Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Visitors' Forum

Asian Art Forums - Reply Message
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:Characteristics of huanghuali wood
Posted By: Frank Sat, Nov 01, 2014 IP: 98.255.225.111
Hi, i am new to huanghuali firniture and would like to learn how to identify huanghuali wood. So far what i gathered, hhl has distinct smell, has ghost eyes or triangular patterns for grain, and it is either honey brown or reddish brown color. These descriptions are very vague to me. Can anyone add more specific things to look for, perhaps provide photo example? Thank you

Post a Reply
Name:
Email:
Group: China & Japan
Subject:
Message:
Link URL:
Enter here the complete URL of any site, page or image you would like to show other visitors.
URL Title:
Enter here the title of the link you've given above. This will appear to the visitor. Eg., if you are linking another picture, enter "Another picture". The link will not appear without a title.
Image URL:
Enter here the URL of an image if it is already uploaded on the web. The image will appear with your posting. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post.
Image: You may upload up to three images. If you would like to upload more images to this message please do so by replying to this same message.

Please make sure the file type is JPEG or GIF and the filename does not contain spaces.




Use the Browse button to find an image (jpg or gif) on a local drive on your computer to upload for including with your message. Do not upload images with file names containing spaces. Please do not upload files larger than 500 KB in size. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post. Check the "email notification" box below if you would like to be notified of any responses to your message.
Check here for email notification.
Security Code: Security Image: please enter the text appears in this image.

Please type in the code you see in the image directly above this input box.

Subject:Re: Characteristics of huanghuali wood
Posted By: kirk Mon, Nov 10, 2014
the wood is dark purple in colour when it is new, and is not called huanghuali unless it is extremely old and has become light as a result of exposure to sunlight. actually there is no such thing as 'huanghuali wood'. A range of Dalbergia; Pterocarpus; Ormoisa; genera species do become huanghuali over time, but this is a reference to the patina they develop, and not the wood itself. The wood itself is called Huali wood, but the fact these pieces of furniture are often 500 or 600 years old is really what is of interest to museums and collectors.

pragmatically, if you are trying to decide on whether you have huanghuali, it will be deep purple underneath; and a light orange honey colour where it has been exposed to sunlight. There is however a lot more to it than just that. I would reccomend you order a copy of RH Ellisworth's CHINESE FURNITURE Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Qing Dynasties from your local library and read it from cover to cover.

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |