Global Crafts
Hand-Carved Black Soapstone Menorah for Hanukkah
Hand-Carved Black Soapstone Menorah for Hanukkah
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Hand-carved from soapstone by African craftsmen, this menorah is an elegant way to illuminate each night of Hanukkah. Each piece is mined from the Kisii hills of Kenya, and then chiseled and carved into shape. Because the artisans use rudimentary carving tools following traditional methods passed down through the ages, each piece will have differences in size, exact shape, and texture. Candle holes possibly may not be symmetrical. These nuances attest to the unique, one-of-a-kind beauty of each piece.
*Menorah candles are sold separately.
Product features:
- Measures 12 x 2.5 x 6 inches. Due to the hand-carved nature, the exact size may vary.
- Weighs approximately 15 lbs.
- Natural color stone. Colors may range from light to dark grey to earthy browns in any single piece.
- Soapstone is a soft stone, making it ideal for carving into many forms. Use care when handling to avoid breakage.
- Each piece has gone through multiple stages of sanding and waxing, giving the soapstone a satiny finish.
- Fair Trade, socially responsible products that help alleviate global poverty.
Story Behind the Art:
Each sculpture is artfully hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone, found only in the hills of southwestern Kenya. Mining the soapstone from surface hills is a labor-intensive process, using little to no machinery. Laborers work with shovels, picks, axes, and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks, which are then carved into beautiful art.
To learn more about the talented artists and the techniques that they use to create these eco-friendly items, please click on "About the Artisans".
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About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of SMOLArt; a group of artists who live in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya, the heart of Kenya's soapstone carving region. The name, a shortened version of Small, Medium, and Large Artists, refers to the size of the soapstone products the artisans make, not their stature. Established in 1990, SMOLArt is a member of the WFTO, and as such assures that the artisans are paid a fair price for their work. In addition, the organization supports community development by contributing to projects that improve the living conditions, education, and health of their members and the village at large.
Soapstone is mined from great pits in the area surrounding Kiisi, Kenya. The mined soapstone is then delivered to carvers who hand carve sculptures from the natural stone for the wholesale market, the color of which ranges from warm cream to pink, to brown, to yellow, to black, to a marbling of all of them. Once carved, the craftspeople smooth the rough edges of the soapstone with sandpaper dipped in water and polish the piece to a high gloss or paint on African motifs in brilliant colors with etched accents.
