Red Sandalwood (Qinglong Wood): Precious Timber Prices, Small-Leaf Red Sandalwood Bracelet Prices and Care

Red sandalwood, also known as Qinglong wood, yellow cypress wood, rosewood, huali wood, and feather-leaf sandalwood, belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is a subtropical evergreen tree, reaching a height of five or six zhang, with compound leaves and butterfly-shaped flowers, winged fruits, and extremely hard wood of a red color. Red sandalwood sinks immediately when placed in water. It is suitable for making furniture and carved artworks. So how much does red sandalwood cost? How much does a small-leaf red sandalwood bracelet generally cost per strand? How should it be cared for?

Red sandalwood is one of the most precious timbers in the world, mainly produced in the tropical regions of the Malay Archipelago, followed by Jiaozhi. Guangdong and Guangxi in China also produce red sandalwood, but in small quantities. Indian small-leaf red sandalwood, also known as chicken-blood red sandalwood, is the most precious timber known today and is the highest grade among red sandalwoods. As the saying goes, nine out of ten sandalwood trees are hollow; the largest red sandalwood is only about twenty centimeters in diameter, so its preciousness is easy to imagine. However, this article will only discuss a little elegant plaything, the bracelet, and will not go into the grand works of the king of woods.

Small-leaf red sandalwood is one of the traditional timbers and is hailed as the “king of woods.” Its wood has high density and small pores. Because the wood is hard, it is often used to make furniture and bead strands. Small-leaf sandalwood is the finest among red sandalwoods and is often simply called “red sandalwood.” Red sandalwood has relatively high density and relatively small pores, and is mostly produced in tropical and subtropical primeval forests, with Indian red sandalwood being the finest. As the saying goes, “nine out of ten sandalwood trees are hollow”; the largest red sandalwood is only about twenty centimeters in diameter, so its preciousness is easy to imagine.

Red sandalwood has a long history of use. In ancient China, knowledge and use of red sandalwood began in the late Eastern Han dynasty. In the Jin dynasty work “Gujin Zhu” by Cui Bao, it is said that “red sandalwood comes from Funan, is purple in color, and is also called red sandalwood.” In the Ming dynasty, red sandalwood was valued by the imperial family. With the development of maritime transport and Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Seas, various countries also often traded a certain amount of precious timber with China, including red sandalwood. Later, due to collection by emperors of successive dynasties, large pieces of red sandalwood were almost extinct. The red sandalwood used in the Qing dynasty was all harvested in the Ming dynasty. Historical records show that the Qing dynasty also sent people to the South Seas to harvest red sandalwood, but most pieces were too thin to grasp and crooked rather than straight, making them impossible to use. This is because red sandalwood grows slowly and cannot become usable timber without several hundred years; it was almost entirely harvested in the Ming dynasty and had not yet regrown by the Qing dynasty. The rarity of small-leaf red sandalwood is also an important reason why red sandalwood is treasured by the world.

Red Sandalwood Prices

Generally speaking, red sandalwood can be divided into two categories, namely small-leaf red sandalwood and large-leaf red sandalwood. First, the editor will introduce the price of small-leaf red sandalwood to friends. Small-leaf red sandalwood belongs to the finest among red sandalwoods, and its wood grain is not particularly obvious. At first, its color is orange-red. In general, small-leaf red sandalwood is more often used for furniture. However, its price should also be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Usually, decorative items made from small-leaf red sandalwood cost about four to five thousand yuan; if furniture is made from small-leaf red sandalwood as the raw material, then its price is somewhat higher. Authentic small-leaf red sandalwood furniture is priced above fifty thousand yuan. If it is a complete set of small-leaf red sandalwood furniture, then its price may exceed one hundred thousand yuan.

Next, let us look at the price of large-leaf red sandalwood. Generally speaking, large-leaf red sandalwood is mostly used to make items with a certain artistic feel. For example, a brush holder costs about two to three hundred yuan; of course, large-leaf red sandalwood can also be used to make smaller furniture, such as tea trays, costing about four thousand yuan; if it is a large piece of large-leaf red sandalwood furniture, then its price may be even more expensive than small-leaf red sandalwood furniture, usually above two hundred thousand yuan.

The reason red sandalwood is expensive is objectively that it takes too long to become usable timber, so things are precious when they are rare. In addition, logging restrictions, export restrictions, artificial commercial speculation, and the masterly works of craftsmen all make its high value unavoidable.

How Much Do Small-Leaf Red Sandalwood Bracelets Cost

There are many differences in small-leaf red sandalwood timber. In terms of time, it is divided into new material and old material; in terms of texture, it is divided into ordinary material, golden-thread material, Jixi material, and golden-star material; in terms of material selection, it is divided into edge scrap, large pieces, and root material. Crafts made from different materials also differ greatly in price. In terms of raw material cost, the price difference between small scraps and large pieces is very large, the price difference between new material and old material is even greater, and golden-star material or shadow wood material is even rarer and more precious, so the price is far from ordinary.

The price of small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets is determined by their material, and the prices of small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets of different materials are certainly different. Because small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets use less material, they are cheaper than furniture, and they are generally made from the leftover edge scraps from furniture making, so the price of small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets is not particularly expensive. Those with slightly poorer material and cracks are priced between 100-200 yuan, while slightly better ones are priced at 300-400 yuan, with some ranging from several thousand yuan to tens of thousands.

How to Identify Red Sandalwood

1. Red sandalwood has greater density than water and must sink when placed in water. If it does not meet this point, it is certainly fake. Red sandalwood is very hard.

2. Scrape open red sandalwood with a blade; the inside is reddish brown, forming a sharp contrast with the purple-brown oxidized layer on the surface. After a few days, the scraped surface will also slowly turn purple-brown due to oxidation. If there is no such symptom, it is certainly fake.

3. Wipe the surface of red sandalwood with strong alcohol; the alcohol turns brownish red, becoming more concentrated the more you wipe. Red sandalwood was also used as a dye in ancient times. The wiped surface of red sandalwood will also soon turn purple-brown due to oxidation, and generally no wipe marks can be seen.

4. The color of red sandalwood carvings is the natural color of oxidized red sandalwood. No painting is needed; only polishing with cowhide and waxing are required. Any that are painted are certainly fake.

5. Distinction between large-leaf and small-leaf: large-leaf has a surface color leaning black, while small-leaf leans brown; large-leaf has a weak fragrance, or even no fragrance, while small-leaf has a fragrance. For collecting modern red sandalwood, small-leaf is better; for collecting old items, it does not matter.

6. Common counterfeiting methods: using ordinary rosewood with added weight and coloring, or substituting ebony.

7. Misconception: one is applying the idea of distinguishing large-leaf and small-leaf red sandalwood when collecting modern works to the collection of old items, not realizing that the value of old items lies not in large-leaf or small-leaf, but in age, workmanship, size of the timber, and condition.

8. When carving red sandalwood, the ancients generally used root material and heartwood material (only the middle part of the red sandalwood tree is purple-red; the parts near the bark are white like other trees), so it must be carved from the core.

9. Because the surface of red sandalwood is not painted, after a certain period, carvings must have some natural cracks. This is relatively difficult to fake (if collecting old items, ox glue can be used to fill them and wax can be used to repolish, but if investing, it is best to keep them as they are, otherwise there will be a lack of appraisal basis).

10. When carving large red sandalwood pieces, the ancients liked to leave a little “white bark” when it did not affect the appearance, to show that it was natural red sandalwood timber. “White bark” is the non-purple-red part of the timber.

11. Collecting old items seeks completeness. As said earlier, because red sandalwood is not painted, it generally has cracks. This is the main feature of old items. Many people, seeking completeness, buy new items made to look old, and then find they cannot sell them and complain endlessly. Among old items, there are indeed those without cracks, but that is because someone continuously handled them over the generations, and such probability is very small; it is also not ruled out that some old items were treated after being collected by famous experts. But common sense tells us that sellers will absolutely keep old items in their original state.

Benefits of Red Sandalwood for the Body:

Stopping bleeding

In our pharmaceutical work “Compendium of Materia Medica,” there is such a record about red sandalwood: red sandalwood has the effects of stopping bleeding, relieving pain, and regulating qi and blood. This shows the value of sandalwood in health preservation.

Calming emotions

Small-leaf red sandalwood prayer beads also have the effect of calming the wearer's emotions, because they can supplement our yang qi, thereby achieving the purpose of improving fortune and dissolving negativity. Because during the continuous handling process, it emits a kind of “wood qi,” and this gas can not only “calm the mind and refresh the brain” but also help improve sleep quality. When a person's mindset becomes calm, they naturally will not think about so many troubling things, which can help prevent skin aging, so there will not be too many wrinkles “visiting.”

Fragrance

Furthermore, the fragrance emitted by red sandalwood has good effects on our heart, liver, kidneys, and other functions. It can relieve people's brain waves to a certain extent, allowing impatient emotions to slowly ease, and it is said to stabilize the mind and calm the qi. When encountering matters, one can be calm and composed; as the saying goes, “think thrice before acting,” which is exactly this principle. In Buddhism, red sandalwood is also believed to have the effect of driving away disasters and warding off evil.

Red sandalwood shavings soothe the stomach and intestines

In addition, one point to mention is red sandalwood shavings, which can soothe our stomach and intestines. Some people put red sandalwood shavings into pillows as pillow filling, using them as hug pillows. This is a good practice. If your stomach and intestines are not well, you might as well use this method; there are no side effects.

Joint swelling and pain

In Mongolian medical texts, there is a record that red sandalwood can eliminate joint pain: mix white vinegar with red sandalwood, then apply it to the painful joint area, and the symptom will be relieved.

Beauty and skincare

Red sandalwood also has a beauty effect. Using red sandalwood oil can prevent wrinkles, purify the skin, and promote cell regeneration.

Warding off evil and avoiding misfortune

In the eyes of Buddhists, red sandalwood has the effect of driving away evil and avoiding misfortune. Red sandalwood symbolizes tranquility and peace and can dissolve aggressive energy.

Appendix: How Should Small-Leaf Red Sandalwood Bracelets Be Cared For?

1. First, place the newly bought bracelet in a sealed container for 3 to 5 days so the beads can adapt to the local climate, then use a soft cotton cloth or bead-handling gloves to wipe away dirt and the wax layer on the surface of the beads. Wipe for two or three hours each day for two consecutive days. Be careful not to miss the small holes in the beads.

2. Continue rubbing with a soft cotton cloth or bead-handling gloves for one week, and at the same time the color of the beads will become lighter and the wood grain will become clearly visible. This shows that the surface of the beads is already relatively clean. Only clean beads can be handled to produce a crystal-clear, perfect effect.

3. After that, place the bracelet in a cotton bag and hang it in a cool, ventilated place for 7 to 10 days, allowing the beads to dry naturally and also allowing the oil naturally secreted by small-leaf red sandalwood to oxidize, forming a thin oxide film with an amber texture.

4. At this point, you can begin handling the bracelet with your hands. Your hands must be clean and dry. Handle it for about 35 minutes each day, and after handling, gently wipe it with a cotton cloth. After about two weeks, you may find that when handling the beads with dry hands, there is a sticky, resisting feeling. This shows that a thin patina has formed on the surface of the beads. After the patina appears, let it rest naturally for 7 to 8 days so the patina hardens to a certain degree.

5. Repeat the last step above. Over two to three months, the beads will be considered properly handled. The surface of properly handled beads has a lively luster similar to glass.

It should be reminded that the care of small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets most taboo seeking quick success and instant benefits; it must be done step by step. In fact, the care process of small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets is also a process of massaging the acupoints of the hands, which can preserve health, and watching the beads change little by little in your hands is also a pleasure. New small-leaf red sandalwood bracelets are prone to cracks in northern winters or during seasonal changes, because the timber itself grows in tropical rainforests and is not adapted to the dryness and cold of the north. To prevent cracks, you can drip a few drops of walnut oil on the surface of the beads, or apply a layer of natural beeswax, but not too many times; the right amount is best.