Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1518)

2025 

About the work

Created by Steven Branfman, this raku vessel is defined by an elongated ovoid body rising into a slender neck, emphasizing vertical lift and internal volume. The form asserts a sense of contained pressure, with the swelling body and narrowed throat reflecting Branfman’s approach to shaping vessels from the inside out.

The surface is boldly articulated with layered glazes in vivid blue, green, pink, black, and soft gray, applied in sweeping, gestural bands that wrap the form. Crackle patterns, glaze breaks, and subtle surface disruptions reveal the dynamic effects of raku firing. These passages evoke shifting landscapes, water, sky, and geological strata, reinforcing the artist’s long standing engagement with natural and tactile sources.

The upper neck and foot are left dark and matte, framing the more active central field and grounding the composition visually. Balancing functional origins with sculptural resolution, the vessel stands as a confident expression of process, surface, and the disciplined spontaneity of fire.

Dimensions

43.2cm(h) x 27.9cm(w)

Weight: approx. 3.2kg 

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.