Hand-carved from Kisii soapstone by African artisans, this 5-piece Nativity set includes Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, and animals in a sleek, modern sculpture set.
Because a variety of communities carve the figurines, designs variations should be expected and appreciated for the unique handmade nature of each piece. Photos show a representation of pieces.
Product Features:
- Features 5 figurines hand-carved from natural soapstone. Color variations can range from creamy white to pink to grey to gold in any single piece.
- Tallest piece measures approximately 4-inches tall. Smallest piece is approximately 1.25-inches tall. Diameter of each piece is approximately 1-inch. Baby Jesus is approximately 1.5-inches in length by 1-inch wide. 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.
- Each piece has gone through multiple stages of sanding and waxing, giving the soapstone a satiny finish.
- Socially responsible products that empower consumers to purchase according to their values and help alleviate global poverty.
- Fair Trade is an alternative business model that values safe workplaces, fair wages and community investment for factory employees.
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.
