Red sandalwood is a general term often used to describe various types of rosewood, similar to how "mahogany" includes species like white and red rosewood. It's also referred to as the sandalwood from many regions and is commonly known as red sandalwood. This category even includes Indian rosewood, which was historically valued by the Ming Dynasty officials, including figures like Wei Zhongxian, who wielded significant power and was sought after by those wanting influence or official positions.
Many people believe that true rosewood refers specifically to Indian lobular rosewood and Philippine lobular rosewood, also known as chicken blood rosewood. This type is considered the most valuable and advanced form of rosewood available today.
On the current market, especially in cities like Suzhou and Shanghai, you often see shops labeled as "blood tan boutiques" or "erhu wood" sellers. However, more than 90% of these products are actually African sandalwood imitations, not the real thing.
The difference in quality between African sandalwood and chicken blood rosewood is significant. The former costs only one-fourth to one-sixth of the latter, and the instruments made from it are comparable in quality to new red rosewood but nowhere near the level of genuine blood sandalwood.
Red sandalwood is a long-leaf sub-shrub that can grow up to five or six feet tall. It has compound leaves, butterfly-shaped flowers, and winged fruits. Its wood is extremely strong and sinks in water. During the Ming Dynasty, rosewood was highly prized by the imperial family, leading to extensive logging, and domestic supplies were quickly depleted. The royal court collected it extensively, which led to the spread of rare rosewood furniture among the common people. By the middle of the Qing Dynasty, rosewood had nearly vanished. Indian rosewood used for erhu instruments was later cultivated along the Yunnan border about ten years ago, but this material has never been widely recognized as a major resource. Today, there's a severe shortage, which is why African "bloodwood" has become a substitute.
Historically, there are over fifteen types of rosewood found across different regions, including Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Among them, Southeast Asian rosewood is considered the highest quality, with the best texture found in India. However, despite the large number of red sandalwood trees in India, they grow rapidly, while the slower-growing rosewood species take centuries to mature. This makes the true red sandalwood increasingly rare and valuable.
Aluminum Household Items,Household Aluminum Kitchen Accessory,Aluminum Household Electric Drying Rack,Household Cleaning Accessory
Guangdong Jihua Aluminium Co., LTD , https://www.jihua-alu.com