Studio Ceramic Vase Brother Thomas Bezanson

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...

Made by Japanese ceramic artist Makoto Yabe (1947-2005), this stoneware vase features a globular body supported by a round pedestal foot. A similarly shaped neck extends to a rimmed mouth opening. Robust in form with thick wall, the vase is noted for its irregular cloved form. The surface is covered in a beige-yellow glaze, on top of which, dark brown strokes and thick white feldspar slip were artistically applied in a splashed and washed pattern. Together with some random shallow incision lines, they form an abstract painting with textured surface where some slip forms small droplets at the end of the stroke. The work was created in traditional Japanese manner and reflects the beauty of Wabi Sabi, a Zen aesthetic for the imperfect perfection. The base was incised with the artist's cipher. "Makoto Yabe's work beautifully exemplifies the transmission of Japanese ceramics to the West. Born in Fukushima, Japan, Yabe began studying ceramics in Kyoto at the age of nine. He completed his training at the age of 24, with a four-year apprenticeship under Jinmatsu Uno and Sango Uno. Yabe then came to Boston, where he was an integral member of the local ceramic community, yet he maintained his Japanese roots. As an instructor of ceramics, Yabe worked in the Boston area at numerous schools and universities, touching the lives of all his students and expanding their knowledge and appreciation of studio ceramics." Biography sited from Pucker Gallery...

A wonderfully glazed, beautifully crafted, and classically shaped vase/vessel by renowned Canadian master potter Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). Brother Thomas studied design at Nova Scotia College in the late 40s and early 50s, It was during this time that he discovered a love for the ceramic art form. In 1959 he became a monk and joined the Weston Priory, Vermont, a community of Benedictine men. Here he continued his art while also pursuing a degree in philosophy. In 1978 he traveled to Japan where he met and worked with five Japanese potters, designated “Living National Treasures” by the Japanese government. These particular artists and the time spent with them deeply influenced his work and his thought. In 1985, he became artist-in-residence at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania, where worked until his death in 2007. Brother Thomas was universally known and esteemed for his mastery of complex glazes and his adaptation and application of traditional Chinese and Japanese pottery methods and materials. The vase features a sumptuous green glaze that absolutely radiates in the light. The work is signed by Brother Thomas with his traditional signature and cipher. A special piece. Would be a great addition to any Brother Thomas or Mid-Century pottery/ceramics collection or make for an eye catching stand alone accent work in about any setting. His work can be found in numerous collections and international museums including: Aidekman Art Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA Allen Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL Bunting Institute, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec, Canada Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution, New York, NY Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA Dimock Gallery, George Washington University, Washington, DC Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA Framingham State University, Framingham, MA Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ Portland Museum of Art Portland, ME Pucker Gallery...

This wheel-thrown stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg features an extended, thin neck and a smooth glaze in hues of soft greens and aqu blues.. It exemplifies Friberg’s refined craftsma...