Zitan (Red Sandalwood)
Pterocarpus santalinus · Exotic/Tropical
- Type
- Exotic/Tropical
- Origin
- Southern India (specifically the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh).
- Hardness
- Around 3,000 lbf (Extremely Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable; highly resistant to decay and insect attack due to high density and natural oils.
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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 & Appearance
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 (Janka)
Around 3,000 lbf (Extremely Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable; highly resistant to decay and insect attack due to high density and natural oils.
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.
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).
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.
Finish Recommendations
Natural wax or oil to maintain its organic luster; high-quality polishing is often sufficient without heavy lacquers.
Notable Features
Sinks in water; possesses a faint, pleasant sandalwood-like scent when worked; historically known as the 'imperial wood' of China.
