Early Ceramic Vase with Honan Glaze by 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 small flat rim mouth is striking. What extraordinary about this piece is the complex "Honan tenmoku" glaze Bezanson applied on the surface. The various shades of deep brown provide a playground for mottled iridescent grey and black. The abstract glaze pattern creates a harmonious effect with the form and appears modern rooted in antiquity reference, the signature of the artist's work. 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 1970-1980. Together with two other vases 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.