Olivewood Information - Interesting Facts About Olivewood

Olivewood Information

OLIVEWOOD FACTS Olivewood is undoubtedly the sentimental choice of makers of many religious items. Indigenous to the Mediterranean region — including the Middle East, southern Europe, and North Africa — Olivewood lends a certain degree of authenticity to such religious-themed products as crucifixes (Christianity), mezuzahs (Judaism), and ossuaries (Islam). The fact that Olive trees are mentioned in both the Bible and Qur'an only adds to Olivewood's aura of sacredness. Of course, there's no need to be ordained (or even a believer) in order to use Olivewood for a project. This captivating wood, which features dark brown streaks contrasting with yellowish-brown heartwood, is commonly used to make handles, boxes, furniture, and all sorts of turned items.		Olivewood Knife & Awl Handles Created by Bob Z. of Georgia
A Relatively Young Olive Tree	Olive trees are quite distinctive, being fairly small with short, stout, twisting trunks and gnarly branches. They also enjoy incredible longevity, sometimes existing for more than 1,500 years! (These ancient trees develop huge trunks, often several feet wide.) Although Olive trees are primarily cultivated for . . . well, olives (and olive oil), the available supply of wood from the trees is fairly consistent. Olivewood is hard and dense, with an average specific gravity of about 0.80. Somewhat surprisingly, though, the wood is not particularly difficult to work with — provided, of course, that sharp tools are used. Due to its interlocked grain, however, cutting the wood can sometimes be problematic (especially trying to cut across the grain). Olivewood has a tendency to check and/or warp, so it's recommended that the wood be thoroughly seasoned before turning or carving it. Olivewood polishes extremely well and has a naturally waxy feel to it. Exotic Wood Group's Olivewood comes from North Africa and is actually a sub-species (Olea Europaea sub specie Africana) of the European variety.