Horsehair and Parrot Feather Pottery

[tailypo]

I actually did these last summer, but this is the first time I'm posting them, I think. Lyosha mentioning the flammability of owl feathers reminded me.

Comments

[expandranon]

This is very nice, and I really like it.

I sense a niche market, if nobody else has glommed into it yet. Imagine making pots like these to order, with the hair or feathers of people's beloved pets. It would make a rather distinguished urn for a pet's ashes, too.

[tailypo]

Many people make the horsehair pots to order; I only know one person making feather pots to order. I don't think there are enough potters doing either that it wouldn't sell.

I would like to make them to sell. It would be meaningful and rewarding to do and I do think it'd be a product with a market, not only the personalized pieces but horsehair in general. I really need to save up for my own raku-type kiln though, and I'm broke. x_x

The only other problem I see is that ceramics is a very "zen" sort of art form. There is a high mortality rate for pieces at many stages in the process. Doing commissions can be very difficult for that reason. But I managed the commission I did for the charity auction just fine!

[genmaicha]

That's incredible. I actually gasped softly when I saw the image.

[tailypo]

Thanks. It's so special to me, being part of ChuChu and part of Xandy.

[corellian_ninja]

That is beautiful!

[tailypo]

Thank you!

[ouraboura]

That is GORGEOUS tser!!!! I really think you could sell these.

[tailypo]

Thanks, buy me a kiln ;D

[shamebear]

Wonderful! It's like a feather-fossil!
So the technique is that you just put the feather on top of the pot or press it against it? The level of detail is really amazing. Is the imprint water and detergent resistant or should it be glazed?

It would perhaps look even more like a fossil if the clay was more sandy and "dirty". *eyes opportunity for lucrative fossil scam*

I wonder if it also works with other thin carbon-based objects...

[tailypo]

The technique for horsehair is easy; you just hold the hair loosely by two ends and lay it across the hot pot. The feathers are a lot harder because they're not flexible enough to just lay on the pot and there's no "end" to hold them by, you have to use ceramic insulation and metal tongs and get it rolled on juuuust right

[shamebear]

I agree, the feathers are awesome :-)
I imagine (I imagine a lot though) that pressed flowers and straws would leave great imprints too. Since pressing the flowers both give the necessary flatness and removes excess water. But I'm just guessing :-)

[tailypo]

I'll try it. ;)