The largest piece in this nativity set is approximately 6 inches tall. The set is hand carved from soapstone in the rural village of Tabaka in Kisii County, Kenya. The stone is also called Kisii Stone, after the region where it is mined.
The soft soapstone is mined with shovels, crowbars, and hammers in the Tabaka Hills. The color of the stone can vary from white, pink, brown, yellow and black. Individual carvers usually specialize in 1 or 2 types of items, breaking the stones with a panga (machete) and then using a hammer and chisel or knife to create a rough shape. The soapstone is often immersed into water so that it is easier to carve. Once it's finished the piece undergoes multiple stages of sanding and then waxing. This gives the kisii stone a satiny finish. Sometimes the stone is dyed with non-toxic dyes and with accents carved into the stone.
The sales of these carvings bring valuable employment to the area where most households are involved in some form of the production process.
Because these are handcrafted items, each will vary slightly.
Handcarved in Kenya
