Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1613)

2025  

About the work

This raku vessel by Steven Branfman presents a compact, ovoid form that tapers gently toward a narrow mouth, creating a sense of contained volume and quiet balance. The silhouette is smooth and cohesive, with the body reading as a single, continuous mass.

A broad horizontal band encircles the midsection, where layered glazes in white, deep blue, rust red, and gray break across the dark clay surface. These glazes blister, pool, and crackle, producing a richly textured surface that recalls geological strata or weathered stone. The upper and lower portions remain largely matte and charcoal toned, allowing the active central band to stand out in sharp relief.

The surface bears clear traces of the raku firing process, with spontaneous variation balanced by a controlled overall composition. The vessel reflects Steven Branfman’s ongoing exploration of form, surface, and fire, where tactile complexity grows naturally from a disciplined underlying shape.

Dimensions

25.4cm(h) x 15.2cm(w)

Weight: 2.3kg

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.