Historians believe olive wood was first carved in Bethlehem by monks in the fourth century after the construction of the Nativity Church, but it was not until the 16th and 17th centuries that the work was industrialized, as Franciscan and Italian pilgrims reportedly trained artisans in the Bethlehem area. The production and sale of olive wood carvings have since become a notable part of the regional tourism industry.
Our olive wood products are all produced by several small Christian workshops from Bethlehem.