Strictly speaking, the old red sandalwood material ~ refers to the wild red sandalwood forest that grows naturally, usually in mountains or wetlands, and takes a relatively long time to become useful.
Old materials have three elements that must be met: 1. It grows in a wild environment, 2. It grows in mountains, and 3. It takes a long time to become useful. 4. The wood has a long "release" time, that is, it has been left for a long time after being cut, and the wood properties are relatively stable and dry. 5. The finished product has been processed and carved and has been handed down for a long time, such as more than a hundred years.
How to identify "old small-leaf red sandalwood material"? It would be unscientific to simply identify it from any aspect.
First of all, due to its own growth characteristics and the influence of environmental factors such as soil and sunlight, wild small-leaf red sandalwood matures very slowly. There is a common saying called "hundred-year-old sandalwood". For those red sandalwoods that can clearly see the annual ring lines on the cut surface, there are on average 3 to 5 annual ring lines per centimeter along the radius, which means that every centimeter needs to grow. 30 to 50 years. It takes 100 to 160 years to grow per inch. The diameter of the red sandalwood wood we see is as small as about 10 centimeters, and the more common ones are generally about 20 centimeters, and rarely exceeds 30 centimeters. For a red sandalwood with a diameter of 20 cm (that is, a radius of 10 cm), it has grown for at least 300 to 500 years, and it may be 500 to 600 years longer. This is the current common situation of old wild red sandalwood forests. Therefore, if it is an old material with fine growth lines, it is definitely not right.
Secondly, how to calculate the good old material of small leaf red sandalwood? Based on our many years of processing and appreciation experience:
1. The high density of small-leaf rosewood is the first factor,
2. The second factor must be very good oiliness,
3. The smaller and fewer the third brown eyes, the better. Its characteristic is the cow hair pattern on the chordal section, which is actually a fiber conduit. The fewer cow hair patterns, the higher the density and the better the oiliness.
4. High density and oiliness determine its high stability. That is to say, the "release" of wood is relatively stable. However, this can only be maintained under a specific environment and state. For example, some old materials and carved parts will still crack again when they are processed, polished and polished again. Because of its processing and polishing process, this relatively stable state is inevitably destroyed!
5. Small-leaf red sandalwood with higher grades and unique characteristics, such as "gall" and "tumor scar", is extremely prone to filolysis during processing due to its unique growth state. It's hard to avoid! But experienced players can accept it. Of course, it would be better if there were no mitoses, but the price would certainly be higher.
Color ~ Due to the rich pterostilbene content of small-leaf rosewood, the cut wood will initially turn orange-red, and after a few days or a week of oxidation, it will turn purple-red. Then it slowly oxidizes and becomes darker! Even close to black. However, if it is not improper preservation of hand games. Similar to old black materials, the purple-red spectrum can still be seen when we turn on the light.
As for the surviving small-leaf red sandalwood handicrafts and products, it not only involves the identification of new and old materials, but also requires starting from the characteristics of the craftsmanship of each era. As long as there is a little doubt, we cannot be sure that it is an ancient relic.
Some old objects, such as the old abacus made of small-leaf red sandalwood mentioned in the title,
1. If the material is determined to be small-leaf red sandalwood,
2. The workmanship characteristics meet the A specific era,
3. The material is stable and old,
4. The patina is naturally thick and complete,
5. It has certain wear and tear characteristics over time, Especially the beads and levers,
6. Old abacuses are made of very precise mortise and tenon structures, 7. Some of the corners are covered with copper, which can be judged from the state of the old copper corners.
8. The abacus beads and levers must be extremely smooth, the patina is particularly thick, and the color is darker than the frame edge
If the above conditions are met, then we can basically conclude: this is an old material. In ancient times, abacus was not only a carry-on item for "accountants" and "accountants", many literati, rich people and even officials and nobles would carry abacus with them for calculation. Because of this, it is often regarded as a mascot symbolizing wealth and is highly respected by people.
Symbolizing wealth and wealth