Welcome to the world of olive wood. This is the official site of OlivArt, Here you can purchase directly from the manufacturer without any hidden expenses. Our unique olive wood religious articles and gift-ware are handcrafted in our workshops located in Bethlehem the Holy Land. All our products are made from kiln dried olive wood by talented Christian artisans. Our nativity sets, stables, statues, crosses, rosaries, Bibles and much more; are all carefully designed to symbolize the Holy Land spirit. Also, here you can find usefull information about prices, payment, how to order, terms, shipping options and packing.

This is a business to business Web Site, therefore it is designed and intended exclusively for wholesalers, retailers and authorized dealers only. Online individual shoppers are welcome to brows our site and enjoy our decorative and innovative designs, but unfortunately cannot shop here.

It is difficult to say when the tradition of producing memorable religious items in Bethlehem started. It is said that Franciscan and Roman Orthodox monks during the middle centuries taught the natives how to hand craft primitive souvenirs to be sold to Christian pilgrims who visited the Holy Land to follow the foot prints of Jesus Christ. Olive wood, mother-of- pearl, terra cota, bee wax, camel leather, sheep wool, tinted glass, etc. were some of the row materials locally available and used to produce spiritual artifacts such as Crosses, rosaries, nativity sets, candles, biblical scenes, embroidery, art objects, etc. Handed down through successive generations, these traditional crafts, alongside to agricultural activities and farming, provided the daily bread to the majority of the population and contributed in enriching the artistic culture throughout the region.

The olive wood craft was the craft that developed most. During the last decades, modern techniques were adopted, fine art schools and vocational centers were inaugurated and scholarships were granted for talented artists in an effort to develop and modernize the trade and adapt it to the variable competitive market’s needs. Today, one can say that the olive wood craft in Bethlehem has evolved into a reputable industry.

OlivArt, being founded at the beginning of this evolutionary process; had served as a vocational center for tenths of artisans. Many of them still work for OlivArt today. Usually it takes more than two years to train a qualified carver