Soapstone Salt Dish

The Soapstone Salt Dishes are elegant pinch dishes that will grace your dining table for years to come.  

Handcarved in Kenya, the salt dishes are perfectly proportioned to hold salt flakes or spices. They even make gorgeous ring or earring dishes.

The Salt Dishes are available in cream, pink or charcoal soapstone. 

Each Asili piece carries its own unique marbling. You will not necessarily receive the dish pictured but one of the same colour variation. Every dish is stunning and you are sure to love whatever comes your way. 

Kenyan Soapstone is a metamorphic rock that consists of the mineral talc, also known as steatite, and is known for being soft and easy to work with. From marbled whites, soft pinks and oranges, to deep blue-grey, the natural minerals found within soapstone make each Asili piece completely unique. 

Things to Know

Size: 7 x 2cm

Material: Soapstone

Made in: Kenya

Shipping: Free shipping on orders over $200

The Story Behind It

Founded by Kiwi couple Eve and Hamish, Asili was established as a means to work with African Artisans and their natural materials. Asili was born after a trip to Uganda and Kenya in 2017. With their design backgrounds (Eve interior Architecture, and Hamish Spatial design) and shared passion for art, design and culture, the couple fell in love with the materials Africa had to offer and the incredible craftsmanship of the artisans they met.  

Eve and Hamish wanted to create a business that showcases the work of the talented craftspeople in East Africa, while working with contemporary designs and brands across the globe. In doing so, they support artisans and their trade by providing a sustainable income, trading opportunities and skills to grow their business and skillset.  Fair-trade practices are fundamental to Asili and all their makers are fair-trade certified. 

Asili's name borrows from the Swahili word for essence, genesis, the source of something. It stands for the truth or fundamental nature of a person or object. Asili was established as a way to bring ideas together; heritage and present-day, craft and industry. Each partnership considers the true character of a natural material within a modern design framework. Asili objects are used in daily life, leave a lasting impression, and harmonise with other items in the home.