Zitan Oval Shaped Dish. Bat carvings. Black, reflective wood. 5 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.Among tropical hardwoods the most prized of all is zitan, an exceptionally rare species. Zitan is so rare that it is virtually unknown in the West, and until recently was thought to be practically extinct. Its tight grain and hardness make it so dense that it sinks in water. In ancient China it was said that the dark purple color of zitan resembled the color reserved for the use of Qing dynasty. As a result, only the imperial household was allowed to use zitan in China from the 17th to the 19th century. Zitan trees grow very slowly, and zitan wood has always been in short supply. Therefore, relatively few pieces of zitan furniture exist, mostly in museums or private collections. Zitan furniture is so rare that when items become available they command premium prices. Unusual antique pieces can command prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.During the Ming and Qing periods, with European and American expatriates coming to China, zitan furniture first became widely exposed to the world. The export of zitan furniture started during this period. Some of the most exquisite pieces, which typically appear in international auction houses, are often pieces documented as missing in Chinese historical books. Antique zitan furniture is among the most expensive furniture in auction markets, mainly because there are so few pieces and the scarcity of the wood means that they are typically constructed to the highest standards.Bat (fu 蝠)The bat is a symbol of happiness and joy. The Chinese for bat (fu 蝠) sounds identical to the word for good fortune(fu 福) making bats a popular Chinese rebuses. Five bats together represent the ‘Five Blessings’ (wufu 五福): long life, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death.