Hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone by African artisans, these soapstone hippo bowls make a great trinket dish to brighten up your nightstand, dresser, coffe table or office desk! * Measures approximately 5-inches from head to tail. * Hand-painted. * Soapstone is a soft, natural mineral from the earth, 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 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. ?