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Mukwa
Soapstone (Canada)
6" tall
Soapstone (also steatite) is a soft metamorphic rock. It is impurities (mica, chlorite, pyroxene, amphibole, serpentine, quartz, calcite) that drive the wonderful color variations: white, grey, black and greens. Whilst some soapstones contain asbestos and/or silica, my stone dealer only supplies stone that is known to be "clean".
Soapstone has been admired since antiquity: Egyptians carved it into scarabs; in China and India, it was used for ornaments as is the case for the past 7,500 years by First Nations, Inuit and Norse in Canada.
Mukwa is the Ojibwe word for bear. This simple "Navajo bear", symbolizing courage, physical strength and leadership, pays homage to this rich legacy.
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