Soapstone Handicrafts from Kenya are very popular for some time now. Most originate in the Kisii District of Kenya to the west of Lake Victoria. The history of soap stone handicrafts in Kenya goes back to the ancient times when the first Kenyan carved a bowl or cup from this easy to work stone. Since then the art has been passed down from generation to generation and gotten more complex as the years have passed. Many villages have their particular techniques and tricks that make their carved stone unique from the other areas. By learning which techniques are employed by which villages an expert can tell where a particular piece was made.
The differences in pieces from various villages along with the generations of carvers have created many price variations in the work. With the proper guidance, you can accumulate quite a collection of these beautiful artifacts. Some buyers specialize in the more commonplace items like unadorned bowls and plates while others concentrate on the exotic and carvings like Soapstone bookends and decorative abstract home décor pieces.
Though soapstone handicrafts have been created in most societies at one time or another, the Kenyan versions have become the standard all others are measured against. One of the determining factors in the quality of the carvings is the color and quality of the Soapstone. In the Kisii district of Kenya, there are at this moment, hundreds of people practicing the art of Soapstone carving. By exporting these works many locals have been able to raise the level of their income above the poverty level.
By keeping the tradition of their ancestors alive and well, these Kenyans honor their past and help to better their future.