Soapstone Hand-Carved Traditional Chess Set - Grey/Natural Stone

Crafted by African artisans in Western Kenya using traditional techniques, this soapstone chess set will become a conversation piece during play or on display! The board features square inlay pieces of dark gray and natural soapstone.  Each piece is hand carved in either gray or natural off-white soapstone. Due to the natural characteristics of soapstone, the colors will vary.  The game pieces are approximately 2.25 to 3.5 inches tall.

 Product Features:

• Board measures approximately 14 - 15-inches square and is approximately .25-inch high. 
• A natural stone, color variations are to be expected and enjoyed for the one-of-a-kind beauty.
• Due to the handmade nature of this item, each is unique and will vary slightly. 
• 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.
• 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.

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.