What is soapstone?

Soapstone is a soft heavy compact variety of stone having a soapy feel; generally used to make items of giftware and ornaments all around the world.

Soapstone was discovered at Tabaka Kisii in early 1940s during the colonial days. The early artists used it for building and making household items like sugar dishes as free gifts to friends and relatives.

The commercialization of soapstone carving at Tabaka Kisii came when the Italian Missionaries came there and asked the few artisans around to make few articles for money so that they could take them to Italy as gifts. Since then we have thousands of people at Tabaka who are depending on soapstone as a way of livelihood and indeed soapstone is a multimillion dollar industry in Kenya.

Soapstone is mined and then cut or sawed into pieces as per the size of items to be carved, and then shaped using sharp chisels and then sandpapered into very smooth items which are then polished and incised as appropriate and then they are ready for sale.

The quality of soapstone at Tabaka Kisii is the best in the World. This is why the articles made from it have found markets in South Africa, South America, China, Japan, USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Sweden, UK and other markets in the world.

Where else can soapstone be found?

Soapstone is also found in Rhodesia, South Africa, Canada, China, and South America just but to name a few but the quality of the stone differs from country to country.