African Soapstone is among the most beautiful in the world. Mined by hand from surface mines large stones are pulled by a team of workers, cleaved into smaller pieces, and worked into stunning art and functional objects. This sculpture depicts a stylized family of 2 parents and 1 child. The soapstone is natural. Please allow for color variation from cream to pink to gray in any single piece. Approximately 10 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of SMOLArt a group of artists who live in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya, the heart of soapstone crafts. The name, a shortened version of Small, Medium, and Large Artists refers to the size of the soapstone products the artisans make, not their stature. Established in 1990, SMOLArt is a member of the WFTO, and as such assures that the artisans are paid a fair price for their work. In addition, the organization support community development by contributing to projects that improve living conditions, education, and health of their members and the village at large. Soapstone is mined from great pits in the area surrounding Kiisi, Kenya. The mined soapstone is then delivered to carvers who carve sculptures from the natural stone for the wholesale market, the color of which ranges from cream to pink, to brown, to yellow, to black, to a marbling of all of them. Once carved, the craftspeople smooth the rough edges of the soapstone with sandpaper dipped in water and polish the piece to a high gloss or paint African motifs in brilliant colors with etched accents. All of the soapstone products we sell are completely handmade. The tools consist of household items from screwdrivers, and hand drills, to switchblades. "Pangas," sword-like tools usually used for cutting down vegetation, are used to cleave the stone in the mines. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.

Hand-carved from soapstone, these sculptures feature a representation of two lovers in a circle. The piece is carved from one piece of soapstone and is about 10 inches tall. Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of SMOLArt a group of artists who live in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya, the heart of soapstone crafts. The name, a shortened version of Small, Medium, and Large Artists refers to the size of the soapstone products the artisans make, not their stature. Established in 1990, SMOLArt is a member of the WFTO, and as such assures that the artisans are paid a fair price for their work. In addition, the organization support community development by contributing to projects that improve living conditions, education, and health of their members and the village at large. Soapstone is mined from great pits in the area surrounding Kiisi, Kenya. The mined soapstone is then delivered to carvers who carve sculptures from the natural stone for the wholesale market, the color of which ranges from cream to pink, to brown, to yellow, to black, to a marbling of all of them. Once carved, the craftspeople smooth rough edges of the soapstone with sandpaper dipped in water and polish the piece to a high gloss or paint African motifs in brilliant colors with etched accents. All of the soapstone products we sell are completely handmade. The tools consist of household items from screwdrivers, and hand drills, to switchblades. "Pangas," sword-like tools usually used for cutting down vegetation, are used to cleave the stone in the mines. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.

Hand-carved from soapstone by African craftsmen, this menorah is an elegant way to illuminate each night of Hanukkah. Each piece is mined from the Kisii hills of Kenya, and then chiseled and carved into shape. Because the artisans use rudimentary carving tools following traditional methods passed down through the ages, each piece will have differences in size, exact shape, and texture. Candle holes may possibly not be symmetrical. These nuances attest to the unique, one-of-a-kind beauty of each piece. Measures 12 x 2.5 x 6 inches. Due to the hand-carved nature, the exact size may vary. Weighs approximately 15 lbs. Natural color stone. Colors may range from cream to grey to earthy gold in any single piece. Soapstone is a soft stone, making it ideal for carving into many forms. Use care when handling to avoid breakage. Each piece has gone through multiple stages of sanding and waxing, giving the soapstone a satiny finish. Fair Trade, socially responsible products that help alleviate global poverty. Story Behind the Art: Each sculpture is artfully hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone, found only in the hills of southwestern Kenya. Mining the soapstone from surface hills is a labor-intensive process, using little to no machinery. Laborers work with shovels, picks, axes, and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks, which are then carved into beautiful art. ​ We believe that hardworking African artisans, producers, and export agents hold the key to their own personal success and that the path to success requires a steady, committed pace. We can extend each artisan's channel of trades from local markets to the global marketplace, all the while providing them with options to work from the comfort of their own homes and communities. Secure in the knowledge that the fair payment they receive will not be reduced by traveling expenses, childcare costs, and haggled prices, most artisans in the network promote their family's future by using earnings to put food on the table and pay educational expenses for their children. Fair Trade Federation, a group of like-minded companies and organizations that adhere to: providing fair payment to workers in developing nations educating artisans and workers to increase their potential for advancement ensuring the rights of children developing products and processes that protect and conserve the natural environment promoting fair trade as the standard in commercial exchanges