A new source of exotic woods has brought me renewed interest in the Zhang Shaizi that introduced last year.
I found some really fine Ebony and a nice little box to present them.
They were unique in that the ‘pips’ were not filled with red clay and wax that I had used in the past. It seemed to me a contemporary, minimalist approach with some appeal.
I also found some Kingwood with wonderful grain patterns. Kingwood is a form of Rosewood that is known particularly for this distinctive characteristic. It seems every appearance of Dalbergia has a different name!
Kingwood Shaizi
There are also some Olive wood pieces on which I burned the pips to create a better contrast. I’m still making little felt bags for them.
The more of these I make, the better they have become in terms of the polish and proportions, the variety of woods and markings.
There is also a small set in Cocobolo, another kind of wood in the Rosewood family. I kept them simple and small to fit in small hands.
