EB′ONY

The wood of the Diospyrus Melanoxylon , an East Indian tree, of the natural order Ebenaceæ . Two other species of the same genus, namely, Diospyrus Ebenus and D. Ebenaster , yields respectively Mauritius ebony and the BASTARD EBONY of Ceylon. Pale-coloured woods are stained in imitation of ebony ( FACTITIOUS EBONY ), by washing them with or steeping them in a strong decoction of logwood or of galls, and, when dry, washing them over with a solution of sulphate or acetate of iron. They are then rinsed in clean water, and the proce is repeated, if required. The wood is lastly polished or varnished.