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horsehair raku - response (not privately)

updated thu 30 jul 98

 

Nancy L. Rogers on wed 29 jul 98

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Greetings Cheryl:
Am responding to you via The List, as that seems to be protocol on Clayart.
The horse hair technique is applied to unglazed ware immediately after being
pulled from the kiln by placing the hot ware on a fire brick, or some such
level and study footing, as quickly draping the tail hair from a horse over
the pot. This must be done very quickly, since even the slightest cooling
will not allow the results that are most desirable. Draping of the tail hair
will result in the hair looking like it's melting to the outside of the pot in
a squiggly fashion. After cooling, hair residue is easily brushed off.

Two biggest mistakes folks make in this process are: 1) not being fast about
it, and 2) using hair from a different animal or horse hair that is not from
the tail. Dark tail hair from a Bay, Buckskin, black, or brown horse, seems
to work better than white hair from a Grey horse or lighter hair from
Palamino's, and light Chestnut's.

Have fun.

Nancy Rogers the Cracked Potter in Hershey, PA
where it really does smell like chocolate most days.