Elephant Soapstone Tea Light Holder

Hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone by African artisans, this elephant tea-light holder is a fun way to add a global touch to your home, office or outdoor space. Elephants are a symbol of strength, and a reminder of support for anyone facing a long, hard journey - for yourself, or your tribe of family or friends. 

• Measures approximately 2.5-inches tall by 4-inches long by 1.75-inches wide.
• Hand-painted in a lustrous black finish with etched design detailing
• Holds a standard size 1.5-inch tealight, votive candle, or get creative with a small succulent or crystals (not supplied). 

Care Instructions

Mix mild detergent with water and wipe with soft cloth.

Meet the Artisan

Smolart

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 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.
Soapstone is mined from great pits in the area surrounding Kiisi, Kenya. The mined soapstone is then delivered to carvers who carve sculptures from the natural stone for the wholesale market, the color of which ranges from cream, to pink, to brown, to yellow, to black, to a marbling of all of them. Once carved, the craftspeople smooth rough edges of the soapstone with sandpaper dipped in water and polish the piece to a high gloss or paint African motifs in brilliant colors with etched accents.
All of the soapstone products we sell are completely handmade. The tools consist of household items from screwdrivers, hand drills, to switchblades. "Pangas," sword-like tools usually used for cutting down vegetation, are used to cleave the stone in the mines.