Ebony (most likely African Ebony)
Diospyros crassiflora • Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight to slightly interlocked with a very fine, even texture. The frog shows the characteristic dense, compact grain lines typical of the Diospyros genus when used in small-scale lutherie items.
Color Description
Heartwood is typically jet-black, sometimes with grey or dark brown streaks as seen in the subtle lighter vessel lines of this sample. It has a natural metallic luster and shows very little color change over time, though it may deepen further into black.
Hardness Rating
3,220 lbf (Extremely Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable. Highly resistant to rot and termites, though primarily used indoors for musical instruments where its primary stress is physical wear rather than decay.
Common Uses
Musical instrument components (violin/cello frogs, fingerboards, piano keys), fine inlay, tool handles, and high-end turnings.
Geographic Origin
West Africa (specifically Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea)
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $150 per board foot for high-grade instrument quality; significantly higher for processed blanks.
Wood Age Estimate
The wood itself likely comes from a tree 100+ years old; the object (bow frog) appears to be of modern manufacture (last 20-40 years) based on the crisp edges and condition of the pearl inlay.
Sustainability Status
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. CITES Appendix II (Diospyros spp. from Madagascar). Highly regulated and increasingly scarce.
Workability
Difficult to work due to extreme density; has a high blunting effect on cutters. It finishes to a very high natural luster and glues well despite being somewhat oily.
Notable Features
Extremely heavy (it sinks in water); high acoustic damping properties; famous for being one of the only woods used for stringed instrument fittings due to its smoothness against the skin and durability.
Finish Recommendations
Generally left unfinished and buffed to a high gloss, or treated with a light application of mineral oil or fingerboard oil to prevent cracking in low humidity.
Identification Confidence
High. The context of the item (a bow frog for a stringed instrument) combined with the deep black color and visible fine pore structure is diagnostic for Ebony.