Burnish a pot for horsehair firing

Horsehair firing creates delicate, organic carbon marks on an unglazed surface. The key: the pot must be burnished (polished) so the marks stay visible and the surface is beautiful without glaze.

Preparation

1. Burnish a small pot to a high sheen (see Unit 6 burnishing exercises)
2. Bisque fire it to about 900°C (low bisque)
3. When you're ready to fire: bring the pot back up to temperature in a small kiln

The moment

1. Remove the glowing pot from the kiln with tongs
2. Immediately touch horsehair (or synthetic alternative) to the hot surface
3. The hair burns on contact, leaving a carbon line where it touched
4. Apply more hair, feathers, or sugar for varied marks
5. Let cool naturally

The result

Fine, delicate carbon lines burned into the polished clay surface. Each mark is unique, organic, unrepeatable.

Why it works

Above ~300°C, organic material carbonizes instantly on contact with the clay. Below that temperature, it just melts. The timing window is everything.