Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel with Inlaid Colored Glass (#1501)

2025 

About the work

This raku vessel by Steven Branfman demonstrates his highly distinctive and technically demanding method of uniting clay and glass within a wheel-thrown form. The vessel begins as a thrown cylinder, which is then rolled into crushed colored glass while the clay remains plastic. Branfman continues shaping the piece from the inside, an exacting process that requires exceptional sensitivity and control to refine the form without disturbing the embedded glass. This method reflects his fundamental approach to pottery, in which interior space determines outward presence.

During raku firing, the inlaid glass melts and fuses into the clay body, producing a complex, tactile surface with remarkable depth. Fields of blue, amber, green and metallic tones emerge organically, evoking mineral deposits, weathered stone and natural patinas. The darker, more restrained neck and foot provide a visual counterbalance to the richly animated body, reinforcing the vessel’s structural clarity. The work stands as a powerful example of Branfman’s belief that surface is a living skin, expressing the energy contained within the form.

Dimensions

43.2cm(h) x 28cm(w)

Weight: 4.5kg 

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.