Olive Wood

Follow this link to view the online catalog of the olive wood pieces available for sale and prices.

For the whole Mediterranean region the olive tree has been the symbol of life and a practical commodity for providing fruit, oil, fuel, ointments, medicines and carpentry. Olive trees grow abundantly in the rocky soil requiring little water and producing fruit for generations. Olive trees live for more than a thousand years. The olive branch has been used as a symbol of peace as well as a symbol of wisdom, prosperity and happiness.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of agriculture (April 2006) more than 465,998 olive trees have been uprooted by the Israeli military and settlers and the practice continues daily in the Occupied Territories.

Olive wood, often from the necessary pruning of the trees, is sculpted into pieces of beauty depicting in a variety of ways the holy nativity in a modern flow of lines with creative tenderness. The finished crafts are a delight to behold and very pleasing to the touch.
 

These works of art are designed and sculpted by fourth generation Palestinian Christian artisans, sons of Salem Giacaman.

Their shop is located in Manger Square in Bethlehem near the Church of the Nativity.

The sculpted olive wood pieces are finished with olive oil and sealer - no shellac. To maintain your work of art, once a year you put a little olive oil on a cloth, wipe it on the piece and then wipe off the excess olive oil. It gives a wonderful luster.

As to the importance of the olive tree, Salem wants us to remember that our Lord sat under the olive tree, and it was a dove who brought the olive branch to Noah.

 Salem Giacaman Sons, Manger Square, Bethlehem

Click on images for larger view
Follow this link for information on sizes and prices.

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Holy Family Sculptures
Modern Round Holy Family HF22	Holy Family Kneeling HF06	Holy Family Long HF13
Holy Family Standing HF03	Madonna and Child HF05	Holy Family with Arch and Star HF12
Holy Family - Mary Kneeling HF28	Flight Into Egypt ST29	Holy Family with Joseph's coat covering Mary
	Other Sculpted Figurines
Modern Reflective Woman ST31	The Dreaming Lady ST35	Dreaming Lady with Long Legs ST34
Girl in the Hand of God ST31B	Boy in the Hand of God ST31A	Standing Child in Hand of God ST01
Modern Motherhood MH1	Classical Motherhood MH2

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