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EBONY, PALE MOON

Diospyros embryopteris

click here for a discussion of the genus Diospyros

Diospyros embryopteris of the family Ebenaceae, the ebony family

Although this wood is sold by a handful of vendors in the USA, I have not found any information on its working properties. It apparently goes under the names of "pale moon ebony", "black and white ebony", and sometimes just "white ebony" (although there are other woods with that common name). Diospyros pendula is also sometimes sold as black and white ebony.

When I started this site, I was not aware that pale moon ebony and black and white ebony were the same species, and when I combined the pages, I arbitrarily put both under pale moon, but it turns out that in the US, black and white is by far a more commonly used name.

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions

both sides of a long plank of pale moon ebony / Diospyros embryopteris --- both levels of enlargements are present. This plank was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. For more detail on this plank see the sample directly below


both sides of a sample plank of black and white ebony / Diospyros embryopteris --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. This sample was cut from the plank directly above.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

web pics:

NOTE: this wood is almost always shown slathered in wax
so very few of the pics below are natural wood color


end grain listed as black and white ebony but I am suspicious of that ID since I have never otherwise seen Diospyros embryopteris with such dark on dark coloration. On the other hand, the striping is quite believable for pale moon ebony


a waxed sample plank pic submitted by Bill Mudry (thanks Bill) who, as you can see, uses the name "black and white ebony".


pic submitted by Todd Levy (thanks Todd) using the name pale moon ebony


bookmatch scales, pic also provided by Todd Levy (more thanks)


pics submitted by Todd Levy (thanks Todd) using the name white ebony (but which Todd believes to be Diospyros embryopteris)


planks listed as black and white ebony, all from the same vendor and all with HUGE enlargements present. All are slathered in wax.


waxed planks from one vendor and turning stock from another, both using the name pale moon ebony


planks listed as pale moon ebony ... I doubtful about the bright orange color behind the black stripes ... I think the true color there is likely more like a nice rich tan.


two sets of waxed turning stock, both from the same vendor, using the name black and white ebony ... I think the yellow background color is probably in reality more like a nice rich tan.


waxed turning stock, all from the same vendor, using the name black and white ebony


misc scales and turning stock, all using the name black and white ebony, and all are waxed


both side of an unwaxed turning stick listed as black and white ebony


unwaxed and then waxed pen blanks listed as black and white ebony

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all of the planks and turning stock in the section below were listed as either striped ebony or black and white ebony and in all cases as Diospyros embryopteris. Most (possibly all) of them are slathered in wax



all of the planks and turning stock in the section above were listed as either striped ebony or black and white ebony and in all cases as Diospyros embryopteris

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two views of a bowl blank that was listed as black and white ebony


waxed bowl blank


unwaxed pen blanks


both sides of a pepper mill blank listed as black and white ebony


plank that had the tongue-in-cheek marketing designation of "dalmation" black and white ebony for the rather obvious reason.


two views of a pair of waxed bowl blanks listed as pale moon ebony


bowl blanks listed as black and white ebony / Diospyros embryopteris


both sides of a bowl blank listed as black and white ebony


turning stock listed as black and white ebony but with no botanical designation


scales listed as black and white ebony / Diospyros embryopteris


turning stock listed as black and white ebony burl


knife handle listed as pale moon ebony


two views of a pepper mill listed as black and white ebony


earrings by Dean Robertson, whom I thank for this and other image contributions to the site. Both enlargements are present thanks to Dean's excellent photography


terrific use of a specific wood for a specific use, I think. Carved skull listed as black and white ebony.


vase listed as black and white ebony


bowl listed as black and white ebony


bowls listed as black and white ebony by Bryan Nelson (NelsonWood)