Hand-carved Soapstone Chess Set, Animal Pieces

This chess set comes with 32 delicate pieces in an African animal theme on a 15-inch square board. To make this a unique item, each piece is hand carved and made from natural soapstone, mined from the Kisii hills in Kenya.

Story Behind the Art: This piece is carved by the artists of SMOLArt a 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 wholesale 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.

• Set includes 32-pieces and a 15-inch board.
• Each piece is hand carved in either pink or white soapstone. Due to the natural characteristics of soapstone, the colors will vary from cream to pink to earthy gold.
• Soapstone is a naturally soft mineral, making it ideal for carving.
• Care should be taken to avoid breakage.