Olive wood in folk art
The wild olive tree, found throughout the Mediterranean, has been put to use since antiquity by the peoples who had this blessed tree at their disposal.
Besides providing food and the many uses of its oil, the olive tree also offered its wood.
Olive wood has warmed, and continues to warm, those who cultivate it. Since antiquity, given its sacred standing in people's eyes, it has mainly been used to make everyday tools, decorative objects, furniture, and building material.
Olive wood is notably one of the densest woods found in Greece.
It is heavy and hard, with great durability and resistance to daily use. Its grain is either straight or gently twisted, in varying tones of color, giving it a striking appearance.
In particular, once polished, it produces impressive results.
With no distinctive smell of its own, olive wood is ideal for making cooking tools, utensils, and accessories, and pure natural olive oil is used to bring out their look, which also makes them safe to use.
They also keep their appearance over time, since a simple wipe with olive oil erases the dulling that happens with age.
