Shelley Corwin on thu 13 oct 05
I am bringing back some handmade bone burnishers from Mata Ortiz,
Mexico, if anyone is interested to order. they are made by Juan
Quezada's son in law and if you know about burnishing, this tool is far
superior than any rock and oil method. They cost $25. (dollars) each,
are about 4-5 inches long, various curves and ends, extremely smooth,
will last a lifetime. If you think its expensive, you can make one
yourself, it's not a secret. This is how he makes the bone: Find and
kill the deer. take the foreleg bone with joints closed and attached,
clean it, wrap it in a cotton cloth and put it away in your closet or
a very dry place for about a year. Dry, or you will get mold and
maggots. then, split it lengthwise into 4 sections, those into shorter
sections, and start to sand, ending with #600 black grit paper. The
marrow will have absorbed into the bone. He uses this method to burnish
on dry clay that is his own, low fire, volcanic pumice body, dried,
sanded and covered with baby oil, smoothed with slightly damp cloth and
all done again, then burnish, either slightly damp or dry. you will
notice the difference immediately, it makes a faster, higher luster,
deeper polish. I can take an order and a check and send a bone to you
when I return from there in mid Nov. or you can go there yourself, ask
Juan, his wife Guillermina or their son in law Oscar. I'm just helping
Oscar get the word out. Why does Juan use a deer? because he watched
all the animals and "the deer can jump highest and it's bones are finer
and stronger." If my supply is exhausted, which should be fairly soon,
you can wait another year for the next batch or ask someone who is
going there. you can contact Spencer Maccallum (sm@look.net)and ask to
receive his monthly Mata Ortiz newsletter, and it lists people who go
down there, run tours, and provide housing. email me at
shelleydale@adelphia.net or normanbooks@aol.com, with burnishing stone
in the subject.
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