Description
This brownstone bear is my latest original carving. I used natural Brazilian-origin soapstone which has a warm brown colour with black veins. Hand carved with traditional hand tools and polished with standard waterbase sandpapers to a bright shine and smoothness.
8.25″ x 4.5″ x 4″ 21 x 11.5 x 10 cm. 3.050 kg.
Even though soapstone is a metamorphic rock, it’s not hard at all. Measured by the Mohs scale where diamonds are the hardest at 10, soapstone is on the bottom with 2. It’s a wonderful stone however with a variety of uses. Known as an excellent insulator for electrical and heat resistance, when grinned to the dust used for cosmetics like talk powder and as a paint agent.
Because it’s intense and has many available colours found all over the world, one of the most favoured carving mediums for armatures and professionals equally. Easy to shape it with a basic rasp or file, and polish it with standard sandpapers. The variety of colours inspires artists to carve gleaming figurines and sculptures.
The cons are that it’s easily damaged, scratches with fingernails, and by rubbing it to other harder objects.
The pros, it’s easy to repair it. All it takes just sanding away the damaged spots, starting with 100 grit, then doubling the smoothness, 200, 400, 800. 1500, 2000. After 600 grit, the colour comes back, just need to shine it a little more. A little bee wax or olive oil buff helps to seal the tiny pores and stays shiny for a long time. Other brownstone bear also available, carved from the same stone.
Vickie –
No words to explain detail in this carving. Exquisite!!
Barnaby H. –
Great Etsy Experience! Very fast international delivery , Well Packaged, Great Value and very unique and interesting stone carving. It looks great down at the new Beach house. Love the work please do an ocean piece so we have another excuse to purchase one of your amazing pieces……