PURPOSE / USAGE / PRODUCTION: The original purpose of the ancient soapstone figurines is not known. Current day carvings serve three purposes. First, they honor former chiefs, and second the stones are sold to tourists. And third, the stones are occasionally used in shrines. The raw stone is first soaked in water for several days. Water softens the stone. The carving is done with a knife. Lastly, the stone is left to dry and harden. Former ivory and wood carvers produce these soapstone carvings.
GEOGRAPHY / CULTURE GROUP: Sierra Leone, Mende. The ancestors (Mande) of Mende people moved south into current day Sierra Leone in the 16th century where they settled and became farmers, hunters, and fishermen. Farmers found ancient stone figures in their fields. The steatite or soapstone figures were called nomoli. Other tribes refer to the figures by different names. Twentieth century Sierra Leone artists found the steatite stone used by ancient carvers and started to carve these stones creating contemporary soapstone carvings.
