| Name | African Ebony (Diospyrus spp.) |
| Type | Hardwood. |
| Other Names | Includes varieties from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Kribi, Gaboon, Madagascar, and Zaire. |
| Sources | Grows primarily in central to southern Africa. |
| Appearance | Very fine texture with an indistinct grain and metallic luster. Uniformly black heartwood and yellowish white sapwood. |
| Physical Props | Very heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with high shock and decay resistance. Steam-bends reasonably well. Requires pre-drilling to nail or screw. |
| Working Props | Works with some difficulty – tends to chip and quickly dulls cutting edges. Turns well. Finishes to a naturally dark polished surface. |
| Uses | Used for piano keys, musical instruments, turnery, inlay, novelties, billiard cues, brush backs, and cutlery handles. |
