Martinez, Maria – 8″ Wide Red Bowl with Cloud and Mountain Designs “Marie + Julian” (1920s)
$ 4,200.00
This is an unusual red bowl by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian Martinez. Maria would make the pottery and Julian would paint the design. The bowl is one of Maria’s classic shapes with a round shoulder and fully polished base. The bowl is painted with mountains, clouds, and corn designs. It is a complex and fluid design that we expect from Julian in the late 1920s. Interestingly, while the black-on-black style was created around 1919-20, the redware was not introduced until around 1925. This bowl was traditionally fired, creating color variations on the surface. The base is fully polished, and it is signed on the bottom, “Marie + Julian”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair with one small scratch on one side. It’s not often that we see Maria’s red pieces in this size and condition. Definitely an important piece of her pottery.
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This is an unusual red bowl by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian Martinez. Maria would make the pottery and Julian would paint the design. The bowl is one of Maria’s classic shapes with a high shoulder. It is painted around the shoulder with interlocking clouds and prayer feather designs. Interestingly, while the black-on-black style was created around 1919-20, the redware was not introduced until around 1925. This bowl was traditionally fired, creating color variations on the surface. The base is fully polished, and it is signed on the bottom, “Marie + Julian”. There is also a date of 1934. The date was most likely added by them, as I have seen quite a few pieces of their work as well as Tonita Roybal with dates throughout the 1930s. It could be they were entered for a show or competition and they chose or were asked, to date them. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It’s not often that we see Maria’s red pieces in this size and condition. Definitely an important piece of her pottery.
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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 "Marie + Julian", 1925-1943
