Soapstone Decorative Makonde Vase

This beautiful decorative vessel vase is hand-carved from a single piece of natural soapstone and depicts an opening flower.  Named for the Makonde Tribe of East Africa, Makonde art refers to modern sculptures created by craftspeople. NOTE the vase is not water-fast; Do not pour water directly into the vase.  Simply use a liner or place a water-safe vase inside if using for fresh flowers.  Unique and ethical gift. Product Features: Measures approximately: 5 inches tall and 6 inch diameter, Due to the handmade nature, actual size of each piece will vary slightly.  Soapstone is a soft stone, making it easy to carve into many forms. Handle with care to avoid breakage. Fair Trade. Because a variety of communities carve the statue, expect designs variations and color variation in the natural stone.    Story Behind the Art: Kisii soapstone is one of the most well-known artforms from East Africa.  A hand-carved piece of art from the Kisii region of Kenya is a real treasure.  Soapstone is mined from the Tabaka Hills and then carved by talented artisans into many designs that are beautiful and some functional.  Laborers work with shovels, picks, axes and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks.  The large pieces of stone are cut using pangas (large knives) and then brought to the workshop for carving and finishing.  The soapstone from the Tabaka Hills come in a range of colors from white to pink to grey.  As it is crafted, it goes through multiple stages of sanding and waxing which gives the soapstone a satiny finish. Each etching is intricately carved by hand.