Native American, southwest United States, New Mexico, northwest of Santa Fe, San Ildefonso Pueblo, ca. 1943 to 1954 CE. Signed "Marie + Santana" on base by Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez (1887 to 1980) and Santana Martinez (1909 to 2002). An elegant ceramic bowl fired to a lustrous black hue with a horizontal band of matte triangle and steppe designs encircling the exterior. The squat vessel displays a wide hip with a rounded shoulder and an inward-curving rim. The San Ildefonso Pueblo is synonymous with the pottery of Maria Martinez. Her signature style became so popular that its sales actually helped stabilize the isolated, drought ridden, over-logged, and influenza-ridden pueblo and many of the surrounding pueblos as well. Size: 8.8" Diameter x 3.7" H (22.4 cm x 9.4 cm)

As a child, Maria learned to make pottery from her aunt. In 1904 she married to Julian Martinez, and the pair made a fabulous team. Maria created the pottery, and Julian painted the designs. They are best known for the creation of a new style of pottery in 1918-19, the matte painted highly polished "black-on-black” style. They also perfected a redware style in 1924. Maria signed her work "Marie" because she thought the name Marie had a greater appeal to non-Indigenous purchasers. As pottery was considered a woman's job in the Pueblo, Maria left out Julian's signature from pieces he had decorated to respect the Pueblo culture until 1925. After Julian passed away, Maria continued to make pottery which was painted by her daughter-in-law Santana (1909-2002) and later by her son, Popovi Da (1923-1971). Maria received numerous awards for her pottery and was the featured subject of several books including "Maria the Potter of San Ildefonso" by Alice Marriot and "The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez" by Richard Spivey.

Provenance: private Denver collection, USA, by inheritance before 2000 from the Harry Tammen Family collection, former owner of the Denver Post

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#172686

Very light surface wear as shown. Otherwise, intact and excellent. Signed "Marie + Santana" on base.