What wood is this chess board?

[Tom61]

Hello to all.
I was bought this board for Christmas, and I love it.
It's on carved legs with 2 drawers containing hand-made pieces.

Does anyone know what type of wood it is?

Also, it's got a finish on, but no idea what kind.
I was thinking of giving it a light sanding, a couple of coats of Fiddes, followed by wax.
Only because I don't know any other way.

Any advice, as always, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Tom

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Olive and ...?
If it's olive, it's probably just been oiled.

 

[Wildman]

you could ask popeye

 

[gregmcateer]

I'd say olive, as well.
Probably not need a great deal of finishing. just a wipe with oil, I'd say

 

[Matt@]

dont sand it unless the surface of the wood is dreadful!! By sanding you will sand through the faded colour and aged appearance ie patina such that it is. Always best not to sand anything or do it as last resort.

 

[Tom61]

Thanks to all for the replies.
If I'd been given 100 guesses I'd never have come up with olive.
Then again, with my knowledge of timbers I'd have run out of guesses around eight.

When you say oil, (no sanding) do you mean the Fiddes hard wax oil, or Danish oil?

Thanks.
Tom

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If it feels slightly oily, it's probably had vegetable or olive oil on it. Olive oil can go rancid and smell. Walnut oil is good if you wish to stay natural, but Fiddes or Osmo would be OK depending what what's on it already - try a little easily cleaned off bit first. Danish would probably be OK, but the others might be a little more natural - if you've used Danish before, you'll know.