Zitan Furniture

Zitan, a slow-growing rosewood evergreen tree, provides wood in very limited supply. This rare Zitan wood was used to make furniture in China as early as the third century. However, because Zitan trees take so long to grow, Huanghuali furniture was much more common, though still in scarce supply.

Zitan furniture is distinct with its blackish-red or blackish-purple color. The slow growth of the tree leads to very small, fine grains that make the wood ideal for detailed carving techniques. Because of the beautiful grains and exquisite color, Zitan furniture is minimally decorated and only painted over with a thin clear lacquer so that the beauty of the natural wood can be seen.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the demand for Zitan furniture grew out of control and became closely monitored under the reign of Emperor Qianglong. While not extinct, Zitan wood is still endangered to this day and trade of this valuable lumber is heavily regulated.

Quick Facts

• In 300 years, a Zitan tree only grows to be about 30 feet tall and 10 inches wide
• Zitan wood is also used for the red pigment that can be extracted from the fibers of wood
• Zitan is such a dense and heavy wood that it is actually incapable of floating in the water