Wood Species Guide
Pink Ivory
Berchemia zeyheri
Also called: Red Ivory, Pink Ivorywood, Umgoloti, Umnini
About the name “Pink Ivory”
Pink ivory is a wood, not ivory; the name comes from its smooth, fine surface. Color ranges from pale pink to deep red, and the brightest pieces are the most prized.
What Pink Ivory looks like
Heartwood ranges from pale brownish pink to a vivid, almost neon pink or red. The sapwood is pale and sharply set off. The color fades and browns with sun exposure.
Grain and texture
Fine, even texture with straight to interlocked grain, sometimes with a shimmering chatoyance. It polishes to a glassy finish.
Working Pink Ivory: planing, cutting and gluing
Very hard and dense, but it turns and carves beautifully with sharp tools. It can be brittle and is prone to checking, so keep blanks sealed until you use them. Glues fine with clean, fresh surfaces.
Finishing Pink Ivory: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Often polished with friction finish, wax or a thin oil. A UV-protective finish helps slow the color shift. As a small inlay in epoxy it bonds well; just keep the surface clean.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated durable, but it is almost never used where that matters. Stability is good once dry, though blanks can check. In Florida, store it sealed and indoors, away from sunny windows.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Pink ivory is a jewel wood for pens, knife scales, pool cue inlays, chess pieces and small turnings. It is scarce and priced by the piece, so plan around small blanks. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Pink Ivory
Pen blanks, knife handles, billiard cues, chessmen, inlay, carving and small turned objects.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Supply is limited and prices are high.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. No reactions beyond ordinary dust irritation are documented.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
No reactions beyond ordinary wood dust irritation have been reported. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Pink Ivory in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Pink Ivory listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
Similar woods: Colorful Import Hardwoods
- African PadaukIn stockPterocarpus soyauxii African padauk is the wood people pick when they want real red. It's hard, stable and easy to...
- Black LimbaIn stockTerminalia superba Black limba is a lightweight African hardwood with dramatic dark streaks over a pale olive base. It's easy...
- BloodwoodIn stockBrosimum rubescens (syn. B. paraense) Bloodwood is a dense South American hardwood with a bright, even red that stays vivid longer than most...
- LeopardwoodIn stockRoupala montana (syn. R. brasiliensis) Leopardwood is a hard South American wood covered in light flecks that look like a leopard's coat. It's...
- PurpleheartIn stockPeltogyne spp. Purpleheart turns a vivid purple shortly after cutting, with no stain needed. It's very hard, stable and decay...
- WengeIn stockMillettia laurentii Wenge is a heavy, nearly black African hardwood with fine tan stripes. It's the modern-design favorite for dark...