Burnished Ceramics

   Burnishing is an ancient techique of finishing lowfire 

pottery. It is quite time-consuming and labour

intensive, but yields some amazing results if done

correctly. Some of my first clay pieces

were burnished, and they seemed almost magical to

me. That's probably why I keep coming back to

this process over and over again. 

 Burnished pottery has been produced  by Native Americans and other indigenous nations around the world for thousands of years. It was a way to make the pot not only aesthetically pleasing but also more durable and semi-waterproof. By compressing the surface layer of the clay, the piece becomes less porous. Additional decorations with horse hair were anchored in Native American spirituality.

My Approach

Burnishad pieces that I make are quite different from the original Native American pottery. My pieces have no utilitarian purpose, they are purely sculptural. They emphasize the beauty of this type of pottery, the visual and tactile qualities.

I usually create closed forms that resemble rocks, fruits, and other organic objects. The pieces are mostly thrown on the wheel and altered, or handbuilt using the "pinch" method, as opposed to the original "coil" process used by Indians.  I decorate my pots not only with horse hair but also with feathers, leaves, and other natural matter.

At the end of the process I sometimes apply a transparent colorant to certain areas, before finishing the piece with a layer of wax. This protect the piece from water and dust. Pieces can be displayed separately or as a group. Metal tray and sand can be purchased through this site.