Steven Branfman, American, (b.1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1475)

2025 

About the work

Created by Steven Branfman, this raku vessel presents a tall, attenuated form defined by a swelling lower body that rises into a long, slender neck. The silhouette emphasizes vertical movement while maintaining a strong sense of internal volume, reflecting the artist’s approach to forming vessels from the inside out, with inward pressure shaping the exterior.

The surface operates as a responsive skin rather than applied decoration. Dense horizontal ridges and layered glazes in muted grays, blues, greens, and earthen tones recall rock faces, bark, raw earth, and weathered man-made surfaces. Textures appear to accumulate and erode at once, suggesting geological time and natural transformation. Variations in glaze thickness and color create depth and a measured visual rhythm across the body.

The shoulder and neck are left dark and matte, offering a moment of restraint that frames the richly textured lower section. Rooted in raku tradition yet resolved through a contemporary sensibility, the vessel stands as a sculptural expression of process, material, and the disciplined choreography of fire.

Dimensions

43.2cm (17") (h)  x 22.9cm (9") (w)

Weight: 5kg (11 lbs)

Footnote

Steven Branfman received his Masters Degree from Rhode Island School Of Design in 1975 and has earned an international reputation as a clay artist. In 1977 he founded The Potters Shop and School in Needham, Massachusetts, USA, and has taught widely, including at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts since 1978. A member of the International Academy Of Ceramics, he has also held significant roles in several ceramics organizations. His Raku ware has been exhibited internationally and is included in collections such as the American Museum Of Ceramic Art and The Alfred Ceramic Art Museum. Branfman is the author of four books and a sought after workshop presenter in the United States and worldwide.