Horsehair Pottery
Kachina House carries Native American horsehair pottery, one of the most distinctive ceramic traditions in the Southwest, handmade by artists in Arizona and New Mexico.. Each piece is fired, then finished by hand with hair from a horse's mane and tail applied to the hot surface. Shop authentic horsehair pottery online at Kachina House, from classic southwest figures to traditional and contemporary pot shapes, some etched and painted.
Horsehair pottery gets its name from the technique. The pot is removed from the kiln while still hot and horse hair is placed directly onto the surface. The hair burns on contact, leaving dark lines. The smoke creates the cloudy grey areas surrounding the dark lines. This has to be done quickly while the pottery is still hot. The piece is then allowed to cool then it is etched and spray-glazed by hand.
Painted horsehair pottery follows a similar method. The pottery is fired and horsehair is applied. When the piece cools, the pottery is wiped down then it is painted. The next step is designs are cut through the paint layer using a technique called sgraffito. Navajo potters use this technique to render symbols including mountains, rain, clouds, lightning, corn, bear paw, and migration patterns. Each symbol carries its own meaning as a prayer to the Great Spirit. The final step is the piece is spray-glazed by hand.
How to Identify Authentic Horsehair Pottery
- Certificate of Authenticity: Every piece at Kachina House comes with a certificate confirming it was handcrafted by a Native American artist.
- Surface finish: The dark lines and grey smoke marks on authentic horsehair pottery are irregular and organic. Uniform or printed patterns indicate mass production.
- Variation: Photos in this section are examples only. Each piece is hand-finished and etching will differ from that shown. Animals and figures may or may not appear.
- Origin: Kachina House horsehair pottery is made in Arizona and New Mexico by multiple artists.
Common Questions
- Is horsehair pottery Native American? Yes. The horsehair technique as practiced among artists who sell to Kachina House is a Native American craft tradition of artists in Arizona and New Mexico. Each piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming Native American craftsmanship.
- Is horsehair pottery functional or decorative? Decorative. The firing and finishing process is not designed for food or liquid use. Horsehair pottery is made to be displayed, not used as tableware.
- How do you care for horsehair pottery? Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades the surface over time. Dust with a soft dry cloth. Do not submerge in water or use chemical cleaners on the etched surface.
- What creates the dark lines on horsehair pottery? Horse hair from the mane and tail, applied to the pot directly out of the kiln while the surface is still hot. The hair burns on contact. The smoke creates the grey cloudy areas.
Kachina House is the largest distributor of Native American arts and crafts. Questions? Call toll free at 800-304-3290 or drop us an email.
