It is a tree, that reaches a height of usually 15-20 m (50-65 ft). The trunk itself is slender, its diameter at chest-height about 30 cm (1 ft); often hollow, is fluted and stands about 8 m (26 ft) high. Is is, or was found only in the Brazilian coastal range, from the south of the State of Bahia to the State of Sâo Paulo, through the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Over the last three centuries, Dalbergia nigra was overexploited and has become a threatened species. That is on account of its wonderful and precious wood, known in English as rosewood for its scent. However, it was coveted not for its scent but predominantly for its aspect and its mechanical qualities, in terms of cabinetmaking and stringed-instrument making, in particular. Rosewood is a deep, ruddy brown to purplish-brown color, richly
streaked and grained with black resinous layers.
Indeed, it looks truly wonderful. I can vouch for this, having been lucky enough to own furniture made from rosewood — not for long though. This was when I was about 14 and living, with my sister, my brother and our parents in Rio de Janeiro. We lived there because my father, who worked for a French manufacturer of turbines, was seeking new hydroelectric
opportunities in Brazil for that company.
I was an avid reader and owned already several hundred books. My parents showed me a mix of affection and respect — both deep. Accordingly, my Dad had a local cabinetmaker craft a set of shelves, three or four, about 4 m (13 ft) long, out of rosewood — known in Brazilian Portuguese as jacaranda — a word, I believe, borrowed from the Tupi-guarani language. I
knew we would have to return to Grenoble, France and, upon my mentioning it, my Dad promised me that the jacaranda shelves would accompany us.
Sadly, it did not turn out to be. My parents had also purchased a large American refrigerator — at that time a virtually unknown commodity in France. My mother prevailed and the refrigerator was loaded on the passenger ship that brought us from Rio to Marseilles in December 1953 — I can still see my Dad bribing the customs-officer so that he would not have to pay duty on that expensive import!