is rated from good to satisfactory. Very poorly impregnated with various liquids. It has low hygroscopicity (high density and small vessels filled with core substances) and, as a result, high stability (provided that drying is carried out correctly) in various conditions(in terms of temperature and humidity) - only blackwood and backout have the best performance.

The ability to bend (with pre-steaming) is rated as good, but after this operation, the heartwood becomes brittle.

Treated wood exhibits a very high resistance to damage by fungi and insects (even termites).

Ebony, in particular ebony, has been used by people since ancient times. It has always been greatly appreciated. Mainly used for religious objects, sculpture and other crafts, musical instruments, expensive furniture. It was believed that it successfully resists poisons, so dishes were made from it.

Now solid ebony is rarely used, mainly only for individual parts of very expensive furniture and musical instruments.

Products made of ebony wood (figurines, candlesticks, canes, vases and much more) are rightfully considered rare and valuable acquisitions, they become a real decoration of the house, occupy a worthy place in collections. And to become the owner of a piece of ebony furniture is a luxury that few can afford. Long years it was the privilege of the highest nobility.

Currently, sliced ​​ebony veneer is used for furniture of musical instruments (eg guitars), inlays, marquetry, etc.

In the monsoon forests of India and the island of Ceylon. Heartwood without discernable annual rings is very hard and heavy and belongs to the most valuable tree species. Yellow-gray sapwood, which is removed from the tree immediately after felling, can occupy up to 70% of the trunk and is never sold, as it is considered ugly. The density of ebony is up to 1300 kg / m³ at a moisture content of 15%. This wood sinks in water.

Varieties

Ebony wood is divided into varieties depending on the type of plant that is its source.

• Cameroon ebony - species wood Diospyros crassiflora Hiern; comes from Africa and is the most common variety of ebony on the market, usually deep black or with gray streaks. It is characterized by pronounced open pores, as a result of which it is valued significantly lower than other, finely porous varieties.
• Ceylon ebony - wood species Ceylon ebony, or Black ebony ( Diospyros ebenum J.Koenig); has the best quality: very hard (twice as hard as oak), well polished (becomes perfectly smooth after polishing), practically without visible pores, resistant to termites and water. In the 16th-19th centuries, it was from this variety of ebony that the best furniture was made.
• Madagascar ebony - species wood Diospyros perrieri Jum.; dark brown color, very fine pores, termite and water resistant, density approx. 1000 kg/m³.

Macassar ebony

• Flaming ebony (Macassar ebony, Macassar)- species wood Diospyros celebica Bakh.(Indonesia); Considered "coloured" ebony, its sapwood is yellowish-white, and its heartwood is black with a very characteristic pattern of light yellow and brown stripes, looking at which it seems as if flames are burning on wood. The wood is very dense and resistant, dust causes irritation to the skin, eyes and lungs (the dust of other ebony too). Density ranges from 1100 to 1300 kg/m³.
• moon ebony - species wood Diospyros mun A. Chev.; comes from Laos and Vietnam and is similar in coloration to Macassar ebony.
• moon ebony - wood species Mabolo ( Diospyros blancoi A.DC.); extremely rare variety of black ebony. Homeland - Philippines, now found only in the impenetrable forests of Myanmar. Moon ebony is the only variety among ebony trees with light-colored wood. The texture of the wood is very beautiful. When cut, it has a white color with greenish streaks. After drying, the wood acquires a golden yellow color with black stains, veins and stripes. Sometimes divorces and stripes can have other shades, for example, bluish, greenish, chocolate. Lunar ebony is prohibited for felling and export. Myanmar rarely sells quotas for minor shipments. Trees eligible for felling are 400-450 to 1000 years old. This is because the sapwood of ebony trees sometimes makes up to 70% of the total thickness of the tree and it is separated and thrown away immediately after cutting the tree, taking only the hard core, which is located in the very center of the trunk. The fact that the ebony tree turned out to be lunar is determined as the tree is cut down, since outwardly it is indistinguishable from other types of ebony trees. Eben grows very slowly - it takes centuries for the tree to grow to commercial size. Due to the extremely slow growth, ebony wood acquires a huge density - up to 1300 kg / m³. It is very demanding on drying conditions, after drying it loses a lot in volume. Contains a large number of essential oils, therefore resistant to external environment, to changes in humidity and temperature, does not rot, resistant to damage by insects, including termites. The most expensive, rare, exclusive and beautiful billiard cues are made from moon ebony, which have high playing characteristics and hardness, however, it is worth noting that not every master will undertake the manufacture of a cue from moon ebony, because the structure of the fibers and high hardness require masters of great experience in processing this very expensive wood and the availability of special tools of increased wear resistance, since moon ebony quickly and easily dulls almost any cutting woodworking tool. Moon ebony cues, especially solid ones, are piece goods and are very expensive. Also, furniture and interior items, decorative parquet, souvenirs, inlays are made from moon ebony. A square meter of moon ebony parquet is sold by the piece and costs an average of about $50,000 (2013).

Application

Fretboard and pegs of a violin.

Ebony wood is used primarily in the manufacture of furniture. It is also used for intarsia and veneer or in the manufacture of musical instruments (for example, the fretboard of violin instruments, frets, tuning pegs), billiard cues [ ] and in art. It is known from history that it was a favorite wood for door and window handles, cutlery handles, trimmings were used to make knitting needles and hooks or razor handles.

Etymology

Nowadays, ebony is called ebony from the genus Diospyros, growing in India and Sri Lanka, but in the Bible under the name håvnîm Heb. הָבְנִים ‏‎ meant a similar tree, the wood of which was brought from Nubia. Studies of the dark wood that is found in Egyptian tombs (Egyptian hbny = ebony) made it possible to establish that this is the wood of the African rosewood ( Dalbergia melanoxylon) from the legume family, which grows in arid areas near the southern border of the Sahara.

Eben in mythology

In myth, magic and esotericism, ebony is often attributed magical properties. So, houses surrounded by a palisade of ebony stakes cannot be penetrated by evil spirits, or ebony weapons supposedly can kill demons. Magic wands are also often made from ebony, and magical items must be kept in an ebony box so as not to lose their power.

Red Book

High demand for timber tropical trees became a threat to their existence. In 1994

Without distinguishable annual rings, it is very hard and heavy and belongs to the most valuable tree species. Yellow-gray sapwood, which is removed from the tree immediately after felling, can occupy up to 70% of the trunk and is never sold, as it is considered ugly. The density of ebony is up to 1300 kg / m³ at a moisture content of 15%. This wood sinks in water.

Varieties

Ebony wood is divided into varieties depending on the type of plant that is its source.

• Cameroon ebony- species wood Diospyros crassiflora Hiern; comes from Africa and is the most common variety of ebony on the market, usually deep black or with gray streaks. It is characterized by pronounced open pores, as a result of which it is valued significantly lower than other, finely porous varieties.

• Ceylon ebony- wood species Ceylon ebony, or Black ebony ( Diospyros ebenum J.Koenig); has the best quality: very hard (twice as hard as oak), well polished (becomes perfectly smooth after polishing), practically without visible pores, resistant to termites and water. In the 16th-19th centuries, it was from this variety of ebony that the best furniture was made.

• Madagascar ebony- species wood Diospyros perrieri Jum.; dark brown color, very fine pores, termite and water resistant, density approx. 1000 kg/m³.

• Macassar ebony- species wood Diospyros celebica Bakh.(Indonesia); considered "coloured" ebony, its sapwood is yellowish-white, and the heartwood is black with a very characteristic pattern of light yellow and brown stripes; the wood is very dense and resistant, dust causes irritation to the skin, eyes and lungs (dust of other ebony too). Density ranges from 1100 to 1300 kg/m³.

• moon ebony- species wood Diospyros mun A. Chev.; comes from Laos and Vietnam and is similar in coloration to Macassar ebony.

• moon ebony- wood species Mabolo ( Diospyros blancoi A.DC.); extremely rare variety of black ebony. Homeland - Philippines, now found only in the impenetrable forests of Myanmar. Moon ebony is the only variety among ebony trees with light-colored wood. The texture of the wood is very beautiful. When cut, it has a white color with greenish streaks. After drying, the wood acquires a golden yellow color with black stains, veins and stripes. Sometimes divorces and stripes can have other shades, for example, bluish, greenish, chocolate. Lunar ebony is prohibited for felling and export. Myanmar rarely sells quotas for minor shipments. Trees eligible for felling are 400-450 to 1000 years old. This is because the sapwood of ebony trees sometimes makes up to 70% of the total thickness of the tree and it is separated and thrown away immediately after cutting the tree, taking only the hard core, which is located in the very center of the trunk. The fact that the ebony tree turned out to be lunar is determined as the tree is cut down, since outwardly it is indistinguishable from other types of ebony trees. Eben grows very slowly - it takes centuries for the tree to grow to commercial size. Due to the extremely slow growth, ebony wood acquires a huge density - up to 1300 kg / m³. It is very demanding on drying conditions, after drying it loses a lot in volume. It contains a large amount of essential oils, therefore it is resistant to the effects of the external environment, to changes in humidity and temperature, does not rot, and is resistant to damage by insects, including termites. The most expensive, rare, exclusive and beautiful billiard cues are made from moon ebony, having high playing characteristics and hardness, however, it is worth noting that not every master will undertake to make a cue from moon ebony, because. the structure of the fibers and high hardness require the master to have extensive experience in processing this very expensive wood and the presence of special tools of increased wear resistance, because. moon ebony quickly and easily dulls almost any cutting woodworking tool. Moon ebony cues, especially solid ones, are piece goods and are very expensive. Also, furniture and interior items, decorative parquet, souvenirs, inlays are made from moon ebony. A square meter of moon ebony parquet is sold by the piece and costs an average of about $50,000 (2013).

Application

Ebony wood is used primarily in the manufacture of furniture. It is also used for intarsia and veneer, or in the manufacture of musical instruments (such as the violin neck) and in the arts. It is known from history that it was a favorite wood for door and window handles, cutlery handles, trimmings were used to make knitting needles and hooks or razor handles.

Etymology

Nowadays, ebony is called ebony from the genus Diospyros, growing in India and Sri Lanka, but in the Bible under the name håvnîm Heb. הָבְנִים ‏‎ meant a similar tree, the wood of which was brought from Nubia. Studies of the dark wood that is found in Egyptian tombs (Egyptian hbny = ebony) made it possible to establish that this is the wood of the African rosewood ( Dalbergia melanoxylon) from the legume family, which grows in arid areas near the southern border of the Sahara.

Eben in mythology

see also

Write a review on the article "Ebony tree"

Notes

Literature

• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Rare plants of the world // Science and life: journal. - 2008. - No. 5. - S. 94-95.

An excerpt characterizing the Ebony tree

When at first the sulphurous tinder lit up with a blue and then a red flame, Shcherbinin lit a tallow candle, from the candlestick of which the Prussians gnawed at it ran, and examined the messenger. Bolkhovitinov was covered in mud and, wiping himself with his sleeve, smeared his face.
- Who delivers? Shcherbinin said, taking the envelope.
“The news is true,” said Bolkhovitinov. - And the prisoners, and the Cossacks, and scouts - all unanimously show the same thing.
“There is nothing to do, we must wake up,” said Shcherbinin, getting up and going up to a man in a nightcap, covered with an overcoat. - Pyotr Petrovich! he said. Konovnitsyn did not move. - Headquarters! he said, smiling, knowing that these words would probably wake him up. And indeed, the head in the nightcap rose at once. On Konovnitsyn's handsome, firm face, with feverishly inflamed cheeks, for a moment there still remained an expression of dreams far removed from the present state of sleep, but then he suddenly shuddered: his face assumed its usual calm and firm expression.
- Well, what is it? From whom? he asked slowly but immediately, blinking in the light. Listening to the officer's report, Konovnitsyn printed it out and read it. As soon as he read, he put his feet in woolen stockings on the dirt floor and began to put on shoes. Then he took off his cap and, combing his temples, put on his cap.
- Did you arrive soon? Let's go to the brightest.
Konovnitsyn immediately realized that the news he had brought was of great importance and that it was impossible to delay. Whether it was good or bad, he did not think and did not ask himself. It didn't interest him. He looked at the whole matter of the war not with the mind, not with reasoning, but with something else. There was a deep, unspoken conviction in his soul that everything would be fine; but that it is not necessary to believe this, and even more so, it is not necessary to say this, but one must only do one's own business. And he did his job, giving him all his strength.
Pyotr Petrovich Konovnitsyn, like Dokhturov, only as if out of decency included in the list of the so-called heroes of the 12th year - Barklaev, Raevsky, Yermolov, Platov, Miloradovich, just like Dokhturov, enjoyed the reputation of a person of very limited abilities and information, and, like Dokhturov, Konovnitsyn never made plans for battles, but was always where it was most difficult; always slept with the door open since he was appointed general on duty, ordering each sent one to wake himself up, he was always under fire during the battle, so that Kutuzov reproached him for this and was afraid to send him, and was, like Dokhturov, one of those inconspicuous gears which, without crackling or making noise, constitute the most essential part of the machine.
Leaving the hut in the damp, dark night, Konovnitsyn frowned partly from a worsening headache, partly from an unpleasant thought that came into his head about how now all this nest of staff, influential people would be excited at this news, especially Benigsen, who after Tarutin was at odds with Kutuzov; how they will propose, argue, order, cancel. And this presentiment was unpleasant to him, although he knew that without it it was impossible.
Indeed, Tol, to whom he went to inform the new news, immediately began to express his thoughts to the general who lived with him, and Konovnitsyn, silently and wearily listening, reminded him that he had to go to his Serene Highness.

Kutuzov, like all old people, slept little at night. He often dozed off unexpectedly during the day; but at night, without undressing, lying on his bed, for the most part he did not sleep and thought.
And so he lay now on his bed, leaning his heavy, large, mutilated head on his plump arm, and thought, peering into the darkness with one open eye.
Since Benigsen, who corresponded with the sovereign and had the most strength in the headquarters, avoided him, Kutuzov was calmer in the sense that he and his troops would not be forced to again participate in useless offensive actions. The lesson of the Battle of Tarutino and its eve, painfully remembered by Kutuzov, should also have had an effect, he thought.
“They need to understand that we can only lose by being offensive. Patience and time, here are my warriors heroes! thought Kutuzov. He knew not to pick an apple while it was green. It will fall on its own when it is ripe, but if you pick green, you will spoil the apple and the tree, and you will set your teeth on edge. He, as an experienced hunter, knew that the beast was wounded, wounded in the way that the entire Russian force could wound, but mortally or not, this was not yet an elucidated question. Now, from the sendings of Loriston and Berthelemy and from the reports of the partisans, Kutuzov almost knew that he was mortally wounded. But more evidence was needed, it was necessary to wait.
“They want to run to see how they killed him. Wait, you'll see. All maneuvers, all attacks! he thought. - For what? All stand out. There's definitely something fun about fighting. They are like children from whom you will not get any sense, as was the case, because everyone wants to prove how they can fight. Yes, that's not the point now.
And what skillful maneuvers all these offer me! It seems to them that when they invented two or three accidents (he remembered the general plan from St. Petersburg), they invented them all. And they all have no number!
The unresolved question of whether the wound inflicted at Borodino was fatal or not was hanging over Kutuzov's head for a whole month. On the one hand, the French occupied Moscow. On the other hand, Kutuzov undoubtedly felt with all his being that the terrible blow in which he, along with all the Russian people, strained all his strength, should have been mortal. But in any case, evidence was needed, and he had been waiting for them for a month, and the more time passed, the more impatient he became. Lying on your bed in your sleepless nights, he did the very thing that these young generals did, the very thing for which he reproached them. He invented all possible accidents in which this true, already accomplished death of Napoleon would be expressed. He invented these accidents in the same way as young people, but with the only difference that he did not base anything on these assumptions and that he saw them not two or three, but thousands. The more he thought, the more they seemed. He invented all kinds of movements of the Napoleonic army, all or parts of it - towards Petersburg, against him, bypassing it, he invented (which he was most afraid of) and the chance that Napoleon would fight against him with his own weapons, that he would remain in Moscow waiting for him. Kutuzov even imagined the movement of the Napoleonic army back to Medyn and Yukhnov, but one thing he could not foresee was what happened, that insane, convulsive throwing of Napoleon's troops during the first eleven days of his speech from Moscow - throwing, which made possible something that Kutuzov still did not dare to think about then: the complete extermination of the French. Dorokhov's reports about Broussier's division, news from the partisans about the disasters of Napoleon's army, rumors about training camps for a speech from Moscow - all confirmed the assumption that french army broken and going to run; but these were only assumptions that seemed important to young people, but not to Kutuzov. He, with his sixty years of experience, knew how much weight should be attributed to rumors, he knew how capable people who want something are to group all the news so that they seem to confirm what they want, and he knew how in this case they willingly miss everything that contradicts. And the more Kutuzov wanted this, the less he allowed himself to believe it. This question occupied all his mental strength. Everything else was for him only the usual fulfillment of life. Such habitual fulfillment and submission to life were his conversations with the staff, letters to mme Stael, which he wrote from Tarutino, reading novels, distribution of awards, correspondence with Petersburg, etc. But the death of the French, foreseen by him alone, was his spiritual, the only wish.

Ebony wood has pure black or colored striped wood. She does not have pronounced annual rings. Very heavy and hard, it is perhaps the most valuable of all tree species. Such properties are inherent in some representatives of the genus Persimmon from the Eben family.

Description and characteristics

Ebony (photo posted in the article) is a diffusely vascular sound hardwood with a white narrow sapwood (a layer of wood directly adjacent to the bark). It has a core with inconspicuous black annual layers with a glossy surface. Its heart-shaped rays are very narrow, so they cannot be seen on any of the cuts. Small vessels, collected in radial groups, are most often filled with black-colored nuclear substances.

The density of dried ebony wood can vary from 1000 to 1300 kg/m³. The sapwood is rather narrow and contrasts sharply with dark color kernels. However, Caucasian persimmon, as well as several other types of trees, have one significant difference. It lies in the fact that their sapwood and ripe wood are exactly the same in color.

Fruit

I must say that since ancient times it has been covered with mystical legends and beliefs. For example, the ancient Greek scientist Pausanias wrote that it is barren and does not even have leaves, but consists only of roots that the Ethiopians use for healing.

Most ebony growing in the tropics and subtropics are evergreen, but there are also deciduous species common in temperate climate. Caucasian persimmon also belongs to this genus. The fruit of the ebony tree is very large and tasty, resembling a tomato in appearance. In ancient Chinese scrolls, they wrote about him 3 thousand years ago. Persimmon can be eaten raw, as well as jam, marshmallow, candied fruits and even wines and liqueurs. In addition, it is considered a good dietary product.

African varieties

Such a concept as ebony ebony combines several species that grow in Asia (Sri Lanka, India) and Africa (Cameroon, Nigeria, Zaire, Ghana). Its main feature is the very dark core color.

Cameroon ebony is the most common, which is imported from the continent. It has a deep black color, sometimes with gray streaks. Main Feature of this wood are pronounced open pores, because of which it is valued much less than other fine-pored varieties.

Madagascar ebony is a dark brown wood with a density of up to 1000 kg/m³, with almost imperceptible pores, extremely resistant to moisture, it is not afraid of termites.

Asian varieties

Makassar ebony - "colored" wood, the sapwood of which has a yellowish-white color, grows in Indonesia. The kernel itself is black with brown or light yellow stripes and has a very dense structure, reaching up to 1300 kg/m³. The dust of this tree, as, indeed, of other ebony, is very toxic. It can cause various allergic reactions in the human body, for example, irritation on the skin or mucous membranes.

Mun ebony is a wood very similar to Makassar, but it comes from Vietnam and Laos.

Ceylon ebony has best qualities: hard, with invisible pores, highly polishable, extremely resistant to moisture and harmful insects. Products from it are very difficult to find, as they are quite rare and are considered the highest quality and most expensive. It was from such wood that in the 16-19th centuries the best masters made their own furniture.

Exclusive varieties

Moon ebony is a very rare variety of the mabolo species. It grows in the Philippines and is found exclusively in the impenetrable rainforests of Myanmar. This ebony which has unusual light shades, looks very beautiful. So, immediately after sawing, white wood with soft, greenish stains prevails, but after drying, the color scheme changes to a golden yellow hue with black patterns, stripes and veins. Sometimes, instead of dark ones, other shades can be observed, for example, blue or chocolate.

By the way, it is strictly forbidden to cut down and export moon ebony in Myanmar. Quotas for its harvesting are sold very rarely, and even then in small quantities. Such strictness is due to the fact that only those trees whose age is from 400 to 1000 years are intended for felling. Interestingly, the moon ebony appearance is no different from others. Its color will be visible only after cutting.

Drying Features

The ebony tree grows rather slowly: it may take centuries until it reaches commercial size. It is because of this that the wood becomes so dense (up to 1300 kg / m³) and easily sinks in water. Her mechanical properties are very high: the bending strength of some Indian and African species reaches 190 MPa, and the hardness is 2 times the strength of oak. In addition, ebony perfectly withstands large shock loads.

Drying such wood is not an easy task. If you break the technology, it will greatly decrease in volume. Therefore, in countries where they are engaged in harvesting, as in ancient times, they make a special preliminary cutting 2 years before cutting down. It is produced in this way: layers of sapwood are cut in a circle at the base of the trunk in order to stop the growth of the tree.

After the harvesting and sawing of the trunk is completed, the finished boards, the ends of which are carefully treated with lime or other material, are stacked in piles. The place for their further storage should be sheltered from the sun and not have drafts. Only by observing all the above conditions, you can avoid too rapid drying of the wood. This process usually takes at least six months. If at least one of the rules is violated, the boards can warp and become covered with numerous cracks.

Production features

It should be noted right away that the ebony tree is quite difficult to process, so men usually do this. Such painstaking work requires a lot of effort, and even making a small figurine can take a very long time. In addition, before starting work with an ebony wood blank, you need to take care of safety. As mentioned above, dust and sawdust can cause allergic reaction, so the masters usually wear glasses and

Indeed, ebony is very difficult to cut due to its high density, as well as the various mineral inclusions that are present in it. These properties have a negative effect on the cutting edges of tools, which dull very quickly. The most difficult workpiece is considered to be the one whose fibers have a wavy structure. In addition, some types of wood are prone to chipping, especially Indonesian macassar. However, it works well on lathes. After the product is ready, it is polished and thereby gives it a beautiful matte sheen.

Application in the manufacture of musical instruments

People began to use ebony for their needs in ancient times. It is worth noting that it has always been in price, so it was used mainly for the manufacture of various religious objects, sculptures, and, of course, expensive furniture. In addition, it is believed that ebony wood is able to neutralize poisons, for this reason it was very often used to make dishes.

Eben is quite widely used in the manufacture of musical instruments such as flute, oboe and clarinet. Also, ebony is great for piano keys and individual parts of the guitar, especially shells and necks. Professional musicians appreciate such instruments very much. So, a polished ebony shell on a guitar does not emit unnecessary extraneous sounds even if the mediator accidentally “jumps off” the string.

Application in the furniture industry

In the 17th century, ebony wood was used not only for inlay work, but also for veneering. But they began to show the greatest interest in it only 200 years later, when fashion began to take shape, based on styling for other cultures, for example, Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Indian, etc. Curule chairs with X-shaped legs were in particular demand. V Ancient Rome they were made of ivory or bronze, and in the century before last - of ebony. It looked light and elegant, but in fact it was a solid and reliable design.

Nowadays, becoming a happy owner of furniture made of ebony is an unheard-of luxury that not many people can afford. Due to its properties, ebony, products from which are valued all over the world, is considered a very expensive material. Vases and figurines, canes and candlesticks, skillfully carved by talented craftsmen, will become truly valuable and rare acquisitions that can decorate any home.