Horsehair raku or pottery is a unique type of pottery combining an ancient Japanese firing method with the application of a horse's tail hair.
Each piece of pottery is handmade by me on the pottery wheel using a strong white stoneware clay body. After throwing, smoothing, trimming, burnishing, and finally bisque firing, the pot is ready to raku fire. The bisque pots are loaded into the raku kiln and the temperature is brought up to over 1200 degrees. The pots are then carefully removed, one at a time and the horsehair is applied one hair at a time to the extremely hot pot. Instantly the hair starts to vaporize on the surface of the pot, squiggling and dancing around the surface of the piece, painting it's image on the pot, leaving behind carbon black lines. Each piece is an original masterpiece of the hair, wind and fire, never are two pieces alike. Not yet done, the pot gets washed, dried, and finally a hard wax finish is buffed on in multiple layers. Whew, it's a long road to the finished piece, but one so unique and beautiful, I am compelled to do it again and again.
I have been making these pottery pieces to sell in galleries for years now, but since I don't own my own horse, I have been given horsehair by friends, the hair having been collected during normal grooming of their horses. I have graced these friends with pieces of pottery made using their horse's hair and the response was overwhelming! Years later they are still telling me how very special these pieces are to them because they are made with their horse's hair! I should be offering this service to the public they cried.
So here I am, offering to you a hand made, unique piece of art, made with your horses hair, in honor of the friendship you have with your horse. Prices start at under $50 and each piece is custom made for you. Contact me if this appeals to YOU.
sandi@simplyearthpottery.com