Carving Phases Print

Green row olive wood comes in short branches and logs. After sealing its ends with wax; it is then sorted and stored in a cool warehouse for at least six to twelve months to reduce its high water content (65 % when green) before it is kiln dried. In order to produce good quality olive wood carvings several processing phases have to be accurately followed:

First carving phase, the wood is sawn into blocks according to the size of sculptures to be produced and then it is kiln dried.

Second phase, after these blocks are roughed by means of a pantograph to eliminate excessive wood, they are covered with dry sawdust during a period of 3 to 6 months so that oil is absorbed by the sawdust

Third phase, this is the most important phase where fine details are patiently hand carved, sanded and decorated by skilful artisans. It’s interesting to know that because these details are carved from memory; no two pieces are exactly identical.

 

Fourth phase, finishing is a time and effort consuming process; long hours are invested in inspecting each piece to eliminate any imperfections before it is sprayed with transparent sealant to protect it from weather variations and highlight its natural colour. 

Fifth phase, prior to packing, every item passes a strict quality control. Special care is given to items designated for export.