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Master Raku Studio Pottery: Cylindrical Tsutsu Chawan (Tea Bowl) by Steven Branfman
An exceptional, highly tactile contemporary studio pottery tea bowl (chawan) executed in the cylindrical tsutsu-gata form by internationally recognized master potter, educator, and author Steven Branfman.
Form & Visual Aesthetics
This piece exhibits a commanding, architectural cylindrical profile resting on a pronounced, dark-fired unglazed foot ring. The exterior surface features a deeply textured, heavy tactile glaze layering—showing earthy moss greens, oxidized coppers, and warm, toast-toned buff undertones. The upper interior and lip showcase a classic crackle/crazed glaze finish with subtle iridescence and smoked carbon flashing along the rim and base, typical of atmospheric raku reduction firing.
- Form: Cylindrical (Tsutsu / 筒形) Chawan
- Technique: Wheel-thrown stoneware, Raku fired with post-firing atmospheric reduction
- Dimensions: 5" Diameter x 4" Height
- Condition: Excellent original studio condition. No chips, cracks, or repairs. Raw, organic surface variance inherent to the artist’s raku process.
Steven Branfman (American, b. 1953) is one of the foremost authorities on western raku ceramics, with a career spanning over five decades. A graduate of Cortland State University (B.A.) and the Rhode Island School of Design (M.A.T.), Branfman founded The Potters Shop & School in Needham, Massachusetts in 1977. He is an elected member of the prestigious International Academy of Ceramics (IAC).
Branfman is widely renowned for his seminal reference books on ceramic arts, including:
- Raku: A Practical Approach (Chilton / Krause)
- Mastering Raku: Making Ware–Glazing–Building Kilns–Firing (Lark Books)
- The Potter’s Professional Handbook
Museum & Public Collections (Partial List)
- American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) – Pomona, CA
- RISD Museum of Art – Providence, RI
- Crocker Art Museum – Sacramento, CA
- Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art – Alfred University, NY
- Fuller Craft Museum – Brockton, MA
- Mungyeong Ceramic Museum – South Korea
