These carvings are made from wood of cedar & 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, & Plato, $ in the Old Testament. The ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Canaanites, Aramaeans, & 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.
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