Kintsugi Horse Hair Vase

White horse hair and smoked black raku fired vase with kintsugi design. Perfect for dried floral arrangements. ABOUT HORSE HAIR RAKU FIRING: First used by Navajo Native Americans, this firing method uses an outdoor kiln to fire the pieces to approximately 1100 degrees F. Once temperature is reached, the pieces are removed from the kiln and horse hairs are carefully placed on the surfaces. The hairs instantly burn, leaving a carbon print. Due to the extreme temperature fluctuations, hairline fractures in the terra sigillata surface are not uncommon, and add to the uniqueness of each piece. ABOUT KINTSUGI: "Kintsugi" is a Japanese word meaning "golden repair"and embodies the philosophy that something can be more beautiful broken than whole. After firing a piece, I break it in a very intentioan way, then puzzle it back together with glue and gold leaf. Sometimes, after breaking the piece, I will refire some of the shards and satuate them in smoke, giving them a beautiful satin black patina. CARE AND USAGE: Because the horsehair firing process does not use traditional glazes, the surface of these pieces are not fully vitrified and are therefore not food or water safe. Please enjoy them for decorative purposes only.