Wood

Ivory wood is very basic material for toys making. It is small sized tree which ranges up to 25 feet. There are many other names of wood like Wrightia tinctoria, botanical neem, ‘Sweet Indrajao’, ‘Pala’, ‘Dyer’s Oleander’ or ‘Dyer’s Indigo’ etc. The specific name “tinctoria” refers to “tinct” in Latin meaning “dyed, tinged”. The tree is native to India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. It is common in deciduous forests of North West and Central India and Southern Peninsula. It has very slow moisture and oil content. It is found in channapatna, Ramnagaram, Mysore, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassa and coorg in the state of Karnataka.

Wrightia tictoria is not only used for its wood. The flowers, leaves fruits seeds are used for indigo dye production. These plants has anti inflammatory and anti da ndruff properties and hence it is used in making. Due to its medical properties, the sawdust and other waste from this tree are easily usable. At the time of making wooden products in lathe and the dust which is left over is used for making innsence sticks.

Craftsman not only used ivory wood the also prefer to work with Yellow teak, silver oak, Rosewood, Black-wood, Grey wood, pinewood etc.