This Museum worthy stick is my first publicly available piece with the most expensive wood in the world - Hainan Rosewood. Endemic to China, this rosewood species is essentially extinct it has been so over-harvested. Almost all of the wood stayed within China where it has been the top wood of choice for the emperor's furniture for hundreds of years. This example of Hainan rosewood is extremely special for its figure, wild grain, awesome chatoyance, and incredible colors. Hainan rosewood's scientific name is "Dalbergia Oderifera", "Oder" being the Latin root of our word "odor", or "smell". For good reason! This rosewood has the most pleasant and strong floral aroma of any wood I've cut - such an enjoyable experience. But please note that this stick does not smell, the wood is sealed with finish now.

The shaft is Kosso wood, a relative of Padauk wood but it is considered one of the rosewood species by the Chinese, who have demanded and harvested Kosso to near extinction just like Hainan rosewood. Kosso is especially rare in the western world where very little of it was ever imported; today the species is protected and trade restricted and stock is very old and scarce. Its beautiful, the main reason for its scarcity, with canary colors and nice chatoyance.

Adorning the top of this stick is a fossilized ammonite from Russia. Its an extinct sea creature that was alive during the time of the dinosaurs. Its unique in that its a shimmery copper color - a perfect complement. The divider on the stick is matching Hainan rosewood and copper. The top is suitable for most hand sizes with a maximum diameter of 2 inches (52mm) with a rounded top that fits in the palm nicely. It is completed with a handsome ferrule bottom and low profile rubber tip, total length measures 38 3/4" and can not be adjusted.


M A T E R I A L S

Handle - Hainan rosewood from China
Divider - Copper and Hainan Rosewood
Shaft - Kosso from the Congo
Fossilized Ammonite
Rubber tip