Patina S.H. Group

PATINA S. H. GROUP (or PATINA in short) was formed with the purpose of helping to bridge the gap between Kisii (Gusii) soapstone handicraft production and marketing. The demand for professionalism in commercial craft made it necessary to establish Patinas expertise in healthy, nutrition, education, Poverty reduction initiatives, projects design and development. Patina achieves its objective through use of eco-friendly material found in the western part of Kenya.Patina promotes economic progress by improving better work conditions and pay, by mobilizing both local resources and external human resources to fulfill its objectives. Our primary form of art is based on Kisii Soapstone, a kind of unique rock found in the western side of Kenya (East Africa) in a town called Kisii, Tabaka. The stone occurs in different colors: pink, white, gray, and molted. Kisii Soapstone carving dates back to the nineteenth century. Evidence of engraved and oral traditional suggests that Kisii carving must have been used longer before becoming a commercial enterprise. Bowls and cups where among the first functional items to be carved but most of them were fired to fit the functional purpose. Children learned the skill of carving through imitation and special talent that were passed down from one generation another. The art is used to depict the daily life style of the people of Kisii and it largely borrows from nature. The artisans get ideas from oral traditional stories and natural environment for themes and subjects for their carvings.