Thread: Bethlehem Olive Wood

Yeah I'm an OW fan too and finishes nicely as you have proven

without stirring too much I think olive wood has one of the best figures to work with.

What makes it "bethlehem" olive?

Originally Posted by BobL

What makes it "bethlehem" olive?

Bob, from memory it's a subspecies of the normal olive trees and has a slightly brighter yellow colour to the wood, rather than the creamy normal colour.
Rgds,
Crocy.

According to an extensive article (122 references) on "olive" on wikipedia there are six natural subspecies of Olea europaea and despite several biblical references there is no mention of "Bethlehem olive".
Olive - Wikipedia

• Olea europaea subsp. europaea (Mediterranean Basin)Olea europaea var. sylvestris, considered the "wild" olive of the Mediterranean, is a variety characterized by a smaller tree bearing noticeably smaller fruit.
• O. e. subsp. cuspidata (from South Africa throughout East Africa, Arabia to Southwest China)
• O. e. subsp. cerasiformis (Madeira); also known as Olea maderensis
• O. e. subsp. guanchica (Canary Islands)
• O. e. subsp. laperrinei (Algeria, Sudan, Niger)
• O. e. subsp. maroccana (Morocco)

The articles does mention there are hundreds of "cultivars" or hybrids used to produce particular fruit/oil etc.
The Wikipedia article on "olive cultivars" is also very interesting but once again no mention of Bethlehem Olive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_olive_cultivars
There are 4 Israeli/Palestinian cultivars mentioned and none mention Bethlehem.

One of these cultivars (Barnea) is widely grown in Australia but any connection with Old Bethlehem is unlikely because its a recently bred cultivar from souther Israel.

I'm starting to wonder if it's a bit like the so called pieces of "wood of the cross" , ie if we added up all the pieces sold over the years it would add up to a forest.

BTW there is a recognised Aussie cultivar called "Swan Hill". Its widely grown as an ornamental an produces virtually no allergenic pollen or dropped fruit!

It was born in Bethlehem same as we are born in? maybe with a mixed ancestry. EG Australian grapes born in australia but mixed parentage.

Originally Posted by Penpal

It was born in Bethlehem same as we are born in? maybe with a mixed ancestry. EG Australian grapes born in australia but mixed parentage.

By "born" do you mean where the seed comes from, or where the seed was germinated?

If the later then in my stash I have
North Perth Monastery Olive
Ferndale Olive
Fremantle Olive
and
Applecross Olive.

Lovely Pen !
Did you get the wood in Australia ?


Anyone seen veneer of Olive sold in Australia ?

Something like this .

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/oliv...e-15547823.jpg




Here's an interesting link to Olive wood .
Olive Wood - Characteristics, Types and Uses

I've seem prunings/branches of the Olive trees grown in Bethlehem cut into blanks for pens.

It used to be sold on eBay in Israel.

Apparently it comes certified. It is said to be quite old, but I know nothing more than this



edit - Here we go: Olivewood Bethlehem

Originally Posted by woodPixel

I've seem prunings/branches of the Olive trees grown in Bethlehem cut into blanks for pens.
It used to be sold on eBay in Israel.
Apparently it comes certified. It is said to be quite old, but I know nothing more than this
edit - Here we go: Olivewood Bethlehem

Interestingly my browser says that site may be impersonating bethlehemolivewood !

The certification from some sellers is said to be a rather dodgy looking pamphlet or sticker that anyone could print.
According to this 2014 article there were so few Olive trees grown around Bethlehem that to meet demand most Olive wood used by Bethlehem carvers comes from elsewhere in Palestine / Israel. Bethlehem’s olive wood carvers | Gallery | Al Jazeera

Hence.
Olive wood ? Yes
Bethlehem ? - probably not.

Originally Posted by BobL

Interestingly my browser says that site may be impersonating bethlehemolivewood !

The certification from some sellers is said to be a rather dodgy looking pamphlet or sticker that anyone could print.
According to this 2014 article there were so few Olive trees grown around Bethlehem that to meet demand most Olive wood used by Bethlehem carvers comes from elsewhere in Palestine / Israel. Bethlehem’s olive wood carvers | Gallery | Al Jazeera

Hence.
Olive wood ? Yes
Bethlehem ? - probably not.

Are you saying that religious people PASS OFF their relics as real? I'm shocked!

After all, I felt most Saints had 5 skulls, 87 fingers and four femurs.....


Less sarcastically, I also severely doubt its authenticity. Severely.

(Edit - what a shameful existence. The quality of that work they are attempting to foist off onto tourists is utter garbage.)

In a book called "Baudolino" by Umberto Eco (also wrote Name of the Rose) the protagonist ends up on one of the crusades to the holy land and on the way the group he's travelling stumble across a relic production "factory" where he pics up a sack full of wooden "holy grails". Apparently there were quite a few of these scattered all over Europe being venerated by the faithful.


Getting back to Olive Wood - I really do like it, looks, feel, the way it works esp turning. - I have a decent stash and need to get back ti working it.

Originally Posted by mature one

without stirring too much I think olive wood has one of the best figures to work with.

especially when in such small pieces as used in pens, a lot happening there!

Originally Posted by BobL

Getting back to Olive Wood - I really do like it, looks, feel, the way it works esp turning. - I have a decent stash and need to get back ti working it.

Do you get to cut your own over in WA Bob ? From pest trees ?

Ive heard about the problem in SA . Never seen the wood from it .

Pest plant - Olives - Department of Environment, Water and Natural…

I found this . Maybe its SA?

Australian #20 Wild Olive tree wood - PEN blanks - Sold in packs – George's Bits of Timber