Pink ivory also called purple ivory, red ivory, is an African hardwood used to make a variety of products (for example: billiard cues and knife handles). Pink ivory was the royal tree of the Zulu peopleand only members of the royal family were allowed to possess it until the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.Pink Ivory remains one of the most elusive, coveted and highly desirable of all the world’s many exotic woods. Despite being indigenous to Southern Africa, the wood is rare throughout its home continent. What isn’t exported abroad is said to be hoarded by rich, hierarchical families throughout Africa, as the wood is considered on the same level of value as diamonds and emeralds.Its reputation in the US is that of being one of the most elusive, difficult-to-source of all exotic woods, and one of the “holy grail” exotic tone woods in the eyes of many guitar builders.