Horse hair raku
Encyclopedia
Is a method of decorating pottery
through the application of horsehair
and other dry carbonaceous
material to the heated ware. The burning carbonaceous material creates smoke patterns and carbon trails on the surface of the heated ware that remain as decoration after the ware cools. Although preparation is similar to pit fired pottery
and other primitive firing techniques, Horsehair raku it is generally considered an alternative form of Western-style Raku ware, because it uses Western-style Raku kilns, firing techniques and tools.
Horsehair raku usually utilizes burnishing
and/or Terra sigillata
techniques to prepare the unglazed surface before biscuit
firing. The biscuit ware is heated in a kilns, then removed while still extremely hot. The decorating is performed when the ware is between 480 and 700°C; lower temperatures do not effectively combust the horsehair and other materials, while higher temperatures cause the carbon makings to burn off leaving no lasting decorative effect. Strands of horsehair laid across hot ware leave a wandering linear smoke design on the surface. Other materials which can be used to create surface effets include sugar sprinkled on the hot surface to leave spotted smoke marks, and feathers applied to the hot surface to give dark, feather shaped silhouettes.
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
through the application of horsehair
Horsehair
Horsehair is the long, coarse hair growing on the manes and tails of horses. 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...
and other dry carbonaceous
Carbonaceous
Carbonaceous is the defining attribute of a substance rich in carbon. Particularly, carbonaceous hydrocarbons are very unsaturated, high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, having an elevated carbon:hydrogen ratio....
material to the heated ware. The burning carbonaceous material creates smoke patterns and carbon trails on the surface of the heated ware that remain as decoration after the ware cools. Although preparation is similar to pit fired pottery
Pit fired pottery
Pit firing is the oldest known method for the firing of pottery. Examples have been dated as early as 29,000–25,000 BCE. Kilns have since replaced pit firing as the most widespread method of firing pottery, although the technique still finds limited use amongst certain studio potters.Unfired...
and other primitive firing techniques, Horsehair raku it is generally considered an alternative form of Western-style Raku ware, because it uses Western-style Raku kilns, firing techniques and tools.
Horsehair raku usually utilizes burnishing
Burnish
Burnishing is a form of pottery treatment in which the surface of the pot is polished, using a hard smooth surface such as a wooden or bone spatula, smooth stones, plastic, or even glass bulbs, while it still is in a leathery 'green' state, i.e., before firing. After firing, the surface is...
and/or Terra sigillata
Terra sigillata
Terra sigillata is a term with at least three distinct meanings: as a description of medieval medicinal earth; in archaeology, as a general term for some of the fine red Ancient Roman pottery with glossy surface slips made in specific areas of the Roman Empire; and more recently, as a description...
techniques to prepare the unglazed surface before biscuit
Bisque (pottery)
Bisque porcelain is unglazed, white ceramic ware Examples include bisque dolls.Bisque also refers to "pottery that has been fired but not yet glazed...
firing. The biscuit ware is heated in a kilns, then removed while still extremely hot. The decorating is performed when the ware is between 480 and 700°C; lower temperatures do not effectively combust the horsehair and other materials, while higher temperatures cause the carbon makings to burn off leaving no lasting decorative effect. Strands of horsehair laid across hot ware leave a wandering linear smoke design on the surface. Other materials which can be used to create surface effets include sugar sprinkled on the hot surface to leave spotted smoke marks, and feathers applied to the hot surface to give dark, feather shaped silhouettes.