Calamander, also known as Coromandel wood, is a rare and exotic hardwood native to Sri Lanka and parts of India. With its rich brown colouring dramatically streaked with black, calamander was one of the most luxurious timbers used in Anglo-Indian and English furniture during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Valued for its weight, density, and striking grain, it was reserved for the finest veneers and small-scale furniture.
Origins and Trade
The name “Coromandel” derives from the Coromandel Coast of south-east India, where European traders first encountered this timber in the 17th century. By the late 18th century, calamander was being imported in small quantities to England, prized for its exotic appearance and scarcity. Because it was difficult to source in large planks, it was almost always used as a veneer, laid over carcasses of oak, teak, or mahogany.
Decorative Qualities
Calamander is closely related to ebony (Diospyros species) and shares its extreme hardness and density. Its appearance, however, is more variegated, with a dramatic striped figure ranging from golden brown to near black. Cabinetmakers exploited these contrasting tones by book-matching veneers across table tops, cabinet doors, and writing surfaces, creating bold decorative effects.
Anglo-Indian and English Furniture
Calamander featured prominently in Anglo-Indian furniture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, produced for both colonial households and export to Britain. Campaign chests, writing boxes, and work tables were frequently veneered in calamander, combining English forms with Indian craftsmanship.
In England, calamander was also used by leading cabinetmakers of the Regency and Victorian eras. Gillows of Lancaster and London employed calamander veneers on refined tables, cabinets, and chairs, while London firms such as Holland & Sons produced elegant calamander writing desks and davenport tables. Its rarity meant it was always associated with luxury and exclusivity.
Legacy
By the mid-19th century, overharvesting had rendered calamander scarce, and it was gradually replaced by other exotic timbers such as coromandel ebony and rosewood. Today, antique calamander furniture is highly prized for its rarity, dramatic appearance, and its connection to both Anglo-Indian craftsmanship and the English Regency taste for exotic veneers.
