Lupita Martinez was known for her highly polished and beautifully painted pottery.  She was also one of the last surviving early San Ildefonso potters.  Lupita was married to Anselmo Martinez and was a daughter of Santana Vigil. Her aunt was Isabel Atencio and her grandmother was Nicolasa Montoya, who taught Maria Martinez to make pottery. Lupita was known for her highly polished black-on-black pottery, typically with classic designs and shapes. This box is rectangular in shape.  It is fully polished, even on the bottom.  It is painted with an angular rainbow pattern on the sides.  The lid has a mountain and rain design on the top.  The box was fired to a deep black coloration.  Interestingly, the bottom of the box is fully polished and the piece is only signed on the lid.  It is signed, “Lupita”.   The box is in very good condition with some light surface scratches.  There is a brown area on the lid from the firing.  However, it is the designs and size that make this box unusual and unique!

Why Boxes?

There has long been a fascination with boxes, that is to say, square or rectangular clay vessels with flat, clay lids.  At the Pueblos of New Mexico, there is a historic precedent for these square-shaped pieces that were typically used for holding corn meal for Pueblo dances.  These boxes, however, typically did not have lids, and more likely, carved or raised ends.

In the 1920s there was a revival of boxes at San Ildefonso at the same time as the “new” black-on-black style of pottery.  The boxes had flat sides, but later, some were cylindrical.  They were painted on each side and they had a flat lid with a handle. The style of the handle, and its direction, were often indicative of the potter.  While some boxes may still have been made for cornmeal, most were made to hold cigarettes, small cigars, or curious, for the newly arriving tourist trade.  The potters of San Ildefonso in the 1920s were each adept at making these pieces.

Boxes are difficult to make and crack in drying and firing.  The same with the flat lids.  Not surprisingly, over the past 100 years, the boxes have not fared well as they are often cracked or chipped.  The lids are often missing or damaged.  They are not only one of the most difficult and sought-after forms, but also one that is the least resilient to time.