Horse Hair Series Potter – October 2011

Below find my latest pottery I wanted to share in my continuing learning of the Horse Hair Process.

In this Pottery process, actual horse hair is used to make the vivid black lines. The three vases were burnished when the pottery was in the green ware stage which means firm but still damp clay. Burnishing is accomplished by a metal rib, a spoon, a smooth rock or nylon and gives the finished piece a sheen. The piece is then bisque fired which is the first firing. Before burnishing, I applied Terra Sigilata which gives the piece a whitest look. The decorative bowls were not burnished.

Bisque ware is heated to 1100 and then strands of taunt horse hair are applied quickly before the piece cools down. Scant sprinkles of sugar can then be applied if desired. The next part of the process is spraying on the Ferris Oxide. The piece is cooled. The Final step in the process is spraying with Polyurethane clear satin finish or you may use high gloss.

Burnished White Terra Sigilata Horse Hair Vase with two Vases Burnished White Terra Sigilata Horse Hair with Ferris Oxide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Burnished White Terra Sigilata Horse Hair Vase

Bisque Horse Hair Bowls with Ferris Oxide