Materials

Our pieces are crafted from the wood of olive trees, native to the Holy Land. The roots of these trees date back centuries and grow from the same soil where our Lord Jesus walked, prayed, and taught. Our local Christian artisans follow centuries-old traditions to craft the sculptures. We use wood that comes from seasonal pruning or when it has completed its natural life cycle. The artisans harvest the wood, dry it, before carving. The olive wood is not only religiously significant, but is also durable, making each piece a unique work of art meant to last. 

A common material in inlay work, which comes from the luminous inner layer of seashells. Its soft pearly glow is used by our artisans to symbolize light, purity, and divine beauty. Paired with our olive wood, this mother of pearl creates a beautiful contrast and shining light to each piece. Our artisans expertly cut, shape and polish this material to reflect God’s light and beauty.

This material is what creates the decorative accents found in a select few of our pieces. The blue, green, purple and pink hues shift with the light and add a special touch to each piece. The abalone shells come from marine mollusks, abalones or sea snails, that are commonly used in inlay work. Our artisans work expertly to cut, shape and polish this material to create our unique pieces that shimmer with the beauty of God’s creation. 

Some of our pieces are reinforced with the rich, reddish-brown hardwood of Mahogany. Known for its strength and durability, this wood is often used as the base for our larger figures. The fine grain and warm tones provide a pleasing contrast to the lighter olive wood and can also be used to outline pieces and highlight the craftsmanship.