Olive Wood
Olive wood is almost universally beautiful — the wild figuring, warm colors, and distinctive aromatic scent make it one of the most decorative woods available. It comes almost exclusively from old orchard prunings or dead trees, which means supply is inherently limited and usable pieces are small. Most olive wood available in the US comes from Italy or Tunisia. It is strictly a decorative and small-object wood — not structural. Drying must be done very slowly to avoid the checking it's prone to.
- Expecting large, clear boards — olive trees grow slowly with irregular grain and small diameters
- Drying it quickly — it cracks readily; seal the ends immediately and dry very slowly
- Using sharp tools only — the hard, irregular grain requires it to avoid tearout
Cream to pale yellow-brown base with dramatic dark brown to near-black swirling streaks and figure. Highly variable — no two pieces are identical. Color deepens and warms beautifully with oil finishing.
Hard and dense with irregular grain requiring sharp tools to avoid tearout. Takes an excellent high-gloss finish. Oil finishes bring out the color and figure dramatically. Small piece size is the main practical limitation.
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| United States | Specialty importers only |
| Canada | Specialty importers only |
| Europe | Regional / select dealers |
| Australia | Specialty importers only |