Rosewood: The Deep Colors and Stripes of Indian Rosewood
WOOD DICTIONARY
Rosewood is a timber name associated with deep browns and purplish stripes. This article focuses on Indian rosewood, explaining the name and how to make use of its color and pattern in thin veneer.
International delivery
For delivery outside Japan, please contact MORI KOUGEI before placing your order. Shipping availability depends on the material’s species and origin, the destination, and any permits or certificates required. Any required permits or certificates must be arranged before dispatch.
The photographs are examples of the color and grain associated with each wood or figure. Every piece of natural wood is different; the sheet you receive will not have exactly the same color or grain as the photographs.
Names and basic facts
- Representative name
- Indian rosewood Hokusan: Rosewood / Kew Dalbergia latifolia
- Scientific name and family of the usual species
- Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. / Fabaceae (legume family) Kew Dalbergia latifolia
- Native range of the usual species
- The Indian subcontinent to Myanmar, the Andaman Islands, and Java Kew Dalbergia latifolia
- MORI KOUGEI sheet
- A4 (210 × 297 mm), approximately 0.25 mm thick, backed with industrial washi paper MORI KOUGEI: A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
One name does not identify every rosewood
The name rosewood is used broadly in the timber trade. Indian rosewood is the common name associated with Dalbergia latifolia, a member of the legume family. Brazilian rosewood is known as a different species, so it is important to distinguish the names. The scientific name and distribution in this article describe Indian rosewood in general, not the country where each sheet offered for sale was harvested. Kew Dalbergia latifolia / USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
Reddish brown with deep purple stripes
Hokusan’s description of Indian rosewood identifies reddish-brown heartwood with dark purple stripes and yellow sapwood. Heartwood is the inner part of the trunk; sapwood lies closer to its outer edge. With strongly contrasting wood, looking at the spacing and flow of the stripes as well as the background color helps you imagine the finished result. Hokusan: Rosewood
You can let the grain take center stage across a whole surface or add it to pale wood as a narrow band. In small projects, planning where to cut can make good use of the pattern: a boldly striped area might suit a larger surface, while finer detail could frame an outline or edge. This is a suggestion for working with the pattern, not a way to specify matching grain when ordering.
How it relates to sonoke
Hokusan lists Sonokeling as another name for Indian rosewood. Rather than assuming sonoke and Indian rosewood are always different botanical species, distinguish the relationships between names in reference sources from the purchasing and sales names used by individual shops. Our dictionary likewise introduces rosewood, sonoke, and shitan under their respective trade names. Hokusan: Rosewood / MORI KOUGEI: A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Bringing it into a project with A4 veneer
Solid rosewood has long been used for decorative furniture components and similar work. Our A4 product is a thin natural wood veneer backed with industrial washi paper, approximately 0.25 mm thick. Consider it for applying the appearance of wood to furniture edges, small objects, or marquetry. The hardness and weight of solid wood do not translate directly into the strength of a thin sheet. USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1 / MORI KOUGEI: A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Making a paper template before cutting lets you check the required grain and direction while reducing waste. Adhesives and finishes behave differently in combination with different substrates, so test an offcut before working on the finished piece. See the product page for more detailed application guidance. MORI KOUGEI: A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
For international orders, please contact us before ordering. Include the material name, quantity and destination in your message.
Enquire about Rosewood A4 Veneer ↗
Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.
Sources
- MORI KOUGEI: A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
- Hokusan: Rosewood
- Kew Dalbergia latifolia
- USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1