Buhle soapstone sculpture

A standing woman carved from a single piece of soapstone, one hand raised to her hair and the other resting on her hip. Her weight is on one leg, and her long dress swings out at the hem.

The skin is polished smooth and dark, while the dress and hair are left rough and pale. She stands 24 cm tall and 10 cm across, and weighs 2 kg. Place her where she can be seen from more than one side, such as the end of a shelf, a hall table or a windowsill. Buhle means beauty in Ndebele.

Buhle is carved by a craftsperson in Zimbabwe who works alone, using stone found near his home.

Each figure is a single piece of stone, with nothing joined or glued. He carves the rough shape first, then the folds of the dress and the hair, and finally the skin, which he sands and polishes to a smooth, darker finish. The polished areas are then waxed.

Dust with a dry cloth, or a slightly damp one when it needs more. Soapstone scratches easily, so lift it rather than sliding it, and keep it away from grit. The shine on the polished skin comes from wax: avoid detergent and hot water, and re-wax those areas about once a year.