Printable Horse Hair Firing Information
HORSE HAIR FIRING
The history of the HORSEHAIR TECHNIQUE is quiet vague, but most agree that it was the Native Americans in the
Southwest who probably first ran across this method of decoration, which some of them still use today.
In HORSEHAIR FIRNG the pieces are heated to approximately 1300 degrees F., pulled from the kiln one at a time, placed upon a fireproof pad and long strands of horse hair are quickly applied, seconds count here, and timing is critical. If the piece is too hot, the hair simply burns up on contact, imparting nothing to the piece. Sometimes the piece will either break or crack if it is pulled while too hot. It the piece has cooled too much, the hair doesn't burn at all.
Because HORSEHAIR pieces must be fired to a low temperature to remain porous, thus permitting the transfer of carbon to the piece by the burning hair, THEY ARE NOT WATERPROOF. They will leak if you attempt to place water in them.
To care for your piece, simply wipe it down with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth. Unlike a glazed piece, HORSEHAIR PIECES, are quiet fragile. Treat it like a treasure that you care for with love and gentle kindness.
Thank -you
Kathy Johnson
Horse Hair Firing
The ART of HORSE HAIR FIRING compliments the healing power of horses
The ART form of HORSE HAIR FIRING is beautiful as well as unique with it's dark dancing lines flowing over the pottery. Each piece will have it's own design. After I shut the kiln off, but while the piece is still hot, horse hair is placed on the piece. If the temperatures is too high the hair will simply burn off. The window of being able to have the hair make its distinctive squiggly lines is small, approximately 10 minutes.
When the piece is a little too hot the hair will vaporize, but will leave nice shades of gray, then if you lay the hair back over it... dark lines appear over the gray. Sometimes I get what I call a NEGATIVE line, where the hair burns the gray off and leaves a white line. This combinded with the gray and dark black lines looks awesome, but is difficult to achieve on purpose.
Experimenting with ceramics is a never ending, fun road to travel, from adding jewels & other items, to cutting out patterns and etching designs, using a high-speed rotary tool. Currently I have been playing with STEAM PUNK art on the HORSE HAIR FIRING pieces.
HORSE HAIR FIRING & The Healing Power of Horses...compliment each other. Over the years, horses have helped people toovercome many types of obstacles in their lives. Those who have had the experience of being close to that special horse know that bond creates a sense of peace and oneness. They become counselors as well as friends and co-workers. A piece of pottery with that special horse's hair becomes a memorial to them.
Kathy -2019
When the piece is a little too hot the hair will vaporize, but will leave nice shades of gray, then if you lay the hair back over it... dark lines appear over the gray. Sometimes I get what I call a NEGATIVE line, where the hair burns the gray off and leaves a white line. This combinded with the gray and dark black lines looks awesome, but is difficult to achieve on purpose.
Experimenting with ceramics is a never ending, fun road to travel, from adding jewels & other items, to cutting out patterns and etching designs, using a high-speed rotary tool. Currently I have been playing with STEAM PUNK art on the HORSE HAIR FIRING pieces.
HORSE HAIR FIRING & The Healing Power of Horses...compliment each other. Over the years, horses have helped people toovercome many types of obstacles in their lives. Those who have had the experience of being close to that special horse know that bond creates a sense of peace and oneness. They become counselors as well as friends and co-workers. A piece of pottery with that special horse's hair becomes a memorial to them.
Kathy -2019