How do you use horse hair on pottery?
The General Process of Horsehair Pottery
- The pottery piece is formed, then burnished.
- The piece is fired to between 1300 F and 1800 F in a raku kiln.
- Once the correct temperature is reached, the incandescent pottery is taken from the kiln using long raku tongs and proper gauntlets and other protective gear.
What is horsehair pottery?
This style of pottery is made by using hair from the tail and mane of a horse, and is fired using a special technique that is somewhat hazardous and time consuming. Horsehair pottery lends itself to figures as well as the classic pot shapes. The pottery is then returned to the kiln where firing is completed.
What is raku glaze?
A raku glaze is any glaze you use in the raku method. It doesn’t have to be a glaze specifically designed for raku, formulated to fire at the temperature you fire your raku to, nor homemade or commercial.
Who invented horse hair pottery?
It is not known precisely how horsehair pottery was first developed, but several stories connect the beginnings of this technique to Native American Pueblo women.
Can you raku in an electric kiln?
It has long been believed that you cannot use an electric kiln for Raku firings, (because the temperature shock from opening the kiln often would cause the elements to wear out quickly). This has not proven to be the case, and many people do use an electric kiln for their Raku firings.
What is horse hair used for?
It is used for various purposes, including upholstery, brushes, the bows of musical instruments, a hard-wearing fabric called haircloth, and for horsehair plaster, a wallcovering material formerly used in the construction industry and now found only in older buildings.
What is horsehair used for?
The longest hairs are used for fabrics; medium lengths are used to make bristles for paint, industrial, and domestic brushes; and very short hair is curled for use as stuffing in upholstered furniture and mattresses. High-grade white horsehair is used for the strings of fine violin bows.
What is meant by Raku?
1 : Japanese hand-modeled pottery that is fired at a low temperature and rapidly cooled.
Is raku a glaze?
Raku glazes are some of the most popular choices due to the beautiful and unique appearance that each piece offers. Spectrum 850 Series Raku Glazes can be applied by brush, poured, or used for dipping. These glazes can be fired up to cone 06.
Where did raku firing originate?
Raku is a low-fired ceramic ware first produced by Sasaki Chōjirō (d. 1592) in the 16th century in Kyoto. Under the encouragement and patronage of his close friend, tea master Sen no Rikyū, he crafted a style of bowl which was very much unlike the colorful Chinese-influenced ceramics of the time.
How long does a raku firing take?
Raku ceramics are loaded into a cold kiln, and the kiln is heated rapidly. Sometimes the cycles in which the pieces are fired are very short, as little as 15 to 20 minutes in cases, differing vastly to traditional firing cycles of around 10 hours.