What are the characteristics of small-leaf red sandalwood? A detailed introduction to its main features

Introduction to small-leaf red sandalwood

Sandalwood red sandalwood is mostly produced in tropical and subtropical primeval forests, with Indian red sandalwood being the finest. It is often said that ten red sandalwood trees are nine hollow, and the largest red sandalwood log is only about twenty cm in diameter, so its rarity is easy to imagine.

Red sandalwood is hard in texture, and its color ranges from deep black to red, varied and diverse, with fine and dense grain. There are many types of red sandalwood. Red sandalwood grows slowly, forming only one growth ring in 5 years, and it takes more than 800 years to mature. Its hardness ranks first among woods, and it is known as the "wood of emperors", beyond comparison with ordinary woods.

After polishing, the wood is extremely oily, with a luster like rhinoceros horn, and has fine, beautiful, vivid ox-hair grain. Its color is deep purple or black purple, profound and steady, making it an excellent material for making furniture.

In the early Qing Dynasty, red sandalwood furniture was almost monopolized by the imperial court, and the Ministry of Revenue specially set up purchasing points in South Asia and Southeast Asia to procure red sandalwood for the court. After the reform and opening up, people's incomes increased and living standards improved, and liking classical traditional furniture gradually became a fashion.

Red sandalwood furniture became a favorite for use and collection by the middle class. Market demand grew day by day, and in addition, red sandalwood was about to be included in environmental protection lists, with logging prohibited, entering the same protected category as ivory and rhinoceros horn.

Relevant countries also strictly control exports. Therefore, the price of red sandalwood rose rapidly, increasing by more than ten times compared with five years ago, and the current market price has exceeded one million yuan per ton.