Martinez, Maria – Sienna Avanyu Design Jar “Maria Popovi 1264” (1964)
This is a unique sienna jar by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the bowl while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da (1923-1971). The jar is highly polished and has an avanyu (water serpent) as the main design. In 1961 Popovi created the new sienna coloration. It is certainly among the rarest of the various colorations that Popovi Da created. To achieve this coloration, the piece is first fired black, then re-fired a second time to burn off the black and create the sienna or camel coloration. This increases the risk of it breaking in the firing. Today, there are no potters who are double-firing their entire piece to create the sienna coloration! It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria Popovi 1264“. The signature indicates that it was made around in December 1964. The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
This is a unique sienna bowl by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the bowl while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da (1923-1971). The bowl is highly polished and has an avanyu (water serpent) as the main design. It is unusual, however, as the sienna coloration is some of the rarest of the various colorations which Popovi Da created. To achieve this coloration, the piece is first fired black and then it is re-fired a second time to burn off the black and create the sienna, or camel coloration. This increases the risk of it breaking in the firing. Today, there are almost no potters who are double firing their entire piece to create the sienna coloration! It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria Popovi 670“. The signature indicates that it was made around in June, 1970. The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
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Martinez, Maria (1887-1980)
Maria Martinez (1887-1980)
Maria Martinez is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most influential Native potters of the 1900s. She became famous for her creative pottery and traveling to museums, World Fairs, and other events throughout her lifetime.
Maria learned to make pottery from her aunt Nicolasa Montoya. Around 1919-1920, Maria and her husband, Julian Martinez, created the "black-on-black" style of pottery. This unique process allowed matte designs to be painted on a stone-polished surface, a stone-polished piece fired black. At the time, this unique and distinctive style of pottery quickly became a success, and by 1922, it was made by nearly every potter at San Ildefonso Pueblo. It helped to change the economy of Pueblo as pottery became a successful career.
Maria worked with Julian until he died in 1943. She then worked with her daughter-in-law, Santana, who married her eldest son, Adam. Again, she made the pottery, and Santana painted the designs. In the 1950s, Maria made plain pieces and signed them with her Tewa name, "Pove-ka," which means "Water Lilly."
In 1956, Maria started working with her son, Popovi Da. Maria made the pottery, and Popovi painted the designs. These are often considered among the best of her career after her early work with Julian. Popovi Da worked to revive polychrome pottery, created the sienna (double-fired) coloration, and made redware vessels. Maria also made a few pieces with her grandson, Tony Da, whom she taught to make pottery. Tony was one of the first male potters at San Ildefonso and had an exceptional career in ceramics and paintings. He was the subject of a book, "The Art and Life of Tony Da" by Charles S. King and Richard Spivey.
Maria Martinez was the subject of several books during her career. Alice Marriot wrote the book "Maria: The Potter of San Ildefonso" in 1948. Richard Spivey also wrote a book on her entitled "Maria." Both were essential additions to the collector's knowledge of this vital potter. Maria was also the subject of numerous museum exhibitions. Her pottery can be found around the world in various permanent museum collections.
Today, Maria's descendants include Barbara Gonzales, Cavan Gonzales, and Marvin Martinez, who all continue to make traditional San Ildefonso pottery. In addition, Jarrod Da is known for his modernist paintings.
Martinez, Maria (1887-1980),Signature "Maria + Popovi", Circa 1956-1971
