One side of the round soapstone circles is a smiling face. On the other side it says Keep Smiling.
This was one of 3 artisan miniatures in the March 2025 "Travel Dreams" themed subscription box.
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The soapstone product come from Tabaka, Kenya, a place with about 10,000 inhabitants and approximately 25 km away from Kisii. Soapstone (steatite) is a soft natural stone. The color of the stones varies between white, gray, yellow, and reddish tones, sometimes interspersed with beautiful grain patterns. The raw material is extracted locally in quarries. The carvers are independent artists who specialize in a specific product area. Tools include chisels, knives, scrapers, and sandpapers. The fine finishing, washing of the stone, waxing, and polishing is usually done by women from the family. The 100% handmade nature results in differences in shape.