Small Hand Carved Olive Wood Nativity Set, Style 3, From the Holy Land.

This beautiful olive wood nativity set is the perfect way to add a special touch to your holiday decorations. Carved with intricate details and warm tones, this piece is sure to become a cherished family heirloom. The process of producing an olive wood craft requires labor intensity and consists of many stages, often involving the work of multiple artisans. Drilling machines are used initially to attain the rough outline of the intended craft. It accounts for 15% of the process, although it eliminates some of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of the carving. Next the piece is passed onto a skilled artisan who transforms the rough outline into a finished product by chiseling the details. Finally, the finished item must be sanded down and polished, then coated with olive wax to give the object a "natural shine" and ensure its longevity. Depending on what the particular product is, the process could take up to 45 days. Most professional artisans go through six to seven years o