Horse Hair Pottery

Most of my pieces are formed on the wheel. They are air dried completely, several coats of Terra Sigillata are applied, and then bisque fired in an electric kiln. Later the piece is placed in a Raku kiln and heated to about 1300 degrees. It is carefully removed very hot with long tongs and put on a work table. Individual strands of horse hair from the tail or mane are placed on the hot pot. If the temperature on the surface of the piece is just right the hair will attach to the pot, sizzle, shrivel up, and burn, leaving behind a small deposit of carbon and smoke. When cool the piece is washed, dried, and waxed to a soft satin finish. Because horse hair pottery is not glazed it should not be used as a water vessel for fresh flowers. It’s use is solely as a piece of art. Each piece is very unique and no two could ever be alike. 
I make special order pots using your horse hair from a beloved horse. It makes a great memorial to last more than a lifetime.


   
       
                                              



                     vryba@earthnfirepottery.net   

              

  “The Hand of the Artist combined with The Hand of Nature”