45. Cathie Cantara, horsehair raku vase

45. Cathie Cantara, horsehair raku vase 

For Cantara, see item 44.

White clay, no glaze, decoration from carbonized horsehair. Weight (without insert): 724 g (1.6 lb). Mouth diameter: 5.5 cm (2-1/8 in); rim diameter: 13.3 cm (5-1/4 in); maximum diameter: 14 cm (5-1/2 in); base diameter: 9.3 cm (3-5/8).  Height: 10.7 cm (4-1/4 cm).

Hand-thrown. This sits directly on the base. “catcantara” was incised and a small seashell was pressed into the base. The walls of the pot rise in a straight line outward to a height of about 4 cm (1-1/2 in) before curving outward in a flat arc to the maximum diameter, which is about 6.5 cm (2-1/2 in) above the base. The walls then curve inward to the rim, which is flat. The pot came with a metal insert for flowers, because the clay is still porous. (The weight and dimensions given above do not include the insert.) The exterior of the pot was burnished and is very smooth and even.

The pot was fired at 1400 degrees and removed from the kiln while still hot. Cantara then threw a clump of horsehair against the hot pot. It immediately vaporized, decorating the pot with the carbonized remains. (See the article “Horse hair raku” in Wikipedia for more information on this process. Note that Japanese raku potters dispute the use of the term “raku” for any pottery not produced by them.)

Again, a random process has happy results.

Purchased at the artist’s studio, Homeport Pottery, Kennebunkport, Maine, September 2019.