 The wood of the olive tree is hard and resistant. In Homer's Odessy, Ulysses succeeds in freeing himself and his men from the dreaded Cyclops by ramming a sharpened olive branch deep into the giant's single eye. Returning home to his long-suffering wife Penelope after 20 years of adventure and misfortune, Ulysses identifies himself to her by reminding her of a secret only the two of them could know: Their marriage bed was carved from a single olive trunk.
The characteristics of the olive's wood render it an ideal material for a plethora of crafted wares and decorating accessories such as the cutting boards, trays, coasters, cutlery, bowls and sculpture found in marketplaces and households throughout Italy where the tradition is deeply rooted in local artistry.
The Leaves The Fruit
back to: Main Page
|
The Wood
