The 15 Most Expensive Woods in the World | Ventured

Ebony Skiptocontent Themostexpensivewoodsintheworldareusedforfineartpieces,musicalinstruments,jewelry,cookingutensils,andevenpencils. Formillennia,woodhasbeenastapleofcivilization.Thereisnodoubtthatwoodshapedthecourseofhistory.Fromearlyman’suseoftwigsandbarkforheattoalaterrelianceonwoodandplantproductsfordailyneeds.Ascivilizationsdeveloped,thevarietyofwoodsgaverisetootheruses.Fromshelterandboats,forcasksandbarrels,forfarmimplementsandcookingutensils. Wood’sversatility fueledhumancreativity,andasdiverseculturesdeveloped, woodtransformedtheworld.Thegrowthofcivilizationsisintertwinedwiththestoryofwood. Localavailabilityofwoodoncehadalimitingeffectonthekindsofproductsandusesthatevolved.Tosomeextent,itstillhas.But,inaglobaleconomy,it’spossibletoobtainexotichardwoodsorscarcewoodsforspecialusesalmostanywhereintheworld.Today,demandforsomeofthesewoodshasneverbeenstronger,withpricestomatch. TableofContents CommonTypesofWoodWoodUsesandCharacteristicsDesirableExoticWoodsHereare11oftheworld’smostexpensivewoodsavailabletoday1.AfricanBlackwood(Dalbergiamelanoxylon)2.Ebony3.Sandalwood4.Holly5.PinkIvory6.BrazilianRosewood(Dalbergianigra)7.Ziricote8.MacassarEbony9.Koa10.Cocobolo11.Bubinga(AfricanRosewood)12.BocoteWood13LignumVitae14.Agarwood15.PurpleHeartWoodFrequentlyAskedQuestionsWhatisthemostexpensivewoodintheUSA?WhyisMahoganysoexpensive? CommonTypesofWood Woodisanorganicmaterial,theporousandfibrousstructuraltissuefoundintreesand“woody”plants.Itisthebasicbuildingblockoftheplantandperformsakindofsupportfunctionfortreesandgrowingplants.Inthelivingplant,thetissueisthesystemicsupplierofwaterandnutrientsfromtherootstothestemsandleaves.Whileitiscommontothinkofonlythetreetrunkaswood,thebroadtermcanalsorefertothespreadingbranchesandrootsofvariousplants. Atraditionaldistinctionhasbeenmadebetweenhardwoodsobtainedfromleaf-bearingtreesandsofterwoodsobtainedfromcone-bearingtrees.Butthisdistinctionisconfusingbecausesomeconiferoustreesactuallyproducehardwoods.Traditionalhardwoodsincludecherry,oak,maple,mahogany,walnut,teak,androsewood.Commonsoftwoodsarepine,ash,andhickory,alongwithbeech,birch,fir,cedar,spruce,hemlock,andredwood. Somewoodshavebeenthego-tochoicesofwoodworkersacrosstime.Woodchoiceshavechangedthroughoutthecenturies,however.BowlingballswereoncemadealmostexclusivelyofLignumVitae,ahardwoodfromaslow-growingfloweringbush/treefoundprimarilyinCentralAmericaandthenorthernportionofSouthAmerica. Theintroductionofrubberchangedthatintheearlypartofthe20thCentury.However,cricketballstodayarestillmadefromthisrelativelyrarewoodthatlookspainted,eveninitsnaturalstate. WoodUsesandCharacteristics Therearemanyregionalvarietiesofwoodsthathavealsobeenprizedfortheiruniquecharacteristics,tradedinworldmarkets,andusedforbothfunctionalandartisticpurposes.Someofthemarescarcetodayduetooverharvestingordisease. CurrentconcernswithsustainabilityanddeforestationhaveledtheInternationalUnionfortheConservationofNaturetoplacesomespeciesontheRedListandtodiscouragetheuseofcertainwoodsinanefforttoreducethepossibilityofextinctionofsomeat-risktrees. Itisestimatedthatupto1,400treesarecriticallyendangered,andinneedofimmediateconservationaction.Threeofthewoodsonthislist—AfricanBlackwood(Mpingo),knownasthenationaltreeofTanzania,HondurasRosewood,amemberoftheDalbergiagenuscurrentlyfoundinMexico,Belize,andGuatemala,andMacassarEbony,alsoknownasStripedEbony—areconsideredendangered. Woodremainsthemostcommonmaterialontheplanet,anditsuseineverydaylifeissowidespreadthatmostpeopledon’tthinktwiceaboutthevarietyorthecharacteristicsofthewoodtheyuse.Frompencilsandcookingspoonstosaladtongsorcuttingboards,fromhouseframingtooutdoordecks,frompianostoviolins,woodisapartofeverydaylife. Differentwoodsarehighlyprizedfortheiruniquecharacteristics.Somecommandexpensivepricesbecauseoftheirrarityorextremedurability,othersbecausetheyrepresentachallengetoworkwith.Still,othersenjoyhighpopularitybecauseoftheirbeauty,andproductsmadefromthesewoodsareconsideredastatussymbol. Weshouldmakeitclearthatthesearenotthewoodsyouwoulduseforfencingayard,flooringanormalhome,orbuildingkitchencabinets,althoughfinefurniture,musicalinstruments,anddecorativeartmightcertainlybemadefromthesevarieties. DesirableExoticWoods Demandforthemostexpensivewoodsvaries,andpricescanfluctuatesubstantiallyfromoneyeartothenext.Whilemuchlumberissoldbytheboardfoot,someofthemoreexoticwoodprices,particularlythosesuitableforsmallerprojectsandunusualuse,areperkilogram.Bothhobbyistsandprofessionalwoodworkerspayattentiontothepricinganddeterminetheirneedsaccordingly. Hereare11oftheworld’smostexpensivewoodsavailabletoday 1.AfricanBlackwood(Dalbergiamelanoxylon) Price:$100perboardfoot ThemostexpensivewoodintheworldisAfricanBlackwood(Dalbergiamelanoxylon).Alogcancostapproximately$9,000;thepriceforprocessedtimberin2016waslistedas$13,000percubicsquaremeter.Itiscommonlypricedataminimumof$100perboardfoot. TypicallyasmalltreefoundcommonlyonlysouthoftheSaharaDesertinAfrica,thisextremelyslow-growingtreehasaheartwoodthatisdense,fine-grained,andmelodious.Itisheavyandhard,prizedforitsdeeppurple,nearlyblackcolor,andisusedprimarilyforartpiecesandmusicalinstruments,bothwoodwindsandsmallstringedinstruments.Itisoilywoodanddoesnotallowrusttoformontools. HistoricallyusedforthehandlesofearlyEuropeanmedicalinstruments,thewoodwaswidelyexportedfromBritish,French,andGermancoloniesinAfricaandalsousedforfurnitureinlaysandturnery.Thetreeitselfgrowstoonlyabout50feetinheight,isoddlyshaped,andisnotfullymatureuntilit’sabout200yearsold.Mosttreesareharvestedtodayatanageof70to80years,withanextensivereplantingprograminplacetoassurefuturesupply. ThismakesAfricanBlackwoodthemostexpensivewoodintheworld. 2.Ebony Price:FineEbonywillcommandapriceofupto$10,000perkilogram Impressive almost-blackEbonywoodisharvestedfromseveralspeciesoftreesofthegenusDiospyros thatgrowsthroughouttheTropics.ThebarkofCeylonandIndianEbonytreesappearsroughandcharred,almostblack.Ithidesalayerofpurewhitewood thatcanbetwoinchesinwidth,surroundingadeepcharcoal,almost-blackcore.Itistheheartwoodthatisusedforveneersandartisticapplications. Thewoodhasaflatgrain,issmoothanddark,andcanbepolishedtoahighgloss.Thismakesitextremelyvaluableforuseaspianokeys,decorativeitems,andfinefurniture.Ebonyisalsoextremelydenseandheavy,anditwillsinkinwater.Othervarietiesofebony,includingsomegrownintheUnitedStates,canbealmostgreenish-blackinappearance. 3.Sandalwood Price: LargeSandalwoodchunksforcraftpurposescanbepurchasedforabout$85per100grams.Woodchippricesrangebetween$70and$250perkilogram.Lumberforfurnitureorartisticuseswouldbe moreexpensive. Sandalwood,aromatic,yellow-goldwoodisderivedfromaslow-growingtreefoundthroughoutSoutheastAsiaandtheislandsoftheSouthPacific,ismoreimportantinOrientalceremoniesandreligiousritesthanitisforwoodworking.Initspowderedform,itisusedforBrahmancastemarksandassachets,andtheoilisaningredientinperfumes,scentedcandles,soaps,andincense. Itisalsoacomponentoffolkmedicine.However,theheartwoodisalsoprizedforfurnitureandornamentalboxes.Thewhitesapwoodisoftenusedforfans.SandalwoodisnowbeingcommerciallygrownandharvestedinAustralia,primarilyforitsoil. 4.Holly Price:Fromapproximately$6aboardfootuptoslightlymorethan$40,dependingoncolorandquality. AmericanHollyisawhitewoodthatissaidtobeexcellentforturning,crafts,carving,andinlaypurposes.Becauseofitsverypale,almostwhitecolorationandsmoothsurfacetexture,itisalsopopularforpianoandorgankeys,andforinlaylines.However,hollytreesaresmallandslow-growing,makingitextremelyrare.Hollyissubjecttoauniqueformoffungalstainingthatgivesitablue-graytone,anditmustbeharvestedinwinteranddriedquickly. Notoftenthoughtofasawood,itisadistinctivechoiceforfineturneryandexoticuses.Itisconsideredahardwoodwithaclosegrain.HollywoodalsotakesstainseasilyandissometimesdyedblackasasubstituteforEbony. 5.PinkIvory Price:Bright,vibrantcolorscanrangeupto$80aboardfoot. Quiterare,PinkIvoryisesteemedforitscolor,thebrighterandmorebrilliant,thebetter.Itcanrangeintonefromapinkishbrowntoabrilliantdeep,almostpurple-red. Hardandstrongwithafinetexture,thisexoticrarewoodisnativetosouthernAfrica,predominantlyZimbabwe,Mozambique,andSouthAfrica,whereitsharvestingissustainableandcontrolled.Thewoodisemployedforturningandforartisticpurposes.Itmakesbeautifulsmallbowlsforavarietyofusesandisalsopopularforknifehandlesandjewelry. 6.BrazilianRosewood(Dalbergianigra) Price:Upto$70perboardfoot,definitelynotabargainprice. Oneofonlytwowoodsintheworldknownforapatternknownas“spider-webbing,”thisuniquewoodcanrangeintonefromdarkchocolatetoaredorpurplecastwithdarkerstreaks.Italsoisknownforlighter,yellowishsapwoodthataddsdistinctiveappealtothedarkerheartwood. Althoughthegrainistypicallystraight,itcanalsobewavyorspiraled,givingitadistinctiveappearance.Consideredoneofthemostdurabletypesofwood,itresistsinsectsanddecay,iseasytoworkwithhandtoolsormachinetools,andtypicallyiseasytofinish.However,ittendstobeoilyandsometimesdoesnottakewelltoglue. BrazilianRosewood,alsoknownbyavarietyofothernames,isusedforeverythingfromflooringtofurniture,musicalinstrumentsandsmallartpieces,andforveneerandsolidwoodprojects.Itiswellknownandexpensive,butdurableandrequireslittlecareundernormalconditions.Itsusehasbeenexploited,butitisnowmorestrictlycontrolled. 7.Ziricote Price:Upto$60perboardfoot. Thesecondwoodtobeknownforitsspider-webbingpattern,ziricoteisaheavy,mediumtodarkbrownwoodfromMexicoandCentralAmerica.Itisapopularchoiceforcabinetryandfurniture, musicalinstrumentssuchasguitars,andgunstocks.Knownforitsdecay-resistance,andlastinggoodlooks,itiswidelyavailable,andsomeofthefinerwoodhasadistinctivegreenorpurplecast. 8.MacassarEbony Price:Therawwoodwilltypicallysellforatleast$65aboardfootintoday’smarket,possiblymuchhigher. Durable,butdifficulttoworkwith,thisspecialwoodisalsoknownasStripedEbony.Ararewoodbestsuitedforindooruse.Ithasastrikingappearance,butdoesnottolerateinsectswell,andcansplitduringthedryingcycle. GrowninSoutheastAsia,itoftenappearsyellowishorred-brownwithdarkerstripes,andprovidesadramaticlookforlargepiecesoffurniturethatcanbeverypricey! Itisextremelyrareandiscurrentlyontheendangeredspecieslist.Itisstillpossibletofindssmallerproducts—includingpensandmechanicalpencils,poolcues,andmusicalinstrumentsmadeofMacassarEbony. 9.Koa Price:Upto$62aboardfoot. AnativespeciestotheHawaiianIslands,thiswood’sappearancecanbesimilartoMahogany.BecausesomeofHawaii’snativeforestshavebeenclearedforgrazingland,andyoungtreesarefavoritesofgrazinganimals,itisbecomingmorescarceandpricesseemdestinedtoclimb. Itispopularforguitarsandukeleles,anditsgoldenorlightred-brownhuesandsimplegrainmakeitanappealingchoiceforcabinetsandfurniture.Koabowlsarewidelyusedontheisland,andrepresentfavoritetouristsouvenirs. 10.Cocobolo Price:Commonlysellsforbetween$50and$65 perboardfoot. CocoboloisaCentralAmericanwoodthatiswidelyprizedbyownersofexpensivehandgunsandknives.It’sabeautifulwoodthatrangesfromorangetoreddish-brownwithdarktracesrunningthroughthegrain.Onlytheheartofthewoodisusedanditisuniqueinthatthecoloroftheheartwoodchangesafterbeingcut. Cocoboloisdenseandhard,canbepolishedtoaglossysheen,andhasanicetone.Musiciansandchessplayerstreasurethewoodasmuchassportsmen.Itisusedtocraftguitars,flutes,clarinets,andbagpipesaswellaschesspiecesandweapongrips. 11.Bubinga(AfricanRosewood) Price:$17andupperboardfoot. CominginlastonourmostexpensivewoodslistisBubinga.It’ssometimesreferredtoasaRosewoodsubstitute,eventhoughitisnotevenofthesamefamilyastrueRosewood.Itisasmooth,stunningwoodofthegenusGuibourtia.Differentexamplesofthewoodcanvarydramaticallyinshadeandgrainpattern. Thatsaid,itispopularbecausethetreesgrowtobeimmense.Largeslabsareavailablewithnaturaledgesandusedfordramatictabletops,desks,andconferencetables. It’salsoapopularveneerandisusedtoproducenotonlyfinefurniturebutmusicalinstruments,cabinetry,turnings,andspecialtyitems.AlltrueRosewoodvarietiesaremuchmoreexpensive,andseveralhavebecomeincreasinglyscarce,makingBubingaanevenbetterchoice.   12.BocoteWood Price:$40perboardfoot WhileBocotewasonceaubiquitoushardwoodthatveryfewpeoplewanted,ithasbecomeincreasinglyhardertofund,thusrisinginvalue.BocoteisanextremelydurablewoodfoundinMexicoandiscommonlyusedtomakehighqualityfurniturepieces.Thisdensewoodhasalsoproventobeanexcellentchoiceforbilliardcues,knifehandles,pens,andinlays. Thegrainpatternsoftenformbeautifulswirlsorevenstraightlinesthatareaccentedbyastrikingyellowanddarkbrowncolorthatissometimesevencalledblack. ThisexoticwoodwasoncefoundthroughouttropicalregionsofMexicoandCentralAmericabutisalmostexclusivelyfoundinMexico.Whileitdoesnotrivalthemostexpensivetypesofwoodonthislist,itcontinuestoriseincost. 13LignumVitae Price:$8/LB(PricesforLignumVitaeareperpoundasopposedtoboardfeet) LignumVitaeisaLatintermfor“woodoflife”andissometimescalledthetreeoflifebecauseofthevariousmedicinalpurposesitserves.LignumVitaehasmedicinalpropertiesinitsresinthatmakeitapopularherbalremedyforailmentslikearthritis. Outsideofitsmedicinaluse,commonusesinclude:Bowlingballs,croquetmallets,andmortarsandpestles.Priortothedevelopmentofdurablemetalsandcompositematerials,LignumVitaewasusedintheconstructionofUSMilitaryships,sailingvessels,andhighendclocks.Thehighdensityofthewoodmadeitaperfectcandidateformachinesthatrequireddurabilityandconsistency. 14.Agarwood Price:rangingfrom$1000/kgto$100,000/kg Agarwoodisanaromaticwoodcommonlyusedinthemakingofincense,perfumes,andessentialoils.Agarwood(sometimesreferredtoasgharuwoodoreaglewood)comesfromaquilariatreesandactuallydoesnotdevelopitsfragrantqualitiesuntilamoldinfectstheheartwoodofthetree. Theresinfromtheseinfectedtreeshasbecomeextremelyvaluable,sometimesreaching6figuresperkg.ThenaturaloilspresentinAgarwoodgiveititsuniquepropertiesandaromaticqualitiesthatarebroughtoutbythemoldinfection.AgarwoodhasbecomepopularlyusedinEasternreligiousceremonies. ThevaluablewoodcanbeeverywherefromnorthIndiatothetropicalforestsofsoutheastAsia.It’soil,similartosandalwoodoil,canalsofetchanincrediblyhighpricetag.   15.PurpleHeartWood Price:$15perBoardfoot Purpleheartwoodisobviouslyknownforitpurple-ishcolor.Thewood(alsoknownasamaranth,violetwood,orPeltogyne)actuallygoesthroughanevolutionofcolorchangethroughoutitslife. Whenfirstcut,thewoodappearstobesomewherebetweengrayandpurple.Afterbeingexposedtooxygen,thewoodtakesonadeeperpurplecolorthatitisfamousfor.ThenafterlongerexposuretoUVlight,thewoodturnstoadarkerbrowncolorwithapurpletint. Purpleheartwoodisadurablewoodthatcanlastalongtime.Commonusesinclude:woodenfurniture,heavyconstruction,flooring,andboatsconstruction.   FrequentlyAskedQuestions   WhatisthemostexpensivewoodintheUSA? ThemostexpensivewoodnativetotheUnitedStatesofAmericaisKoaatover$60perboardfoot.SimilarinappearancetoMahogany,KoaisnativetotheHawaiianIslands.Itiscommonlyusedinthemakingofguitars,ukuleles,andKoabowls.ThemostexpensivewoodfrommainlandU.S.A.IsAmericanHollyat$40perboardfoot. WhyisMahoganysoexpensive? Mahoganyissoexpensivebecauseithasahighdemandandisbecomingincreasinglyhardtoacquire.ThehighdemandofMahoganyisduetoitspleasingappearance,darkfinegrain,andlonglastingdurability. Mahoganyhasalsobecomemorescarceleadingtoalackofsupplyandhigherprices. 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Reply Sincewedon’tknowwhatyouplantodowithit,http://www.woodcraft.commightbeagoodplacetostartyoursearch.AmazonalsohassomeAfricanBlackwoodlistingsforvariouscraftingprojects. Reply Leaveacomment LeaveacommentCancelcommentYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*Comment*Name* Email* Website Savemyname,email,andwebsiteinthisbrowserforthenexttimeIcomment. Δ NewestPosts BeepleNetWorth2022:NFTSales,Art,andSocialMediaHandles TheRichestWrestlersofAllTime WhatistheMostExpensiveFishtoEat? The12MostExpensiveAllenIversonBasketballCards What’stheMostExpensiveDiamondCut? TheMostExpensiveCharlesBarkleyBasketballCardsintheWorld MostExpensiveWeddingDressesintheWorld STARTABUSINESS Searchfor: Search Searchfor: Search