Olive
Olea europaea • Exotic/Tropical
Grain Pattern
Highly irregular and interlocked with wavy and curly figure; features distinctive marbled streaks and dark 'ink lines'.
Color Description
Creamy golden-yellow heartwood with darker brown/black contrasting streaks; sapwood is pale yellow. Colors deepen and darken slightly with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
2,710 lbf (Extremely Hard)
Durability Rating
Moderately Durable; poor resistance to insect attack but good resistance to indoor rot and decay.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, turned objects, bowls, knife handles, kitchen utensils, and decorative veneers.
Geographic Origin
Mediterranean Basin (Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East).
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$25.00 - $45.00 per board foot depending on figure intensity.
Wood Age Estimate
Relatively modern cut (last 5-10 years) based on light surface oxidation and clean mechanical edges on the pen blank.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; generally considered sustainable but slow-growing.
Workability
Difficult to work due to high density and interlocked grain; can cause significant tearout. Glues and finishes well due to high natural oil content.
Notable Features
Distinctive sweet, olive-like scent when being worked; high natural oil content provides a natural luster; very heavy and dense.
Finish Recommendations
Natural oils (tung or linseed), wax, or shellac to highlight the figure; can be polished to a high natural shine without heavy film finishes.
Identification Confidence
High; the characteristic 'marble' figure, yellowish-tan base color, and dark undulating streaks are diagnostic of Olea europaea pen blanks.