Tulipwood (Dalbergia Decipularis) was grown and harvested in Northeastern Brazil, commercially known as Pinkwood in the USA and Bois de Rose in France.  It is considered a true Rosewood in the Dalbergia genus, previously mistaken in the 19th century to be the same species as Dalbergia Frutescens (West Indian tulipwood). It was also significantly rarer and more expensive than other woods grown in Brazil, such as Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). In 1803, Thomas Sheraton noted that its name derived from its striped colours of pink, yellow and violet, which are ‘variegated like a tulip of a fine blush red and fairish white'. Tulipwood was not in recorded use in Britain until 1770, when it was bought by British cabinet makers, Gillows of Lancaster. However, it may have been in use earlier under other names and it is difficult to track itstravel through port books, as it was often brought under general terms of ‘exotic wood’ or ‘hardwood’ with other imports. From the 16th century to the early 19th century, Brazil was a Portuguese colony. Therefore, much of the wood that came to Britain from Brazil was imported through Lisbon, however British smuggling of woods and other materials was commonplace. It is likely the wood also came in via Holland, as the Dutch would have had access to the material via their colony in Surinam or trade with France, Spain and Portugal. From 1808 and particularly after Brazil’s independence in 1822, ports were opened directly to Britain. The Anglo-Brazilian Commercial Treaty (1827) encouraged further trade, creating a 15% maximum tariff rate on British goods, which encouraged Brazilian exports in exchange for British manufactured imports.

 

As a Portuguese colony, Brazil was reliant on enslaved African labour or coerced Indigenous labour for forest work. Further, ships that carried enslaved people from 

West Africa to Brazil would often carry timber on their return to Europe. Although transatlantic slavery was abolished in 1850, it wasn’t until 1888 that it was formally abolished in Brazil.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Due to the small size of the tree and shipping routes, its scarcity meant it was an expensive and luxury exotic wood, predominately used as veneer or marquetry. Sources of its sale are uncommon, but in 1808, 12 and 1/2 1bs of tulipwood were stolen from the cabinet maker, George Oakley, who valued it at 7s. 6d., equivalent to £3 7s - £67 per ton. Its colours meant it suited 18th and 19th century British furniture tastes, particularly the increasing popularity of the neo-classical style. Tulipwood was very popular with French cabinetmakers (Ébénistes), so much of Tulipwood furniture in Britain may also have been directly bought from French makers. Today, it is a protected endangered species, subject to CITES regulations.