How I make Horsehair Pottery

Many people believe that Horsehair pottery is a Native American style of pottery.
There is no evidence of it. It's simply a style or technique.
Many Native Americans do horsehair pottery but so do other potters.
Like anything else everyone has his or her own style or way of doing things. Artists like to experiment and
occasionally there are what we call "happy accidents".
I believe horsehair pottery may have been a "happy accident".
However it came about; it is a beautiful style of pottery with fascinating random patterns.

The following is my process of making horse hair pottery:

The pots are wheel thrown, hand built or slip cast in molds.

Once dry each pot is sanded to a satin finish, and then a fine slip called "Terra

Segillata"is applied in a number of coats.

When the slip has dried enough that it can be handle without leaving finger

prints, the pots surface is burnished or polished with a smooth stone and

cloth

a satin

finish.

The more open pots receive a thin coat of glaze on the inside.

Some of my pots have hand carved images on them

;

that will later be

verlayed

with

variegated gold leaf.

		*Pots are now place in a kiln and fired to 1850 degrees to harden the clay and* *mature the* *glaze inside.*
		*Then allowed to cool slightly to 1000 degrees.*

		*Once the kiln temperature has* cooled to 1000 degrees one by one the pots are *removed from* *the* *HOT* *kiln*
		*and strands of horse hair, feathers, and other* *combustibles are applied to the* *surface. There is only about* *30 seconds to place* *the horse hair and feathers so they will* *carbonize into the* *wonderful random* *patterned* *surface of the pot.* *The hotter the pot is the* *darker the patterns.*

		*Pots are allowed to cool completely.* *Once cooled the pots are cleaned, sealed* *with paste*
		*wax and then buffed to bring* *up the satin finish.*

The carved images are embellished with their variegated gold leaf and sealed.

This is a fascinating process due to it randomness of patterns. It can never be repeated. Each pot is a one of a
kind.
Occasionally a pot just doesn't meet my standards, so I re-fire and try again.
Each pot is a beautiful surprise each and every time; an amazing experiment in randomness.

Horsehair pottery will complement any decor and is especially suited to the popular
southwestern designs and colors.

Due to the low firing temperature the pots are porous and should only be used for
dried arrangements. Cleaning a piece of horsehair pottery can be done with a damp
cloth. DO NOT LET LIQUID STAND IN THESE POTS. Occasionally a thin coat
of wood floor paste wax can be applied to bring back the satin finish.

Windy Mesa Pottery

How I Make Horsehair Pottery

Contact:
Mary Holmes
PO. Box 1518
Belen, NM 87002
505-864-0309
windymesapottery@att.net

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