Soapstone sculpture rhino 10 cm high, black

This sturdy rhino shows her beautiful forms and is entirely black except for the horns, which are dark brown to give a nice contrast with the rest of the body.
 

The sculptures are made with the utmost care from a piece of natural stone. The smaller sculptures are made of soapstone; this stone is not suitable for outdoor use, because it is relatively soft. The larger sculptures are usually made of opalstone, springstone, cobaltstone or fruit serpentine. This is a harder stone and suitable for outdoor use.

The stone may contain irregularities such as veins and lines. These irregularities give the sculpture extra charm and a unique character. 

The stone is worked in various stages with a hammer and chisel, rasp and file. Once the rough shape has been created, the stone is polished with waterproof sandpaper until it is completely smooth. After polishing, the sculpture is heated and a layer of wax is applied. When the sculpture has cooled down again, it is polished and gets its full colour and shine. The sculpture is ready.