Monday, September 3, 2012
If you are looking for a very good set of decorations for your home, you might as well try horsehair pottery. These products may come in different forms as well as sizes but they have an ingredient that is not common for other forms of pottery and that is horse hair. The process involved in making them is also intricate.
In order to produce a smooth surface for the ornaments, the clay used should have 15 percent of grog at the very least. The grog content may even be increased up to 40 percent for a much smoother surface. You use this clay to form the ornaments but before you feed them into the raku kiln, it should be burnished first.
Burnishing is the sanding process involved in pottery. It involves the use of smooth yet very hard surfaces in order to make the surfaces of the pots smoother. These can include plastic, wooden and bone spatulas, smooth stones, and glass bulbs. Making the surfaces smooth contributes to the aesthetics of the final products.
The temperature inside the kiln must be set at 1300 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. The adjustments will of course depend on the materials to be heated. After the heating inside the kiln is done, the materials have to be withdrawn using gauntlets and raku tongs. To prevent any injury from the heat, placing it on a non flammable top is a must.
To prevent accidents, the potter should always wear protective items and use the right paraphernalia too. The materials need to be hot still while the hairs are being seared onto its surface. The heat will cause the hairs to burn and leave carbon markings on the surfaces. This is what makes the pots and vases look unique and stunning.
However, interested parties should only use these pots for decorative purposes only. They are liquid permeable. Thus, they cannot be used as vases to contain your flowers. They are also not safe for food. Better just place them on cabinets or tables where they will be seen by many. If you purchase large items, place them at the sides of your home too.
Artists have made the products even more appealing by applying paints onto their surfaces. Most products have the white color of the clay and the black markings of the hair. But there are others that hold rainbow colors too. You can find them in online and offline shops where other items like native American drums and chokers are being sold.
Indeed, horsehair pottery is something to be proud of. Made in the past and even up to now, it is heritage that proves art knows no time and boundaries. It can even provide other artists a good idea to start on a new business for themselves.
In order to produce a smooth surface for the ornaments, the clay used should have 15 percent of grog at the very least. The grog content may even be increased up to 40 percent for a much smoother surface. You use this clay to form the ornaments but before you feed them into the raku kiln, it should be burnished first.
Burnishing is the sanding process involved in pottery. It involves the use of smooth yet very hard surfaces in order to make the surfaces of the pots smoother. These can include plastic, wooden and bone spatulas, smooth stones, and glass bulbs. Making the surfaces smooth contributes to the aesthetics of the final products.
The temperature inside the kiln must be set at 1300 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. The adjustments will of course depend on the materials to be heated. After the heating inside the kiln is done, the materials have to be withdrawn using gauntlets and raku tongs. To prevent any injury from the heat, placing it on a non flammable top is a must.
To prevent accidents, the potter should always wear protective items and use the right paraphernalia too. The materials need to be hot still while the hairs are being seared onto its surface. The heat will cause the hairs to burn and leave carbon markings on the surfaces. This is what makes the pots and vases look unique and stunning.
However, interested parties should only use these pots for decorative purposes only. They are liquid permeable. Thus, they cannot be used as vases to contain your flowers. They are also not safe for food. Better just place them on cabinets or tables where they will be seen by many. If you purchase large items, place them at the sides of your home too.
Artists have made the products even more appealing by applying paints onto their surfaces. Most products have the white color of the clay and the black markings of the hair. But there are others that hold rainbow colors too. You can find them in online and offline shops where other items like native American drums and chokers are being sold.
Indeed, horsehair pottery is something to be proud of. Made in the past and even up to now, it is heritage that proves art knows no time and boundaries. It can even provide other artists a good idea to start on a new business for themselves.
About the Author:
Earth Maiden is a top provider of horsehair pottery. Contact them today for more information! (http://www.earthmaidens.com)