Pena, Juanita & Tony – Bowl with Avanyu (1920s)
$ 225.00
This wide-shoulder bowl by Juanita and Tony Pena is from the 1920s. The bowl is fully polished and painted black-on-black with an avanyu encircling the piece. Their painting had a particular style with the small lines on the body of the avanyu and the large eye. It is the small details that are so striking in their work. It is signed, “Tony + Juanita” and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
Out of stock
This wide-shoulder bowl by Juanita and Tony Pena is from the 1920s. The bowl is fully polished and painted black-on-black with an avanyu encircling the piece. Their painting had a particular style with the small lines on the body of the avanyu and the large eye. It is the small details that are so striking in their work. It is signed, “Tony + Juanita” and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
Brand
Pena, Juanita Montoya (1900 -1987)
Juanita Pena with her pottery in 1939[/caption]
Juanita Pena and Tony Pena (1898-1984) have been an enigma in San Ildefonso pottery. Her work alone and their work together can be found in numerous books and a variety of photos of her are found in various archives, yet there is almost no printed information on their lives or family. However, the pottery created by Juanita and Tony was outstanding in both form and design. They began with black-on-black ware and in the 1930's their work evolved into complex carved designs.
Juanita was related to Martina Vigil Montoya (1856-1916) & Florentino Montoya (1858-1918) (who were known for their polychrome pottery). Tony was related to Encarnacion Pena (Soqueen), who was famous as a traditional style painter and part of the San Ildefonso school of painters. They had at least four children, Ignacio (b. 1920) and Maria Susanita (b. 1925), Rosenita (b. 1926) and Philomena (b. 1928), but none continued the pottery making tradition. They continued to make pottery into the 1950's, but then they stopped as they both were very involved in religious and Kiva activities at the Pueblo which required full time participation.