Artfully hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone by African artisans, this natural stone compass is a beautiful piece of art! Made from light grey natural soapstone, it blends well with any decor and works well on a desk.  The significance of the compass as a metaphoric guiding point is a great reference of strength to support a friend. Makes a Great gift for men! 

Found only in the hills of southwestern Kenya, Kisii soapstone is mined from surface hills in a labor-intensive process using little to no machinery. Laborers works with shovels, picks, axes and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks, which are then carved into beautiful art.

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.

Measures approximately 4-5/8-inches wide x 5-1/4-inches tall x 1-1/2-inches deep.  Due to the hand-carved nature, each piece may vary in size by up to a half an inch.

2-piece set. Colors are a lighter grey with natural variations expected from soapstone.

Artisan Information

This product is carved by the artists of SMOLArt a community group of artists who live in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya, the heart of soapstone crafts. 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 support community development by contributing to projects that improve living conditions, education, and health of their members and the village at large.