Hobbies And Interests
What Soapstone Is
Soapstone is a name that covers many different talc-based rock types. Properties of steatite, pyrophyllite and breunerite mimic soapstone so closely that they, too, are called soapstone by sculptors. Soapstone consists mainly of talc, which is silicon oxide, oxygen, magnesium oxide, water and loose molecules of magnesium and silicon. On the hardness scale that places diamond at 10, soapstone is a 1. Soapstone varies in color depending on other incidental minerals mixed into its creation. From continent to continent, artists have found black, green, pink, white and other shades to work with. Its ready availability and friendliness to carving tools make soapstone ideal for sculpting.
History
Soapstone artifacts have been found in Egyptian tombs. Sculptors in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) used soapstone rather than more expensive jade. Ancient cultures around the world have carved this malleable stone into bowls, pipes and figures from the natives of North America to peoples in Africa, India, China and Australia. Variations in soapstone color and composition from different geographical areas help archaeologists track human transport and trading, such as when Indian soapstone carvings are found in Mesopotamia.
Function
Sculpting of soapstone is not only for artistic renderings of animals and people. For thousands of years, soapstone has been carved into everyday items such as bowls or pipes and is still used today in cookware in Scandinavian countries. Soapstone's heat diffusion properties make it well suited to use in the kitchen. Due to its nonporous surface and resistance to acid, soapstone works well as a countertop surface in chemical laboratories and is gaining popularity in homes.
Tools
Ancient peoples carved soapstone with little more than a chip of flint, using sand to polish the piece. Modern soapstone sculptors use saws, mallets and chisels, rattail files and rasps. Sculptures can be smoothed with sandpaper and rubbed with mineral oil if a shiny finish is desired. Because soapstone absorbs heat, a power tool like a band saw can also be used to remove large sections without damaging the saw or the stone.
Identification
Soapstone sculptures often resemble marble for the patterns within the rock. Soapstone gets its name from the "soapy" feel of the talc in the rock. Lines of soapstone sculpture carvings are often smooth and corners rounded. Individual artists develop their own style of carving. Collectors can often identify a specific artist based on style.
Size
Soapstone can be purchased from a quarry that mines it either in blocks or as rough boulders. The size will vary depending on the quarry. The giant statue "Christ the Redeemer" in Rio de Janeiro is built of soapstone layered over reinforced concrete; soapstone was chosen for its durability in the elements. Soapstone can be carved as small as the artist can work. The density of soapstone is nearly identical to porcelain and is often compared to granite.
Considerations
Soapstone artist Sandy Cline warns that larger boulders, such as castoffs from mining, may have cracks that should be filed off prior to sculpting. Otherwise, part of the sculptor's hard work may slough off unexpectedly. Soapstone has a grain the sculptor must work with. When asked how long sculpting a piece will take, Mr. Cline answers, "As long as it takes."