Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora) harvested in Gabon, Africa. Ebony is the darkest wood in the world and one of the few that does not float. Generally, Ebony trees are small and slow-growing. Worldwide demand for ebony wood is very high: it’s a high-quality hardwood that’s very hard, very strong, and most of all, very black. As a result, many species of Ebony have been banned from export.

Note that the international trade of Gabon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora) used on this model is highly regulated.