Zitan (Red Sandalwood)
Pterocarpus santalinus • Exotic/Tropical
Grain Pattern
Interlocked, often yielding a fine wavy or curly figure; the sample shows dense, fine-pored texture consistent with end-grain or near end-grain turning.
Color Description
Heartwood is dark purplish-brown to blackish-red; often starts orange-red and darkens significantly with age to a deep crimson or purplish black with a natural high luster.
Hardness Rating
Around 3,000 lbf (Extremely Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; highly resistant to decay and insect attack due to high density and natural oils.
Common Uses
High-end luxury furniture (especially Ming and Qing dynasty styles), fine carvings, musical instruments, and decorative turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Southern India (specifically the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh).
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $300 per board foot or much higher depending on purity and grain figure; often sold by weight.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern era (10-30 years), though the wood itself is slow-growing and harvested from specimens hundreds of years old.
Sustainability Status
IUCN Red List: Endangered; CITES Appendix II listed. Highly restricted for international trade.
Workability
Extremely difficult to work with hand tools due to its incredible density; it has a high silica content that dulls cutters quickly but turns and polishes to an excepcional finish.
Notable Features
Sinks in water; possesses a faint, pleasant sandalwood-like scent when worked; historically known as the 'imperial wood' of China.
Finish Recommendations
Natural wax or oil to maintain its organic luster; high-quality polishing is often sufficient without heavy lacquers.
Identification Confidence
Medium-High; the deep reddish-brown hue and the distinct 'cow-hair' or fine-pored pattern visible in the turning are classic diagnostic features of Pterocarpus santalinus used in decorative spheres.