One of nineteen specimens illustrating the manufacture of chunam or shell lime plaster in Madras - a sample of ballapum or soapstone

One of nineteen specimens illustrating the manufacture of chunam or shell lime plaster in Madras - a sample of ballapum or soapstone powder, for sprinkling during polishing

Figure in soapstone of Guandi (God of War), on horseback with his attendant, Zhou Cang: China, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong reign, 1736 - 1795 AD

Bowl of soapstone: China

Seal of soapstone, one of a pair, carved with a guardian lion on a pedestal: China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century AD

Seal of soapstone, one of a pair, carved with a guardian lion on a pedestal: China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century AD

Model of a Chinese mandarin's tomb in carved soapstone with figures, made for export: China, Qing Dynasty, 1865 - 1870

Lamp of carved soapstone: China

Lamp of carved soapstone: China

Reclining figure of a child in carved soapstone: China

Reclining figure of a child in carved soapstone: China

Reclining figure of a child in carved soapstone: China

Figure carved in soapstone of a sage: China

Group in soapstone probably representing Shide and Hanshan, the twin genii of union and harmony, with a three-legged toad, a lotus branch and a pandora? box: China, 18th century

Seated figure of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy and Queen of Heaven, in carved soapstone: China, 17th - 18th century

Figure in soapstone of the arhat (luohan) Pan-the-chia, seated with a dragon, a magic bowl and the sacred gem: China, 17th century AD