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Horse Hair Pottery

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Horse Hair Pottery, by Richard Martin, Potter

When you hear the words "horse hair" and "pottery" together, you might wonder how they could possibly go together. I was amazed by the delicate and intricate designs on the Horse Hair Pottery of Richard Martin, potter. Allow me to introduce you to his exquisite work!

This image is of a pot I purchased from him - the design is created during the process, and is actually carbonized horse hair. I was very intrigued by these designs, and had to ask many questions to satisfy my curiosity. If this piques your interest, keep reading and I'll tell you everything he told me!

Richard Martin, Potter

In August of 2010 I met Mr. Martin at a festival in Brookings, Oregon, where he had a booth showcasing his lovely pottery. The horse hair pottery is only one of his lines, you'll see some of his other work a little later on. He was gracious enough to allow me to photograph him for this lens ... too bad I didn't notice the sun was shining through his hat. (I never claimed to be a great photographer, but I'm kinda embarrassed I didn't notice this when I was taking the photo.)

Visit Richard Martin Pottery on Etsy!

How He Does It

First he "throws the pots" (meaning he shapes them with his hands and/or other pottery tools) on a potter's wheel, upon which the clay resides and rotates.

Each pot must be hand trimmed of excess clay, and then hard burnished with a stone until the desired smooth, polished surface is attained.

The pots are then bisque fired. During the next firing, he removes the pots at "red heat" (around 1600 degrees F.) and then applies the horse hairs by hand. The horse hair burns, leaving a distinctive impression which is bonded onto the smooth surface of the pot. This results in each pot having a unique and unduplicatable pattern of carbon lines, making them one-of-a-kind collectibles.

Slide Show of How He Does It

These photos are copyrighted by Richard Martin

Big Thanks to Richard for his allowing me to use his photos on this lens.
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More Horse Hair Pots on Display!

The photo really doesn't do them justice, though.

Agateware by Richard Martin Pottery

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Some of Richard's Other Work

Exquisite!

He Also Makes Ceramic Beads

They are far more colorful than this photo shows

Richard Sells His Pottery on Etsy

Top 25 Items from Richard Martin Pottery on Etsy

If you are seeing any blank spaces, it just means that Richard sold a piece since I updated this module. Just click through on any image to visit his entire store.

Small Hand Made Original Horse Hair Vase | Price: $23

5" Tall,
2 3/4" across top,

I threw this vase on my good ole potter's kick wheel. After trimming it while the clay was still in the... (full description)

Original Hand Thrown Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 19oz | Price: $20

4" Tall,
3 1/4" across top,
holds apx 19 oz,

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored cla... (full description)

Original Hand Thrown Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 14 oz | Price: $0

3 1/2" Tall,
3" across top,
holds apx 14 oz.

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored cla... (full description)

Hand Made Original Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 16 oz | Price: $20

4 1/2" Tall,
3 1/4" across top,
holds apx 16 oz

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored... (full description)

Hand Thrown Original Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 15 oz | Price: $0

4" Tall,
3" across top,
holds apx 15 oz.

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored clay fr... (full description)

Original hand thrown Stoneware Bowl Agateware | Price: $20

2 1/2" Tall,
6" across top,

Hand thrown multi-colored agateware bowl. I mix up my own colored clay [requiring the addition of precisely... (full description)

Original Hand Made Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 16 oz SHIPS USPS PRIORITY | Price: $20

3 1/2" Tall,
3 1/4" across top,
holds apx 16 oz

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored... (full description)

Original Hand Made Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 15 oz | Price: $0

3 3/4" Tall,
3" across top,
holds apx 15 oz.

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored cla... (full description)

Hand Thrown Original Stoneware Coffee Mug Agateware 20 oz | Price: $0

4" Tall,
3 1/2" across top,
holds apx 20 oz.

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored cla... (full description)

Original Hand Thrown Stoneware Bath Set Agateware | Price: $38

Original Multi-colored Agateware. This listing is for the set of 2 items, the Tooth Brush Holder and Soap Pump. I mixed up my own colors into the clay... (full description)

Original Hand Thrown Stoneware Love Mug | Price: $20

3 3/4" Tall,
3" across the top,

I threw this original clay love mug on the potter's wheel and the next day after drying over night,... (full description)

Honey Pot Original Stoneware Hand Made Lidded Jar Agateware includes hardwood dipper | Price: $0

5" Tall including lid,
3 1/4" across top,
holds apx 18 oz,
includes 6" hardwood dipper,

I threw this stoneware honey pot / lidded... (full description)

Wonderful Stoneware Pottery Mug in the Agateware style 20 oz SHIPS USPS PRIORITY | Price: $20

4 " Tall,
3 1/2" across top,
holds apx 20 oz

I threw this multi-colored agateware mug on the potters wheel. I mix up my own colored cla... (full description)

Original Handthrown Urn with Natural green blue tan Swirls Agatewarre | Price: $190

7 1/2" Tall,
3 1/2" across top,

I threw this original Urn on the potter's wheel creating the natural green, blue, and tan swirls. A... (full description)

Origianl Hand Thrown Stoneware Love Mug | Price: $20

4" Tall,
3 1/4" across top,

I threw this original clay love mug on the potter's wheel and the next day after drying over night, I tr... (full description)

| Price: $0

(full description)

Horse Hair Vase Original and Hand Thrown | Price: $80

10" Talll,
5 1/2" across the top,

I threw this vase on the potter's wheel and I added the handles later. The very unique designs her... (full description)

| Price: $0

(full description)

Original Hand Made Stoneware Bath Set Agateware | Price: $38

Original Multi-colored Agateware. This listing is for the set of 2 items, the Tooth Brush Holder and Soap Pump. I mixed up my own colors into the clay... (full description)

Original Hand Thrown Stoneware LOVE Mug 12 oz | Price: $20

4" Tall,
3 1/2" across the top,
holds 12 oz

I threw this original clay love mug on the potter's wheel and the next day after drying... (full description)

Original Hand Built Serving Plate Agateware | Price: $59

10" x 11" across plus or minus,

As much as I love throwing on the potter's wheel, this original serving plate I made by hand without... (full description)

Original Hand Thrown Stoneware Bowl Agateware | Price: $25

3 1/4" Tall,
7" across top,

Hand thrown multi-colored agateware bowl. I mix up my own colored clay [requiring the addition of precisely... (full description)

Hand Thrown Vase decorated with Horse Hair | Price: $60

8 1/4" Tall,
4 1/4" across the top,

I threw this vase on the potter's wheel and I added the handles later. The very unique designs... (full description)

Original Hand Made Stoneware Nautical Mug Turtle | Price: $20

3 1/4" Tall,
3" across top,
holds apx 10 oz,

I threw this original clay mug on the potter's wheel and the next day after drying ove... (full description)

| Price: $0

(full description)

How He Makes a Color Set

Photos copyrighted by Richard Martin

Another big thank you to Richard Martin for allowing the use of his photos on this lens!

This photo set slide show demonstrates how he gets the unique swirling patterns that are baked right into the clay, not painted on. Fascinating!
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