| When it comes to heating one's home, there is | | | | southern colonies. |
| almost nothing more traditional, attractive and | | | | Soapstone wood stoves feature a lovely grained |
| inviting than a genuine wood stove - and | | | | surface that is similar to marble. Although it is |
| soapstone wood stoves are an excellent choice, | | | | softer than marble, it is also less brittle and is |
| combining beauty with practicality. | | | | chemically inert. This means it is impervious to |
| Soapstone wood stoves are made from a type | | | | staining; any discoloration on soapstone stoves is |
| pf metamorphic rock that geologists call steatite. | | | | easily cleaned. |
| Metamorphic rocks begin as one thing, then over | | | | One of the marvelous characteristics of |
| millions of years and immeasurable amounts of | | | | soapstone is its ability to blend in with virtually any |
| geologic heat and pressure, are transformed - or | | | | type of décor, whether it is Early |
| "morphed" - into something else. Steatite is a | | | | American, Victorian, Art-Deco or contemporary. |
| geologic relative of quarts and marble. Unlike | | | | In fact, there are soapstone stoves that have |
| marble, "soapstone" - so-called because it has a | | | | been used on a regular basis since the 19th |
| tactile feel similar to that of a dry bar of soap - is | | | | century. |
| relatively soft and easy to carve, yet durable. If | | | | Installing soapstone woodstoves is like installing |
| you have ever traveled to India, you may have | | | | any other kind of woodstove. However, because |
| seen elaborate soapstone carvings on Hindu | | | | of the nature of soapstone, one might find that |
| temples dating back 1,000 years and more. | | | | soapstone woodstoves are more durable - in fact |
| Soapstone wood stoves make a great deal of | | | | they can last for centuries with their original |
| sense because of the nature of soapstone. This | | | | beauty and functionality intact. |
| type of rock is highly heat resistant, while at the | | | | Those who are looking for a unique heating |
| same time an excellent conductor of heat. In fact, | | | | solution for their homes will find that soapstone |
| soapstone has been used in the creation of | | | | woodstoves are quite satisfactory, and will serve |
| pottery and other types of cookware from time | | | | their heating needs well through numerous |
| immemorial. Much of the cookware used by | | | | generations. Although they represent a larger initial |
| certain First Peoples of North America, such as | | | | investment, the characteristics of soapstone |
| the Inuit and the Iroquois, was made from | | | | woodstoves will make them last a lifetime - and |
| soapstone. Later, soapstone wood stoves and | | | | well beyond. Check out the many uses of |
| fireplaces were to be found in the homes of early | | | | soapstone today, including the many high-quality |
| European settlers in New England and the | | | | and attractive soapstone woodstoves available. |