The collection of artworks from Asia and the East housed in the Astrakhan Art Gallery named after Pavel Mikhailovich Dogadin includes works of art made of soapstone. Among them, there is a cup with two handles and a lid that is rather noteworthy. It is covered with carved patterns of plants and animals.
Soapstone is a mineral, a kind of talc. The name soapstone is derived from its strikingly smooth surface: soapstone is so oily to the touch that it resembles a bar of soap. This mineral is commonly known by various names, such as wax, soap, ice, and stove stone. It is not surprising that it has been given such descriptive names, as it has low heat conduction.
Natural stone is a product of nature, so no two stones are the same. Many items made of soapstone are distinguished by a special artistic expressiveness and a peculiar style in which realistic images of animals are combined with images of supernatural beings.
There are three types of decorative motifs popular for soapstone items. They depict humans, plants and animals. Anthropological motifs include scenes of hunting, feasts, sports competitions and religious ceremonies. Botanic motifs feature images of lotus flower, cypress, flowers and shrubs, arabesques and hatai. Animal imagery includes depictions of lions, bulls with wings, birds, double-headed bulls, and horses.
In India, Sumer, and ancient Egypt, this natural material was endowed with magical properties. In ancient times, amulets, bracelets, brooches, and magical figurines were made of soapstone.
Geologists call soapstone talcochlorite, because it contains 40–50% talc. A distinctive feature of the stone is its heat resistance. It heats up quickly and cools down slowly, which is why it is widely used in the decoration of fireplaces and stoves. Talcochlorite is such a clean and eco-friendly stone that in Finland and the Baltic States people used it to make dishes for cooking and serving food.
