Description

The olive tree is the heart and soul of Palestine. Every year during the olive harvest, farmers prune their trees. These prunings are used by the olive wood artisans of Bethlehem to create kitchen items and home décor.

Visually, olive wood has a strikingly rich and colorful appearance, which makes it perfect for use in decorative objects. Its structural features are highly contrasting brown lines and yellow streaks of sapwood. Even more importantly, the surface of olive wood can be easily polished to a high degree. While it can be a bit uncooperating during cutting, olive wood can easily be glued. It has a distinct, pleasant, and sweet odor during cutting. This odor usually remains present in the finished product for several years.

With a rich history, olive trees, fruit, and olive oil became integral parts of many surviving ancient texts, art, and artifacts. Interestingly Olive branches were found in the tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. Also in ancient Israel, where olive oil, branches, and lumber were mentioned numerous times in the Bible. The tree is often depicted as a symbol of peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, power, and purity. Ancient Greece had a close connection with Olive trees and oil. And so did Ancient Rome where the olive fruit was an essential part of the Roman diet.