Soapstone carving goes back 3,000 years to China, which then spread to Greece, Egypt, Africa, Iran, Europe, the Inuit tribes of Alaska and throughout the Americas. Soapstone is a metamorphic rock, which undergoes constant changes through time and pressure; it also has a talc base, which gives it a smooth feel and its malleable property, makes it ideal for carving and sculpting.
The color of soapstone depends upon the location and proximity of other mineral deposits in the local area. Various natural colors such as green, black, white, and pink are available.
In Kisii and many parts of Kenya, soapstone is mined using picks and shovels, just as it has been by previous generations of Kenyan carvers. After the soapstone is harvested, the upturned earth is placed back in the ground so that mineral deposits may begin to form new soapstone.
Hand-carved with basic tools, soapstone sculptures take on intricate shapes and have a soothing, smooth finish. Each carving is then sanded and polished by hand for a lustrous finish. In Kenya, most often, men mine, carve and paint the stones, while women sand, polish, wash and pack the finished pieces.
