Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1626)

2025

About the work

This raku vessel by Steven Branfman is defined by a rounded, nearly spherical body surmounted by a short, upright neck, giving the form a strong sense of contained volume and quiet stability. The silhouette is deliberate and balanced, emphasizing the relationship between interior space and exterior mass.

The surface is animated by layered, horizontal bands that wrap the vessel like geological strata. Matte charcoal clay provides a dark ground for expressive passages of glaze in white, slate blue, muted green, and soft lavender pink. Raised, bead like textures cluster along several bands, adding a pronounced tactile dimension and reinforcing the sense of growth and accumulation across the surface. Glaze pooling, crackle, and subtle runs record the immediacy of the raku firing and the active role of heat and reduction.

The contrast between the restrained form and the lively, evolving surface exemplifies Branfman’s approach, where structure and spontaneity coexist in careful balance.

Dimensions

25.4cm(h) x 25.4cm(w)

Weight: 3.4kg

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.