Mini Soapstone Animals

Soapstone, also called Steatite, is a talc-schist, a metamorphic rock with a high talc content. The name "Steatite" is typically used in a geological context, referring to its use in manufacturing as a talc rock that is often ground and then pressed into blocks. Soapstone is primarily found in shades of white, gray, and red, but other colors can emerge based on the impurities present during the stone's formation.
Due to its abundance all around the world, Soapstone's importance is somewhat underestimated, but its softness paired with its high density have made it a favorite for carving for thousands of years, having been found in Native American ruins dating back at least to the Late Archaic period. And its nonporous nature means that although it is easily carved, these carvings are often very well preserved.
For the ancient people of the Americas and beyond, it was used for practical purposes such as cooking slabs and bowls as well as for art and religious sculptures. It was also used for architectural purposes, as there are buildings and cathedrals composed of Soapstone in northern Europe. One of the most interesting uses of Soapstone in today's modern world is the outer layers of the enormous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Soapstone has been revered for ages as a calming, grounding, and balancing stone. Its metaphysical properties makes it one of the most underrated stones, in our opinion, but when you consider its contributions to history as a perfect carving stone, you can see why we love it! This is an excellent stone to keep on hand when one is breaking free from old patterns that no longer serve us. In addition, Soapstone is often carved into animals that have personal and historical symbolic importance, as well!

Photography

Although we always strive to provide clear, accurate images of our crystals and other products, we photograph under professional lighting, which is meant to mimic sunlight. If you get your crystal and think it looks a little different under low or artificial light, try checking it out again in sunlight!

Our crystals are one-of-a-kind art, created by nature.

No two pieces are the same, and there is no such thing as "perfection" in nature.

When it comes to our hand-carved items, remember that artists work with and around imperfections, druzy pockets, and other natural variations to bring each carving out of a piece of natural stone.

We consider these imperfections to be one of the most wonderful parts of crystal collecting, and we invite you to embrace each carving's uniqueness!

We will always try to portray each piece honestly, so be sure to look closely at our images and videos to ensure you know what to expect.

Metaphysical Information

Metaphysical information mentioned anywhere by The Triceratory should not be considered medical advice and is not meant to be used in place of needed medical treatment.