These carvings are made from wood of cedar and olive trees from Lebanon. Each piece is unique, capturing a bit of the spirit of the artist who hand-carved it in the mountains of Lebanon. Legend has it that the art of carving cedar wood began when a poor student from the mountains of Lebanon went to Beirut to study and fell in love with a female student from a wealthy family. Unable to buy her an expensive gift, he carved her name in a piece of cedar wood. This act of love marked the beginning of his career as a craftsman.
A symbol of eternity, the cedar tree has a long history; Lebanon's magnificent cedar forests are documented in the works of Homer, Pliny, and Plato, and in the Old Testament. The ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Canaanites, Aramaeans, and Phoenicians extolled cedar wood for the same virtues for which it is admired today: durability,
fragrance, and beauty. The olive tree is a symbol of peace and mercy, and also symbolizes the righteous man due to the tree's strength and ruggedness. You can order any of the pieces shown here, or request a customized piece with specified dimensions or a specific word carved into it. Customized pieces take an additional week to ship.