Ebony wood is one of the most recognizable woods there is. Known for its incredible black sheen and its density, it is considered the most valued wood today. Ebony is the Greek word for "fruit of the gods", and historically it was used to make drinking goblets, as its wood was believed to be an antidote for poison. It was also used to make scepters and sculptures and in ancient days, people from Persia and India would travel to the Sahara regions of Africa to find it. You may know ebony from the black keys on a piano; as this is the wood always used for that. 

While favored for its pure black wood, the ebony tree has varying shades. The wood towards the center of the tree is purely black, while the outside of the tree and the trunk of the tree are lighter colored. This can often lead to a carving having two drastic shades of light and dark for a dramatic effect. Ebony is considered the sturdiest, longest-lasting wood there is and because of this it has always been used for very important, meaningful purposes. We just got a large shipment of hand-crafted ebony artwork, so if you'd like to take a look just Click Here. If you'd like to find out more about African artwork than just visit the Africa Imports web site or Click Here.