Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 20

Early Ceramic Vase with Unique Glaze by Brother Thomas Bezanson

$6,500
£4,917.70
€5,675.78
CA$9,078.69
A$10,093.77
CHF 5,283.48
MX$123,796.75
NOK 67,272.06
SEK 63,512.80
DKK 42,354.56
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

An early ceramic vase in a slightly tapered cylinder form by potter Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). The minimalistic silouette is strikingly primordial with its wider mouth rim in the perfect circle, bringing to mind the Chinese neolithic Jade form Cong and Bi respectively. What is really extraordinary about this piece is the complex glaze Bezanson applied on the surface. On a brown iridescent background, there are two "rings" with "Honan tenmoku" glaze, each with a brilliant mixture of saturation by changing the iron content. The top portion is largely a very thick and oily "black olive" glaze, which is highly saturated, except for a lighter circle (less iron-saturated) at the rim that serves as a visually demarcating effect. In the midbody, a lighter tenmoku glaze and a darker base with a "hair fur" effect was applied in an irregular form, perhaps mimicking the mountain ranges in traditional Chinese ink painting. These tenmoku colors contrast beautifully with the metallic brown background. The whole effect is harmonious, rooted in Asian ceramic tradition but utterly modern looking. The vase was marked on the base with the potter's decipher as shown. The decipher indicates that this vase was made in Weston VT circa 1965-1970, together with another vase in our collection with the similar glaze. It showcases the highly sophisticated glaze techniques Bezanson mastered and used fluidly in his ceramic work. Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007) was a Canadian born artist and Benedictine monk primarily known for his porcelain pottery and mastery of complex glazes. Strongly influenced by Asian pottery, often adapting traditional Chinese and Japanese pottery methods and materials to his work. He is renowned for his original glaze recipes and perfect forms and always sought to create something new and beautiful. His exacting standards made for the shattering of over 80% of each firing. One "rescued" piece however is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His estate is represented by Pucker Gallery in Boston. See two examples with the "Hoan Tenmoku" and "Black Olive" glaze, see illustration 24 and 26 in "The porcelain of Brother Thomas The path to the Beautiful" by Godine/Pucker Safrai.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Diameter: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)
  • Style:
    Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1965-1970
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minimal wear.
  • Seller Location:
    Atlanta, GA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU945028764232

More From This Seller

View All
Early Tall Ceramic Vase with Unique Glaze by Brother Thomas Bezanson
By Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early ceramic vase in a cylinder form by potter Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). Unusually tall at 21.75 inches, the vase strikes the viewer with its slender silouette with a tapering neck and mouth opening. What is extraordinary about this piece is the complex glaze Bezanson applied on the surface. Three vertical black glaze stripes are featured around the surface. On one side, stacks of horizontal finger-like marks were placed on a brown and silvery iridescent background, characterized as "Honan tenmoku" glaze. The other side, the glaze took on a brilliant silver oxidation in a mottled effect. The top conical portion is largely covered with a thick and oily "black olive" glaze, which is dripping down in high saturation. Circles surrounding the rim was less iron-saturated, forming a more orderly visual border. In close range, the different glazes across the vase displays subtle changes of shimmering, iridescent and textured effects and are visually mesmerizing. Bezanson's ceramic and glaze techniques was rooted in Asian ceramic tradition but utterly modern looking. The vase was marked on the base "Benedictine Monks Weston Vermont", "^60 BRENER" and Bezanson's decipher as shown. The decipher indicated that this vase was made in Weston VT circa 1965-1970, same period of another vase with similar glaze effect in our gallery (shown in the last photo), showcasing the highly sophisticated techniques Bezanson mastered and used fluidly in his ceramic work. Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007) was a Canadian born artist and Benedictine monk primarily known for his porcelain pottery and mastery of complex glazes. Strongly influenced by Asian pottery, often adapting traditional Chinese and Japanese pottery methods and materials to his work. He is renowned for his original glaze recipes and perfect forms and always sought to create something new and beautiful. His exacting standards made for the shattering of over 80% of each firing. One "rescued" piece however is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His estate is represented by Pucker Gallery...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Early Ceramic Vase with Honan Glaze by Brother Thomas Bezanson
By Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early ceramic vase of cylinder form by potter Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). The minimalistic silouette that tapers toward the top and with a s...
Category

20th Century American Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Early Ceramic Vase with Unique Glaze Pattern by Brother Thomas Bezanson
By Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early ceramic vase in a pear shape form by celebrated potter Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). The shape of this porcelain glazed vase is one of the Chinese prototypes known as...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Early Large Ceramic Vase with Sang-de-boeuf Glaze by Brother Thomas Bezanson
By Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early ceramic long-neck vase with a brilliant copper red glaze by Benedictine monk potter Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). The minimalistic an...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Studio Ceramic Vase Brother Thomas Bezanson
By Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
A ceramic vase crafted by Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007) circa 1970s. The vase takes a classic Chinese "Mei Ping" form but with a modern s...
Category

Late 20th Century American American Craftsman Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Porcelain Celadon Vase with Copper Glaze by Brother Thomas Bezanson
By Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
A spindle form porcelain vase by Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). As a modern interpretation of "Mei-Ping", a classic form of Chinese vase,...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

You May Also Like

Vintage French Ceramic Vase by Alexandre Kostanda, circa 1960s
By Alexandre Kostanda
Located in London, GB
French ceramic vase by Alexandre Kostanda, (circa 1960s). This beautiful cylindrical vessel presents a misty appearance with natural earth tones in brown, beige and delicate hints of...
Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Hertha Bengtson for Rörstrand. Unique ceramic vase. 1960/70s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Hertha Bengtson (1917-1993) for Rörstrand, Sweden. Unique ceramic vase. Cylinder-shaped with brown glaze. 1960/70s. Marked. In perfect condition. Dimensions: H 13.5 cm x 4.5 cm. He...
Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

European Studio Ceramist, Unique Vase in Glazed Ceramics, 1960s-1970s
Located in København, Copenhagen
European studio ceramist. Unique vase in glazed ceramics. Beautiful glaze in light brown shades, 1960s-1970s. Measures: 21 x 9 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand Vase in Ceramics, Beautiful Glaze
Located in København, Copenhagen
Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand vase in ceramics. Beautiful glaze. In perfect condition. 2nd. factory quality. Measurse: 22 cm high, 10 cm in diameter. Stamped.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Big Ceramic Vase by Robert Heraud, circa 1970-1980
By Annie Maume & Robert Heraud
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A ceramic vase by Robert Heraud. Wood firing. Perfect original conditions. Signed under the base. Circa 1980. Unique piece.
Category

20th Century French Beaux Arts Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Brutalist vase in stoneware, ceramic - La Borne - France - 1960 - 60s
By Denise Gatard
Located in Paris, FR
Lovely French vase in stoneware, ceramic. . La Borne - France. . 1960 - 60s . In the style of Denis Gatard, french ceramist but not identified. . Dimensions : Height : 37 cm Diamet...
Category

Vintage 1960s Vases

Materials

Stone