Horsehair pottery is made from a white clay that has been bisque fired to a lower than usual temperature. This leaves the fired clay body quite porous, enabling it to absorb the carbon from burning horse hair. Later, the bisque is warmed up in the kiln to about 1300 degrees Fahrenheit. When it is removed, individual strands of horsehair, preferably from the tail, are laid against the hot surface. If the temperature on the surface of the piece is just right, the hair will attach to the pot, shrivel up, and begin to burn. As the ash forms, a small deposit of carbon and smoke is absorbed into the clay surface, leaving a permanent trace of the horsehair. As the temperature falls below 900 degrees Fahrenheit, the pot will no longer accept the hair, and the process is over. When the ashes are washed away and the piece is completely dry, it is usually polished with a paste wax or sprayed with an aerosol furniture polish to give it a soft satin finish and lasting luster.

Because horsehair pottery must be porous in order to achieve the effect, it is not to be used as a water vessel for fresh flowers. Its use is solely as a piece of art to enhance the décor of your favorite room or to make a statement about your appreciation of your horse. It makes a nice conversation started if you take it to work. If you like I can carve the name of your horse on the bottom of the vessel. If you don't have a horse I often have pieces for sale in the gallery.


Questions and Answers


Does it matter what color my horse's hair is?

The color of the hair doesn't change the process. The thickness of the hair often does. My horse has a flaxen (almost white) mane and tail but his hair is very coarse. The lines come out darker on the pot then my husband's bay horse that has thinner hair. The black lines are from the carbon burning into the the pot. I always ask for 20 mane and 20 tail hairs to get the thicker and thinner lines. If your horse has passed and you only have the tail hair that will be fine.


Can I use the hair from my dog or cat?

Any coarse hair (or feathers) will work. Horse hair works well because it's so coarse and long. I did a pot with hair from a wire haired terrier and it came out just like the horse hair pots. I tried with the hair from my Sheltie and it looked like puffs of smoke... still nice but not that dynamic of a look you get from the horsehair pots. Also the hair needs to be longer to make the long marks (at least 3 inches). One option might be to use a few my horse's hairs for the main lines and then the hair from your animals to make the more subtle lines and smokey effects.


Do you just make the one style of pots?

I found that people like the round vessel for the horse hair pottery the best. It's not too big and not too small. It's 4-5 inches tall and 4-5 inches wide, the perfect size to display. Many people cut a long pice of thier horse's hair and put in the pot. Most any type of pottery will work for the horsehair pottery. If you want a different shape let me know and I'll let you know if I can do it.

Send this link to a friend