Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1532)

2025

About the work

In this raku vessel by Steven Branfman, a full, rounded body is gently compressed and lifted into a short, tapered neck, creating a form that emphasizes inward pressure and contained volume. Subtle indentations along the shoulder interrupt the otherwise continuous curve, introducing a quiet sense of movement and touch that underscores the vessel’s handmade character.

The surface is softly layered with atmospheric glazes in muted greens, blue grays, and earthen browns, with faint horizontal throwing lines visible beneath the glaze. These tonal shifts and gentle transitions evoke weathered stone, water worn surfaces, and natural erosion. Variations in sheen and thickness allow the form to read differently as light moves across it, reinforcing depth and calm visual rhythm.

The foot and neck are darker and more restrained, framing the rounded body and grounding the composition. Rooted in the tradition of functional vessels while fully resolved as sculpture, the work reflects Branfman’s mature balance of form, surface, and raku process.

Dimensions

35.6cm(h) x 25.4cm(w)

Weight: approx. 2.5kg 

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.