It was hard to decide on a name for this beautiful African wood because it is known by so many different and seemingly unrelated labels.
Amazaque is a perfectly correct name for the wood, and is the preferred name in Europe, Africa and the Far East. Guibourtia ehie of the Family Leguminosae, is also known as amazoue, ovenkol, hyeduanini, ovangkol, kolima, anokye, ehie, amazahoue, and shedua.
The wood is found most often in rain forest and traditional forest areas in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Southern Nigeria and Gabon.
Shedua is dense hard wood from West and Central Africa with beautiful tan-brown background with fine black striping, although pieces vary from tan through dark to black. Shedua will darken over time from a golden brown to a darker brown under the black striping.
It is another of our "tonal" woods and it is used in making fine musical instruments.
Some woods appear to have that quality of being able to look into the wood. The depth of the grain and color variation in most noticable in the light. The wood we have right now is particularly distinct and "alive" with color.
As with all of our crosses, there were no stains, lacquers or preservatives used to finish your cross; only a natural oil which is hand-rubbed and polished to enhance the woods natural beauty. When you hold our crosses, you are “feeling” the wood and “seeing” the wood as God created it. No two are alike as boards will vary in color and graining due the environmental conditions it was produced. The shine on the cross is related to the amount of “resin” in the make-up of the wood itself. The more resin the higher the shine.
Crosses are handcrafted in our Palestine, Texas (USA) facility offering the highest quality.Crosses do not require polishing. Holding your cross will allow the oils from your hands to go into the wood and create a soft, patina glow. Never use oil or olive oil on our crosses.
Price noted is for 1 HoldingCross. The picture of multiple crosses is to share with you the diversity of the wood.
Thoughts on Engraving : This wood works well with engraving. Due to its tight grain, engraving comes out clear and precise.
Each cross comes in an organza bag with a StoryTag telling the name of the wood and a StoryScroll which contains suggested prayers, CareGiving stories and other information. We do not offer seconds or damaged crosses. Our crosses are all first quality and handcrafted in our shop by our family.
NOTE : The HoldingCross watermark in the picture does not appear on the crosses. The picture is marked for proprietary reasons.
