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Olive – Wild
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| Botanical Name | Olea europeaea subs. africana |
|---|---|
| Other Names | Olivewood |
| Main Color Group | Variegated |
| Grain Pattern | Figured |
| Workability | Challenging |
| Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT3 | 62 |
| Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 990 |
| Janka Hardness - LBF | 2700 |
| Janka Hardness - Newtons | 12010 |
For millenniums, Olivewood has remained a wood of great cultural and religious importance and significance, especially in the Middle East. The wood can, indeed, be exquisite in appearance: with its (typically) creamy, golden brown base, and darker streaks and highlights, often augmented by spectacular figuring and/or areas of magnificent burling.
Grain patterns are usually either straight or wild, although they can sometimes be interlocked, as well. Although opinions differ, Olivewood is thought by many to be a very durable wood, although it can be suspect to insect / bug infestation. The wood is considered to be a superb turner, and it generally works, glues and finishes well. Because the fruit of the Olive tree is olives, there is a limited supply of Olivewood that is made available to the US.
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Sustainability: Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Religious symbolic / functional objects (typically carvings or turnings), furniture, veneer, musical instruments, carvings, turned objects, and small specialty wood items.
Comments: For wood craftsmen of all niches, Olivewood is highly desired for its often spectacular aesthetics; being known for its gorgeous, often-twisting grain patterns and dramatic figuring. Defects are not uncommon, and can often present some challenges when working, but hard work and perseverance can produce extraordinary results; there’s really no other wood quite like it.
Found in the Mediterranean Basin — from Portugal to the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula — and Southern Asia, as far east as China, the Olive tree grows as a small evergreen tree or shrub. It is also known to grow in the Canary Islands, Mauritius and R?union. The species is / has been cultivated in many places; it’s considered “naturalized” in the Mediterranean coast countries, as well as in Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Java (Indonesia), Norfolk Island, (the U.S. state) California, and Bermuda.
Its trunk is generally twisted and/or gnarled, making long, undefected boards quite rare. When found, they command a premium price.
| Image | Price | Grade | Dimensions | SKU | Buy | Description | hf:att:pa_grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $36.76 | A | 22 × 3 × 1 in | OLWIL1058 | | Knots. | a |
 | $36.48 | A | 21.88 × 2.88 × 1 in | OLWIL1057 | | Width varies 5”-7”. Check. Light curl. | a |
 | $37.04 | A | 22.38 × 2.94 × 1 in | OLWIL1056 | | Curly. Knot. Light checks. | a |
 | $93.53 | B | 24 × 5.5 × 1.81 in | OLWIL1055 | | Knot. Light checks. | b |
 | $169.76 | AB | 41 × 9.5 × 1.13 in | OLWIL1054 | | Hairline checks on end. Light curl. | ab |
 | $159.01 | B | 36.63 × 9.75 × 1.31 in | OLWIL1053 | | Light checks on end. | b |
 | $149.65 | B | 36.5 × 9 × 1.19 in | OLWIL1052 | | Knot checks. | b |
 | $185.20 | AB | 39.5 × 7.5 × 1.5 in | OLWIL1051 | | Knot. Checks. | ab |
 | $92.60 | AB | 41 × 5.5 × 1 in | OLWIL1050 | | Knots. | ab |
 | $77.17 | AB | 36.63 × 6 × 0.88 in | OLWIL1049 | | Width varies 5”-7”. Check. Light curl. | ab |
 | $90.92 | A | 33 × 6 × 1 in | OLWIL1048 | | Curly. Knot. Light checks. | a |
 | $48.64 | B | 35.5 × 4.75 × 0.75 in | OLWIL1047 | | Knot. Light checks. | b |
 | $101.02 | A | 27 × 6.5 × 1.5 in | OLWIL1046 | | Hairline checks on end. Light curl. | a |
 | $123.46 | A | 30 × 7 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1045 | | Light checks on end. | a |
 | $96.34 | B | 21 × 10 × 1.13 in | OLWIL1044 | | Knot checks. | b |
 | $74.83 | B | 21.5 × 8.25 × 1.13 in | OLWIL1043 | | Knot. Checks. | b |
 | $227.29 | B | 66 × 8.5 × 1.38 in | OLWIL1042 | | Knots, Checks | b |
 | $231.50 | AB | 52.75 × 9.5 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1041 | | Knots, Checks | ab |
 | $310.53 | B | 54.5 × 8 × 2 in | OLWIL1040 | | Knots, Checks | b |
 | $268.44 | B | 50 × 9 × 1.75 in | OLWIL1039 | | Knots, Checks | b |
 | $409.49 | AB | 60 × 9 × 2.25 in | OLWIL1038 | | Knot | ab |
 | $364.22 | AB | 61 × 11.5 × 1.38 in | OLWIL1037 | | Checks. Knots. | ab |
 | $296.04 | B | 59.56 × 10.75 × 1.38 in | OLWIL1036 | | Checks. Knot. Nice curl. | b |
 | $183.65 | AB | 38 × 8.5 × 1.44 in | OLWIL1035 | | Checks. Knots. | ab |
 | $101.02 | A | 44.5 × 5.75 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1034 | | Nice curl. | a |
 | $90.54 | AB | 27.5 × 6.25 × 1.19 in | OLWIL1033 | | Checks. Knots. | ab |
 | $93.11 | AB | 26.25 × 7 × 1.19 in | OLWIL1032 | | Checks. Knots. | ab |
 | $101.86 | AB | 24.25 × 7.5 × 1.44 in | OLWIL1031 | | Checks. Knots. | ab |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2010 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2009 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2008 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2007 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2006 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2005 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2004 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2003 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2002 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $60.00 | B | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | OLIVEWSQB2001 | | 10-piece pack: B Grade Wild Olive Turning Squares. | b |
 | $79.22 | AB | 46.5 × 7.75 × 0.56 in | OLWIL1030 | | Nice board. | ab |
 | $81.80 | AB | 45.5 × 6 × 0.94 in | OLWIL1029 | | Planer skip on end. | ab |
 | $159.48 | AB | 43.25 × 8.75 × 1 in | OLWIL1028 | | Widest 10.5”. | ab |
 | $79.22 | AB | 52.5 × 5 × 0.94 in | OLWIL1027 | | Width varies from 4”-6.5”. | ab |
 | $87.45 | AB | 46.5 × 5.75 × 1 in | OLWIL1026 | | Wane in middle. | ab |
 | $72.02 | B | 52 × 4.75 × 1.06 in | OLWIL1025 | | Open knot. | b |
 | $104.29 | B | 47 × 7 × 1 in | OLWIL1024 | | Width varies. Widest width 10”. | b |
 | $341.40 | B | 51 × 14 × 1.38 in | OLWIL1023 | | Width varies 11”-17”. Nice curl. | b |
 | $232.53 | AB | 60 × 6.75 × 1.3 in | OLWIL1022 | | Slight cracks. | ab |
 | $250.53 | AB | 59 × 8.25 × 1.38 in | OLWIL1021 | | Some knots. | ab |
 | $254.13 | AB | 62 × 7.5 × 1.38 in | OLWIL1020 | | Slight cracking. | ab |
 | $240.38 | B | 54 × 6.5 × 1.75 in | OLWIL1019 | | Open knot. | b |
 | $320.82 | B | 62.5 × 14 × 1.06 in | OLWIL1018 | | Open knots. Slight cracks on end. | b |
 | $205.31 | B | 63 × 7 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1017 | | Cracks. | b |
 | $123.93 | B | 53.75 × 5.5 × 0.9 in | OLWIL1016 | | Open knot. | b |
 | $157.60 | B | 63 × 7 × 0.9 in | OLWIL1015 | | Cracks both sides. | b |
 | $12.00 | A | 12 × 1.5 × 1.5 in | TURNOLIVW1001 | | Our Wild Olive turning blanks come in 2 sizes and are good quality lumber. The photographs are representative of the stock you will receive.
| a |
 | $111.31 | AB | 28 × 11 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1014 | | End Check Heart Crack 1 side | ab |
 | AB | 55 × 7.5 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1013 | | End Checks Open Knots 1 side Pith Crack | ab | |
 | $208.86 | A | 53.5 × 11 × 1.125 in | OLWIL1012 | | End Crack Beautiful Figure | a |
 | $274.71 | A | 48 × 12.5 × 1.625 in | OLWIL1011 | | Planer Skip | a |
 | AB | 53 × 6 × 1.75 in | OLWIL1010 | | End Checks Open defects 1 side 10.5″ wide end | ab | |
 | B | 58.5 × 12.5 × 1.375 in | OLWIL1009 | | End Crack Open Knots Surface Cracks | b | |
 | $204.98 | B | 49 × 14 × 1.375 in | OLWIL1008 | | Pith Crack Beautiful Figure | b |
 | $116.78 | A | 44.5 × 5 × 1.375 in | OLWIL1007 | | End Checks Pith crack | a |
 | $230.09 | AB | 55.5 × 10.5 × 1.1875 in | OLWIL1006 | | ab | |
 | $146.10 | A | 50.5 × 6 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1005 | | a | |
 | $157.65 | B | 47.75 × 6 × 1.125 in | OLWLD1004 | | Heart Crack End checks Planer skips Wide end 10.5″ | b |
 | $146.30 | B | 39 × 7.375 × 1.375 in | OLWLD1003 | | Heart crack End checks Planer skips Widest part 9.25 | b |
 | $225.61 | AB | 57.5 × 7.75 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1002 | | Some checks in sap Heart crack Visually stunning | ab |
 | $194.78 | AB | 48 × 9.5 × 1.25 in | OLWIL1001 | | Planer skip back side Some surface checks End checks | ab |
Although we don't have any listed pieces for this species available in our online store, add this species to your Quote Request and we'll get back to you with availability in our warehouse.