Hippopotamus shaped bookends

Kisii Stone (soap stone) is hand mined without machinery in south western Kenya. The regional capital is Kisii from which the stone is named. Each piece of stone is hand carved, a highly specialised job. The stone is then sanded and painted, and finally polished.

Sales of carved Kisii stone provides income for artisans and their families who help in the production process. Usually men carve and paint the stone, and women sand and polish it, the lowest paid part of the process. Zuri worked with the group to change this, training women in carving and painting.

Handmade in Kenya