The wood is Buxus sempervirens.
It is a slow growth tree and this gives the wood a remarkable hardness (possibly the hardest in Europe) and heaviness. It is free of grain produced by growth rings, making it ideal for cabinet-making, the crafting of clarinets, engraving, marquetry, woodturning, tool handles, mallet heads and as a substitute for ivory. The noted English engraver. Dark spots are natural shades for this kind of wood.
The size of this object is quite important and the choice must be pondered. 23 cm length, from 5 to 5.5 cm large, about 370 gr weight. That proves the consistency and hardness. It took 100 years the tree to have such a growth, this gives the object an inestimable value.
Nel bosco ogni vecchio gigante,
sia abete, sia quercia, sia pino,
ha intorno, ai suoi piedi, un giardino
di piccole piante.
Son muschi, son felci, son fiori,
e fragole rosse e lichene,
cui l'albero antico vuol bene,
suoi teneri amori.
e mentre le fronde superbe
protende più in su verso i cieli
ei pensa a quegli unili steli
nell'ombra tra l'erbe.
(Lina Schwarz)
Buxus Sempervirens