Soapstone Mudcloth Design Safari Elephant and Hippo Bowl Set

This safari set features two artfully carved pieces - a decorative elephant and trinket elephant bowl. Hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone by African artisans, each is uniquely handmade and decorated in a traditional mud cloth design.  The artisans painted simple tribal designs to form a modern and neutral design that can go with any decor.  The lucky elephant and hippo make a great, ethical gift.

Product Features:

• The elephant measures approximately 3 inches and the hippo bowl is approximately 5 inches.
• Soapstone is a soft stone, making it ideal for carving into many forms. Use care when handling 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 works with shovels, picks, axes and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks, which are then carved into beautiful art.