Can I successfully clear glaze over horse hair raku?

[Dennis Leahy]

Can I successfully clear glaze over horse hair raku?

Horse hair (or I've seen some cool alpaca wool too) carbon markings on pots is such a gorgeous minimalist technique.

My understanding is that Raku ware is decorative only - not only is is not food-safe, but won't even hold water properly for a cut-flower vase. It makes sense that most Raku would have porosity issues, and thus not be good for holding liquids. Also, if metallic compounds are used in the glaze, they could be toxic. However, I would love to make some dishes that are both food-safe and hold water, and I want to use Raku technique - specifically, horse hair.

Yes, I'm a newbie, with an obvious newbie question. But please, hear me out.

What I'd like to do is to go through a Raku firing, make the horse hair design work On the exterior only, if necessary), and then... fire again, using a clear glaze to seal the inner surface (and possibly the exterior as well, if necessary, or if wise.)

So, with those parameters, is the idea still crazy? Will it work?

Thanks!

Dennis

[Andy Clift]

The design from the horse hair technique is basically carbon trapped in the pours of the ceramic ware. If you refire them again the carbon will be burned or oxidized away so your original design will be gone. In Raku it's pretty much a one time firing. If you refire things again your old previous results will not be the same.

[Dennis Leahy]

Interesting! Thanks, Andy. That's a scenario I hadn't envisioned. I figured at worst the carbon squiggles that had been crisp would run into the glaze and mute the effect, but didn't think they would disappear entirely.

Oh well, that kills that idea. :~)

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks again. I appreciate the reply.

Dennis