Square box with red hearts - soapstone

This box came from Tabaka/Kenya, a town with about 10,000 inhabitants and about 25 km away from Kisii. It is made of soapstone, a soft natural stone. The raw material is mined on site in quarries and the carvers are independent artists who each specialize in one product area. The tools they use 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 and color. Width:  3 inches Depth:  3 inches Height: 1.5 inches