CUSTOM HORSE HAIR VESSELS  - CLICK ON A SMALL IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW !

The pieces on this page are finished examples and are all for sale.  If you would like a similar piece or another shape, you may take a tour of my web site and pick a shape. With some long tail hairs from the chosen horse I will create for you a very special one-of-a-kind covered or open vessel.  Turn around time varies from several days to several weeks depending on the size and complexity of the vessel. A very special gift for a friend or yourself. How to Order

Horsehair pottery is a unique technique combining an ancient Japanese firing method with the application of a horse's tail hair. It is said that the inspiration for these vessels originated with Native Americans. My current work in this medium combines Western raku techniques with the application of horse hair and sometimes materials turkey feathers etc during the firing. Each piece of pottery is handmade by me on the pottery wheel using  white stoneware or porcelain clay body. After throwing, smoothing, trimming, burnishing, and bisque firing, the pot is ready to fire. The bisque pots are loaded into the raku kiln and the temperature is brought up to approximately 1200 degrees. The pots are then carefully removed, one at a time and the horsehair is applied 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.  never are two piece alike. The pieces are then washed, dried, and hand  waxed with a quality paste wax. Retail prices range from under $50.00 to over $500.00.

Like all primitive techniques horse hair vessels are fragile and not waterproof. flowers or plants may be inserted in a water tight glass or plastic container preventing contact with the fragile  surface.