Navajo Horsehair Pottery, by Pauline Zahne

Each piece is hand molded from natural clay, then baked underground. The pots are then glazed with pinion sap. Designs set on the pottery are traditional symbols and plants used in ceremonies. This is still the only style of pottery can be used in traditional ceremonies. Horse hair from the mane is thrown onto the pottery while it is still very hot during the firing process. The hair burns when it touches the hot pottery, leaving a carbon stain cooked into the pottery. This makes each piece one-of-a-kind with its own unique, beautiful pattern.