THE ELEGANCE OF NATURE SOFTLY CARVED IN SOAPSTONE

<p>This volume traces the history of the Chinese soapstone carvers and explains why they chose nature and symbolic figures as the subject matter. It includes a selected gallery from the author's collection of hundreds of soapstone pieces.    </p><p>         From the author: There is little available information about the real origin of Chinese soapstone carvings. Perhaps one reason being that soapstone was considered lesser in value than jade the most sought after by collectors. The Chinese were the master carvers with similarities from piece to piece that suggested a definite traditional style with deeper roots and meaning. In my collection now numbering in the hundreds of pieces are some jade pieces. When comparing the carving itself the intricate inclusions in soapstone despite the colorations are artistically superior to the jade that is considered much more valuable and rarer. </p>