What is Olive Wood? History, Uses and Characteristics

Olive wood is a very precious material noted for being durable, with distinctive grain patterns and timeless beauty. This hardwood, primarily sourced from Mediterranean olive trees, possesses unique qualities that make it a favourite of artisans, chefs, and furniture makers.

As you can read in this article, olive wood has a lot to offer both beginners and professionals. Let us discuss the characteristics of the most desired olive wood, its various uses, and care. 

What Is Olive Wood?

This dense, strong hardwood, made from olive trees, is valuable for its beauty as well as its resilience. It has an intrinsic tendency to twist, which makes it hard to find straight lumber; that's is why it is mostly used for smaller items like kitchenware and other decorative objects. Each piece displays its rich colours, with dark brown lines standing out against the lighter yellow sapwood and craftsmen polishing them to a high gloss.

Olive wood's pleasant, fruity aroma, which can remain for years, makes it even more attractive. However, olive wood does not have natural oils that repel pests and rot, so it needs little oil treatment for preservation. Olive wood should also be slow kiln dried, as it is prone to warping if dried too quickly. 

In Mediterranean culture, olive wood has long been historically important as a sign of peace and prosperity. Its natural and antibacterial properties make kitchen items like cutting boards, bowls, and utensils more beneficial. The long life of olive wood items depends on its proper care, which timelessly makes it an environment-friendly option for artisans and woodworkers.

History of Olive Wood Trees

Olive trees were deeply rooted in history thousands of years ago, and they symbolized peace, wisdom, and prosperity. Records show that olives were first commercially cultivated over five thousand years ago in Crete and ancient Syria. 

However, their presence in human diets dates even further back in regions like Egypt, Greece, and Italy. The Olive leaves preserved on Santorini island are approximately 60,000 years old. The fruit and oil of the olive tree were regarded as so sacred across ancient civilizations that the olive tree itself became sacred. 

The olive branch, often associated with peace, was discovered in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and is frequently referenced in religious texts, from the Bible to the Quran. Ancient Greece and Rome merged olive oil and fruit into their daily life, with the Greeks contributing the term "elaion," which evolved into the word "oil." 

The Mediterranean still has some of the world's oldest olive trees, estimated to be up to 2,000 or 3,000 years old, with one 2,000-year-old tree in Greece still bearing fruit. The beauty of olive wood itself has been used for centuries to make items of all types. From artisan products to religious artefacts, with many ancient techniques and traditions passed down through the generations.

Uses of Olive Wood 

Olive wood is much prized as a robust, beautiful, and flexible material for many indoor uses. It is durable due to its density and strength, but it should be used indoors, as it will not hold up to long-term outdoor use. Here’s a breakdown of the many ways olive wood is used:

• Premium indoor furniture
• Turned pieces and artistic carvings
• Decorative veneer and rare panelling
• Specialty items like coasters and beads
• Knife and tool handles
• Bowls, serving boards, and utensils
• Salt shakers, soap dishes, and mortar sets

Types of Olive Wood Trees

The Olive wood we are getting comes from two types of trees—yes, you heard that right! In the following, we will discuss two types of olivewood trees. Each type has its unique characteristics.

Olea Europaea (European olive tree) 

Olea europaea is the most familiar olive tree. It comes from eastern Mediterranean areas such as Syria, parts of Asia Minor, and south of the Caspian Sea (between Iran). The area is famous for its wood and fruit, the latter of which is used to produce eccentric olive oil. In fact, Olea europaea is also recognized for its gnarled trunk and associated symbolic peace. It is also a tree that is instantly noticeable and culturally important.

Olea Capensis (African Olive or Black Ironwood)

An African olive, Olea capensis, is found in many parts of Africa, from the northern and eastern areas (e.g. Ethiopia and Sudan) to the southern areas (e.g. South Africa). This species is typically smaller than the European olive tree and is also valued as a source of edible fruit as well as dense, high-quality wood. Olea capensis is further used in local African medicinal practices. 

Characteristics of Olive Wood

Olive wood is best known for its durability and charming beauty. It has captured attention in the woodworking community for its distinct features. Let me provide you with a detailed overview of its characteristics that make olive wood a sought-after choice for crafting both decorative and functional items with attention to detail.  

Physical Properties

• Tree Size: Olive trees are rarely more than 25 to 50 feet (8 to 15 meters), but some grow up to 130 feet. The tree’s trunk diameter is between 3 and 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters).
• Weight and Density: Olive wood's specific gravity ranges from 0.72 (basic) to 0.99 (12% moisture content), giving it an average of 62 lbs.f³ (990 kg.m³).
• Janka Hardness: Olive wood has a Janka Hardness rating of 2,700 lbs (12,010 N), making it suitable for many types of applications.  

Strength and Durability

• Crushing Strength: Olive wood provides 11,180lbf/in² (77.1MPa) crushing strength, which is suitable for structural applications.
• Modulus of Rupture: It is resilient for furniture and other uses due to its modulus of rupture of 22,530 lbf/in² (155.4 MPa), which permits it to withstand stress.
• Elastic Modulus: It flexes under pressure but without permanently deforming; the elastic modulus of 2,577,000 lbf/in² (17,77 GPa) is proof of that.

Workability

• Workability: Olive wood is generally easy and mild to work with; however, its interlocked grain can cause tears during surface operations, which can be glued, held together, and finished well with perfect results.
• Texture and Grain: Olive wood has a fine, uniform texture and moderate natural lustre. The grain can be wild, straight, or interlocked and has a combination of contrasting yellow streaks and rich brown lines of sapwood. 

Odor and Aesthetics

• Odour: Whilst olive wood is a beautiful wood to look at, it has a more robust and fruity scent when worked. It’s this scent that will remain for years, even after polishing. 
• Appearance: Olive wood has a distinct, bright, colourful appearance and is a wonderful ecological choice for artisanal creations.

Sustainability and Maintenance

• Sustainability: Olive wood is not included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. To maintain olive wood, sustainable harvesting practices require pruning the branches. 
• Maintenance: Olive wood is very easy to look after indoors, where maintenance is low. Although furniture treated with preservation oils is both beautiful and long-lasting, untreated lumber tends to be prone to insect infestations and rot.

Drying and Stability

• Drying: Olive wood is notoriously slow and difficult to dry, and it warps easily if it is dried too quickly. These issues can more easily be prevented through low-level heat kiln drying.
• Durability: Olive wood is medium-durable and actually does well indoors, which provides protection. Furniture made of olive wood needs to be taken care of to protect it from the elements. 

Conclusion 

Olive wood is a beautiful and resilient material in both form and function that makes a perfect material for any crafted item. It is a unique lumber that, due to its twisted, irregular growth, dense structure, and wonderful natural appeal, has found its place in the world of woodworking. Olive wood has a timeless combination of art and history, which means it appeals to those who appreciate fine craftsmanship in cultures and across generations.