Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1591)

2025

About the work

This raku vessel by Steven Branfman features an elongated, ovoid form that rises into a slender, gently tapered neck. The silhouette is balanced and vertical, with a rounded body that narrows smoothly toward both the foot and the opening, emphasizing a sense of contained volume.

The surface is layered with soft, muted glazes in pale gray, cream, and warm yellow, interrupted by darker linear markings that move across the form like gestural traces. Areas of pitting, crackle, and subtle blistering reveal the intensity of the raku firing, giving the vessel a weathered, atmospheric character. The darker clay body remains visible at the neck and base, framing the lighter central field and grounding the composition.

As with Branfman’s work overall, the surface functions as a skin that expresses the underlying form rather than merely decorating it. The result is a vessel that feels simultaneously controlled and spontaneous, shaped by both intention and fire.

Dimensions

30.5cm(h) x 19.1cm(w)

Weight: 1.8kg

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.