Brazilian Rosewood
Scientific name: Dalbergia nigra
Overview
Brazilian Rosewood is one of the most historically significant and sought-after hardwoods in the world. Native to eastern Brazil, it is renowned for its dark coloration, dramatic figuring, and excellent working properties.
Long used in fine furniture, luxury veneers, and musical instruments, Brazilian Rosewood is now primarily encountered as reclaimed or pre-Convention material due to strict international protections. Today, it is valued as much for its rarity and provenance as for its performance.
Watch Video Overview
Watch a visual overview of Brazilian Rosewood including grain patterns, color variation, working characteristics, and common woodworking uses.
Jump directly to the video section below to see this species in greater detail.
Quick Facts
Common Name: Brazilian Rosewood
Scientific Name: Dalbergia nigra
Region: South American Hardwoods (Brazil – Atlantic Forest)
Tree Size: 60–100 ft tall, 2–4 ft trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 52 lbs/ft³ (835 kg/m³)
Janka Hardness: 2,790 lbf
Color: Rich dark brown to purplish brown with black streaks
Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Brazilian Rosewood is identified by its deep brown to purplish-brown heartwood accented with prominent black streaking. Figuring can range from straight and uniform to highly decorative patterns often described as spider-webbing or landscape figure.
Freshly cut material may appear lighter in color but darkens noticeably with age and exposure.
Key identification traits include:
- Dark brown to purplish heartwood
- Bold black streaking
- Open pore structure
- Fine texture with high natural luster
Working Properties
Brazilian Rosewood is generally regarded as excellent to work, particularly when sharp tools are used.
- Machines and hand-tools well
- Interlocked grain may cause localized tear-out
- Sands smoothly
- Natural oils may interfere with glue adhesion
- Finishes exceptionally well
Its stability and tonal response contributed to its historical popularity in high-end woodworking and instrument making.
Safety Note
Dust from Brazilian Rosewood may cause skin irritation, respiratory discomfort, or allergic reactions in some individuals. Proper dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Historically, Brazilian Rosewood has been used in a wide range of fine applications, including:
- Fine furniture and cabinetry
- Musical instruments
- Decorative veneers
- Turned objects
- Specialty and presentation pieces
Today, use is generally limited to restoration work, small projects, or collector holdings due to availability and legal restrictions.
Sustainability & Notes
Brazilian Rosewood is listed under CITES Appendix I, making commercial international trade of newly harvested material illegal. Most legally available wood originates from pre-Convention stock, reclaimed sources, or documented inventories harvested prior to protection.
Any purchase, sale, or transfer should include appropriate documentation verifying legality and origin. Responsible sourcing and careful record-keeping are essential.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Honduran Rosewood – A dense Central American rosewood valued for its tonal qualities and use in musical instruments and fine woodworking.
Cocobolo – A richly colored and oily rosewood commonly used in turning, knife handles, and decorative woodworking.
Granadillo – A hard tropical hardwood often used as an alternative in instrument making due to its strength and attractive color.
Video Overview
Learn Through Video:
Watch a visual breakdown of Purpleheart including its color grain and common uses.
Related Guides
How to Start a Wood Collection
Highlights the importance of preserving rare and highly regulated species like Brazilian Rosewood within a curated wood sample collection due to its historical significance and limited availability.
Understanding CITES & Protected Species
Brazilian Rosewood is heavily regulated due to conservation concerns and international trade restrictions.
Sapwood vs. Heartwood Explained
Explore Sapwood vs. Heartwood Explained to understand why this species can develop noticeable differences between its lighter outer wood and mature heartwood.
Zebrawood vs. Goncalo Alves
Explore Zebrawood vs. Goncalo Alves to compare two boldly figured exotic hardwoods and see how their appearance, density, workability, and applications differ.
Bubinga vs. Rosewood
Explore Bubinga vs. Rosewood to compare these premium hardwoods in color, figure, density, workability, and use in furniture and musical instruments.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Brazilian Rosewood is regarded as one of the most desirable collector woods ever harvested. Value is influenced by provenance, age, figure, color contrast, and documentation. Boards displaying strong black streaking and dramatic figure are particularly sought after.
Collectors should be cautious of substitute species marketed under similar trade names. Genuine Brazilian Rosewood continues to darken and develop character over time, making well-preserved material increasingly rare.
Proper storage, clear documentation, and minimal handling help preserve both surface quality and long-term value.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• Diablo Fine Finish Saw Blade with 60 Hi-ATB Teeth for ultra-smooth and precise woodworking cuts
https://amzn.to/4f0ShPq
• Mirka Abranet Sanding Mesh Discs Assorted Grit Pack for dust-free sanding and fine surface finishing
https://amzn.to/4dGY5LM
• Tried & True Danish Oil Finish for enhancing wood grain and protecting woodworking projects with a natural finish
https://amzn.to/4tVNF0R
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