Popovi Da was a son of potter Maria Martinez.  While he worked with her painting designs on her pottery, he also created a few pieces on his own beginning in 1962.  He was planning to continue making pottery on his own after Maria retired but unfortunately passed away in 1971 before this could occur.  His pottery pieces are definitely a rarity among Pueblo pottery, and we do not often come across his work.  This is a classic jar with a sharp shoulder and sloping sides.  It is fully polished and painted with 32 feathers.  The jar is tightly painted and fired to a gunmetal finish.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Popovi 1065” which is the firing date of October, 1965.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  Not just a classic but an iconic piece of his pottery.

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Da, Popovi (1923 - 1971)

Popovi Da

Popovi Da was a son of potter, Maria Martinez.  He was known for his painting and began to work with Maria on her pottery in 1956.  He also began to make his own pottery beginning in 1962.  Popovi is credited with creating the sienna pottery along with a revival of polychrome pottery in the 1960s. He was planning to continue making pottery on his own after Maria retired but unfortunately passed away in October 1971 before this could occur.