This is an exceptional wedding vase by Maximiliana “Anna” Martinez.  She was a sister of Maria Martinez.   It is coil-built and stone polished, then painted. The wedding vase is thin walled and beautifully constructed with a round body and elongated, but proportional spouts.  The entire surface is polished. The front and back have large seed seed designs with extended leaves.  The sides have clouds, rain and mountain patterns.  It is tightly painted with designs that match and accentuate the form.  It was fired to a glassy black.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Anna”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Brand

Martinez, Maximiliana "Anna" Montoya (1885-1955)

Anna Martinez

Anna Martinez (Maximiliana "Anna" Montoya) was the eldest sister of noted potter Maria Martinez (1887-1980). She was married to Cresencio Martinez (1879-1918), who was a brother of Tonita Roybal. After the discovery of the process of making black-on-black pottery, Anna quickly adopted the style. Cresencio painted many of their early polychrome pieces, but after his death in 1918, Anna painted her pieces. She became an accomplished painter, and Maria noted that "everyone bothered Anna to put designs" on their pottery.