Deb BurckhardHorsehair Pottery is fabled to have come from ancient Indian tribes that wanted to preserve the spirit of their horses that were lost in battle.The pottery pieces are generally very simple in form and are fired to a high temperature to give the pot strength. The piece is then cooled to about 900 degrees and the horsehair is gently laid on it in strands. At first, the piece is too hot and the hair instantly vaporizes, but eventually, the pot cools enough that the carbon deposits from the burning hair leave trails as the hair kinks and turns because of the intense heat showing it its own path. The pots are not glazed and are very porous. Several coats of wax are given to the pot giving it a feel of a polished stone. Horsehair pottery is best used as a piece of art, but if you choose to put fresh flowers in the pots, it is best to put a liner such as a plastic cup or bag inside the pot before adding the flowers. View Galleries « BACK |