These sailboats are made from soapstone that comes from Tabaka/Kenya, a town with about 10,000 inhabitants and about 25 km away from Kisii. Hence the term “Kisii soapstone”.
Soapstone (steatite) is a soft natural stone. The color of the stones varies between white, grey, yellow and reddish tones and is partly permeated by beautiful grains. The raw material is mined on site in quarries.
The carvers are independent artists who each specialize in one product area. Tools include impact chisels, knives, scrapers and sandpaper. The fine sanding, washing of the stone, waxing and polishing is then usually carried out by women from the family. The 100% handwork causes the differences in shape.
This miniature was included in the November 2024 themed "Mysterious Water" sandtray subscription box.
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Height: 2.75 inches