Important Note:
My studio was destroyed in the Asheville NC River Arts District. I have marked all items that were previously still in stock as “sold out” until I can fully sanitize and inventory what survived.
My shop will be updated with available inventory to show up on Friday 10/25 at 12pm ET
Be sure to sign up for my email list to get a notification. This may be the last of this particular style as I will have to adapt depending on what type of kilns I have access to in the future. If you’d like to support me through a donation, I have a GoFundMe set up with more story about my life pivot.
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Functional Pottery
All pottery brings joy and beauty, but functional pieces tend to be the ones you are most intimate with. Bowls, cups, mugs, plates, and vases are a few examples of items we may use daily to bring deeper connection and joy to our rituals. I often use a red stoneware clay body and fire in a gas reduction kiln to cone 10 (2345 degrees F)
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Hosehair Pottery
Horsehair pottery is made by gathering horse hair (usually from the tail where the strands are thick and coarse) and burning it onto the surface of a piece of pottery immediately after it is removed from a hot kiln (around 1200 degrees F). The hair burns onto the surface leaving behind ash and a black carbon residue is absorbed into the clay where it burns, creating distinctive black lines. I add mica powder and clay slip to the surface of my pots. The mica adds color and illumination, while the textures add movement and depth. This firing process originates from Native American tribes who use this practice to honor their horses.
Want me to make you something special?
I am sorry to say custom orders are not being accepted at this time due to my studio and kilns being destroyed in the flooding in WNC from Hurricane Helene.
Why is horsehair pottery not considered functional?
Horsehair pottery is fired to a lower temperature than most pottery and the clay is not fully vitrified. This means it can still absorb water and is not food safe.
If you’d like to put fresh flowers in a horsehair vessel, you can place a small cup of water inside the vessel to hold the water needed for your flowers if there is a large enough opening. They are stunning statement pieces all on their own in your home.
I will not make mugs, bowls, or any items that may be mistakenly used for eating and drinking with this firing method.