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.
Hand Carved Soapstone Animal Chess Set - 15" Board - Smolart
$79.99
Hand-carved from soapstone in Kenya, this chess set features 32 delicate pieces in an animal theme on a 15-inch square board. As each piece is hand carved from natural stone,...
Handcrafted 8-in Soapstone Connected Hearts Sculpture Red
$29.95
Handcarved from a single piece of soapstone, this sculpture features two intertwined hearts. It measures 8 inches tall. Meet the Artisans Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of SMOLArt...
Handcrafted Large Giraffe Soapstone Sculpture in Black - Smolart
$29.95
Handcarved from a single piece of soapstone, this sculpture features a graceful giraffe tucking its head. It measures 7 inches in length, 5 inches tall, and 4 inches wide. Meet...
Handcrafted Large Giraffe Soapstone Sculpture in Orange - Smolart
$29.95
Handcarved from a single piece of soapstone, this sculpture features a graceful giraffe tucking its head. It measures 7 inches in length, 5 inches tall, and 4 inches wide. Meet...
Handcrafted Large Giraffe Soapstone Sculpture in Red - Smolart
$29.95
Handcarved from a single piece of soapstone, this sculpture features a graceful giraffe tucking its head. It measures 7 inches in length, 5 inches tall, and 4 inches wide. Meet...
Handcrafted Soapstone Lover's Heart African Art Sculpture Red
$29.95
Handcarved from soapstone, this unique sculpture represents two lovers in the shape of a heart. Measures 8 inches tall. Meet the Artisans Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of...
Handcrafted Soapstone Lover's Heart African Art Sculpture White
$29.95
Handcarved from soapstone, this unique sculpture represents two lovers in the shape of a heart. Measures 8 inches tall. Meet the Artisans Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of...
Natural 10-in Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 2 Parents 3 Children
$34.95
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...
Natural 10-in Soapstone Family Sculpture with 4 Children
$34.95
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...
Natural 8-in Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 2 Parents 4 Children
$29.99
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...
Natural 8-in Tall Soapstone Family Sculpture 2 Parents 1 Child
$29.99
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...
Natural Soapstone 10-inch Lover's Knot - Smolart
$29.95
Hand carved from soapstone, this sculpture features an abstract representation of two lovers. The piece is carved from one piece of soapstone and is about 10 inches tall. Meet the...
Natural Soapstone 10-inch Lover's Knot in Black - Smolart
$29.95
Hand carved from soapstone, this sculpture features an abstract representation of two lovers. The piece is carved from one piece of soapstone and is about 10 inches tall. Meet the...
Natural Soapstone 6-inch Lover's Knot in Black - African Art
$19.95
Hand carved from soapstone, this sculpture features an abstract representation of two lovers. The piece is carved from one piece of soapstone and is about 6 inches tall. Meet the...
Natural Soapstone 8-inch Lover's Knot - Smolart
$24.95
Hand carved from soapstone, this sculpture features an abstract representation of two lovers. The piece is carved from one piece of soapstone and is about 8 inches tall. Meet the...
Natural Soapstone 8-inch Lover's Knot in Black -African Art
$24.95
Hand carved from soapstone, this sculpture features an abstract representation of two lovers. The piece is carved from one piece of soapstone and is about 8 inches tall. Meet the...
Natural Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 1 Parent 2 Children
$34.95
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...
Natural Soapstone African Art Family Sculpture 2 Parents 3 Children
$29.99
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...
Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Elephants
$19.95
Set of three brightly colored elephants each elephant is 2 inches tall, by 2.5 inches long and is hand painted with an abstract design. Colors and designs may not be...
Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Hippos African Art
$19.95
Set of three brightly colored hippos each hippo is 2 inches tall, by 2.5 inches long and is hand painted with an abstract design. Colors and designs may not be...
Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Rhinos African Art
$19.95
Set of three brightly colored rhinos each rhino is 2 inches tall, by 2.5 inches long and is hand painted with an abstract design. Colors and designs may not be...
Set of 3 Mini Handcrafted Soapstone Sitting Elephants African Art
$24.95
Set of three brightly colored elephants each elephant is 3 inches tall and is hand painted with an abstract design. Colors and designs may not be exactly as pictured, we...
Set of Three Handcrafted Mini Soapstone Hearts African Art
$19.95
Hand carved from soapstone in Kenya, this set is comprised of three hearts hand painted on both sides. Each heart is 1.75 inches in size. Colors and designs will vary...
Soapstone 6-inch African Art Nativity Set
$29.95
Hand carved from cream-colored soapstone in Kenya, this nativity set has 12 pieces, the tallest of which is 6 inches tall. Variations in color and design will occur due to...
Soapstone Eight Inch Nativity Set
$39.95
A fair trade Nativitiy from Kenya is carved in soapstone. The largest piece in this nativity set is approx. 8 inches tall. The set is hand carved from soapstone in...
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