Horsehair Cloth

A mildly abrasive cloth made from horsehair for polishing gesso or bole. The thickly woven cloth measures approximately 10 in. x 15 in. (25.4 cm x 38.1 cm) and is well suited for giving bole or gesso a final finish.

Horsehair refers to haircloth, a hard-wearing fabric made from horsehair. Haircloth is a stiff, inflexible fabric typically made from horsehair and/or from the wooly hair of a camel. Although horsehair generally refers to the hair of a horse's mane or tail, haircloth itself is sometimes called horsehair. Horse or camel hair woven into haircloth is used in antique upholstery and clothing, but it is widely used by gilders as a fine abrasive cloth.