Description: There's stuff I've heard and stuff I know. In the first category, I know these are handmade soapstone birds from Kenya and are a full set of this particular style, namely that I have seen two instances of these five colors carrying these five exact designs on them, no more, no less. I can also promise you that the sizes range from 4-1/4" wide (the mahogany red) to 3-1/4" wide for the fuschia pink. The purple, dark green, and aquamarine birds are in-between. They stand between an inch and an inch and a half tall. As with anything truly handmade, the sizes are different and so are each design, the beaks, the tails, and some wings. And yet, they fit together (in my opinion)! I've also read in my research from a reputable importing site that these are Akija calming birds, a fair trade product. Each one is hand carved by machete out of soapstone (which explains the different shapes, styles, and sizes), sanded until smooth and dyed. After that, the artisan uses an appropriate knife to etch the different patterns into each bird. As we slip into trickier matters, these are called "calming birds" because some believe that soapstone creates positive energy and a calming influence. When you're stressed, hold one of these birds in your hand to prepare you for anything! I read too, and I hope it's true, that these pieces are being created under the auspices of the Vaneal Self-Help Group in Kenya's Kisii region to provide income opportunities. I wasn't able to find out enough about the Vaneal Group to my satisfaction, but a cynical old man can always hope. That's all I've got. Thanks for stopping by!Rick P.S. I ship VERY carefully.
Price: 27.5 USD
Location: Mansfield, Massachusetts
End Time: 2024-12-29T00:20:25.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Provenance: Family
Country/Region of Manufacture: Kenya
Handmade: Yes
Culture: Kisii
