AJS
Member
I'm not sure if there is a better sub-forum for this topic so I'm posting it here as a survey of what people know, hope that's OK.
Anyways, I'm interested in working with Zitan, Jichimu, Huanghuali and other Chinese woods, but I could do with some clarification regarding the Latin names of particular species.
Firstly Zitan. I have it as a species of Pterocarpus but can't seem to find a concrete answer as to what the binomial classification would be. I have seen Zitan identified as P. erinaceous, P. indicus and P. santalinus. Which one is it most likely to be? I know that Zitan is often labelled as Purple Sandalwood, but does not produce true Sandalwood Essential Oil, but P. Santalinus is called Red Sandalwood and does produce Sandalwood EO, eventhough I have seen that labelled as Zitan too. I had read that most antique Chinese Zitan is likely to be P. indicus but would have thought given the value of the wood and the high regard in which it was held, not to mention it's supposed rarity, that there wouldn't be several species using the same common name. Can anyone help?
Carrying on with Zitan, I would like some clarification as to the differences between Xia-Yie-Tan and Da-Yie-Tan. I have read that the former is found exclusively in India but want to ask if the two types have been given subspecific designation or are they just the same wood from different parts of the world? Is there any difference between the two types in realtion to grain and colour?
Final question regarding Zitan. With the exception of Xia-Yie-Tan, the species seems to have a large geographic range encompassing China, India and other parts of Asia, was there a preferred region for obtaining wood when it was used for Chinese furniture?
Finally I'd like to ask about Hongmu or Hungmu. Are these two different species of trees? I have seen it suggested, using both spellings that the wood was often used as a substitue for Zitan because of it's similiarity, but there seems to be some confusion regarding the specific designation of this wood. I've read that Hungmu is a subspecies of P. indicus occuring in SE Asia, but surely a subspecific variety has more in common with Zitan, if it is P. indicus, than a mere resemblance?
Also is Hongmu different than Hungmu? I have read that Hongmu (also called Suen-Dzee was imported from Africa and has three different colour varieties: pale, red and black. Can someone please clarify this point for me.
I look forward to your replies and would like to say thankyou in advance.
Kindest regards,
Alex
Anyways, I'm interested in working with Zitan, Jichimu, Huanghuali and other Chinese woods, but I could do with some clarification regarding the Latin names of particular species.
Firstly Zitan. I have it as a species of Pterocarpus but can't seem to find a concrete answer as to what the binomial classification would be. I have seen Zitan identified as P. erinaceous, P. indicus and P. santalinus. Which one is it most likely to be? I know that Zitan is often labelled as Purple Sandalwood, but does not produce true Sandalwood Essential Oil, but P. Santalinus is called Red Sandalwood and does produce Sandalwood EO, eventhough I have seen that labelled as Zitan too. I had read that most antique Chinese Zitan is likely to be P. indicus but would have thought given the value of the wood and the high regard in which it was held, not to mention it's supposed rarity, that there wouldn't be several species using the same common name. Can anyone help?
Carrying on with Zitan, I would like some clarification as to the differences between Xia-Yie-Tan and Da-Yie-Tan. I have read that the former is found exclusively in India but want to ask if the two types have been given subspecific designation or are they just the same wood from different parts of the world? Is there any difference between the two types in realtion to grain and colour?
Final question regarding Zitan. With the exception of Xia-Yie-Tan, the species seems to have a large geographic range encompassing China, India and other parts of Asia, was there a preferred region for obtaining wood when it was used for Chinese furniture?
Finally I'd like to ask about Hongmu or Hungmu. Are these two different species of trees? I have seen it suggested, using both spellings that the wood was often used as a substitue for Zitan because of it's similiarity, but there seems to be some confusion regarding the specific designation of this wood. I've read that Hungmu is a subspecies of P. indicus occuring in SE Asia, but surely a subspecific variety has more in common with Zitan, if it is P. indicus, than a mere resemblance?
Also is Hongmu different than Hungmu? I have read that Hongmu (also called Suen-Dzee was imported from Africa and has three different colour varieties: pale, red and black. Can someone please clarify this point for me.
I look forward to your replies and would like to say thankyou in advance.
Kindest regards,
Alex
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