SMOLArt African Soapstone

SMOLArt is a group of artisans based in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya. This is the center of Kenya's soapstone carving region. The organization was established in 1990 and are members of the World Fair Trade Organization. The artisans receive a fair wage for their work and the project provides community development support through projects that improve living conditions, education, and health of their members.

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, hand drills, to switchblades. "Pangas," sword-like tools usually used for cutting down vegetation, are used to cleave the stone in the mines.

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SMOLArt African Soapstone

Hand Carved Soapstone Animal Chess Set - 15" Board - Smolart

Hand Carved Soapstone Maasai Chess Set - 14" Board - Smolart

Handcrafted 5-inch Soapstone Angel Sculpture in Blue - Smolart

Handcrafted 5-inch Soapstone Angel Sculpture in Orange - Smolart

Handcrafted 5-inch Soapstone Angel Sculpture in Pink - Smolart

Handcrafted 5-inch Soapstone Sitting Cat Sculpture in Dark Blue - Smolart

Handcrafted 5-inch Soapstone Sitting Cat Sculpture in Orange - Smolart

Handcrafted 5-inch Soapstone Sitting Cat Sculpture in Yellow - Smolart

Handcrafted 8-in Soapstone Connected Hearts Sculpture in Black

Handcrafted 8-in Soapstone Connected Hearts Sculpture Red

Handcrafted 8-in Soapstone Connected Hearts Sculpture White

Handcrafted Blue Soapstone Hippo -African Art

Handcrafted Large Giraffe Soapstone Sculpture in Black - Smolart

Handcrafted Large Giraffe Soapstone Sculpture in Orange - Smolart

Handcrafted Large Giraffe Soapstone Sculpture in Red - Smolart

Handcrafted Mini Soapstone Lion Africa Art Sculpture Blue

Handcrafted Mini Soapstone Lion African Art Sculpture Lime

Handcrafted Mini Soapstone Lion African Art Sculpture Purple

Handcrafted Red African Art Soapstone Hippo Red

Handcrafted Soapstone Lover's Heart Sculpture Black

Natural 10-in Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture - 2 Parents 1 Child

Natural 10-in Soapstone African Family Sculpture with 2 Children

Natural 8-in Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 1 Parent 2 Children

Natural 8-in Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 2 Parents 2 Children

Natural Soapstone 10-inch Lover's Embrace Sculpture

Natural Soapstone 10-inch Lover's Knot in Black - Smolart

Natural Soapstone 6-in Lover's Embrace African Art Sculpture

Natural Soapstone 6-inch Lover's Knot - African Art

Natural Soapstone 6-inch Lover's Knot in Black - African Art

Natural Soapstone 8-inch Lover's Embrace African Sculpture

Natural Soapstone 8-inch Lover's Knot - Smolart

Natural Soapstone 8-inch Lover's Knot in Black -African Art

Natural Soapstone African Art Circle of Friends Sculpture

Natural Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 1 Parent 2 Children

Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Cats African Art Sculpture

Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Elephants

Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Hippos African Art

Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Rhinos African Art

Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Turtles African Art

Set of Three Handcrafted Mini Soapstone Hearts African Art

Soapstone 6-inch African Art Nativity Set

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