Horse Hair Pottery

I have been told that horsehair pottery was first made as a result of an accident by a Native American Potter. As she bent over to remove a hot piece of pottery from the kiln, her hair fell against it and burned, leaving a carbon trail on the clay surface. Having traveled the Southwest for many years, I have been intrigued by the look of this style of pottery.

When my niece’s horse died, she asked if I would make her a piece of my pottery and decorate it with her horse’s hair. My first horsehair piece was a match holder for Amanda’s fireplace. This piece hangs in memory of her horse.

Raku horsehair pots are fired quickly to 1200F degrees and are then taken out of a Raku kiln and placed on a noncombustible surface. Hair from a horse's tail or mane is then laid upon the hot pottery. The heat burns the hair into the pot and produces a distinctive line to create a unique piece of artwork. I have a 5 minute window in which the piece is at the right temperature to complete this operation. Because of the spontaneity of this process, each piece is unique. Click here to find out more about the Horse Hair Pottery Firing Technique.

Due to the stressful nature of creating this art piece, it is not designed to hold water. They look wonderful with dry arrangements.