Navajo Horsehair Pottery
“Horsehair markings are created with real strands on hot clay—many see them as a tribute to the horse’s enduring role in Diné life.”
Navajo horsehair pottery celebrates elegant forms and expressive surface patterns. While the clay is still hot from firing, fine strands of horsehair touch the surface and carbonize in place, leaving one-of-a-kind smoky lines that can never be repeated.
What is horsehair pottery?
Horsehair pottery is a contemporary decorative technique practiced by Navajo potters. The distinctive veils and lightning-like lines come from real horsehair singed onto a hot, finished pot—creating organic, permanent markings unique to each piece.
How it’s made
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Forming – Hand-built or wheel-thrown, refined for balance.
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Bisque firing – The clay is hardened in its first firing.
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Horsehair application – Strands of mane or tail briefly touch the hot surface and carbonize into dark tendrils.
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Finishing – Surfaces may be lightly polished or sealed to enhance contrast.
Cultural significance (concise)
Horses hold enduring practical and symbolic importance for Navajo people. Many artists and collectors view horsehair markings as an homage to that relationship—an aesthetic nod to grace, motion, and endurance. The method itself is decorative and contemporary; each piece is unique.
Why collectors love it
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Uniqueness – No two patterns are the same.
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Elegant contrast – Warm clay with crisp, smoky linework.
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Artisan-made – Careful attention to form and finish.
Care & display
Primarily decorative. Display indoors, away from prolonged sun and moisture. Dust with a soft, dry cloth—no water or cleaners.
Authenticity from Raku Gallery
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Artist-signed
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Provenance/Certificate of Authenticity included
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Professionally packed, fully insured shipping from Jerome, Arizona