This is striking plainware bowl by Maria Martinez.  In the 1950’s Maria Martinez created a series of pieces which were simply stone polished with no design.  As she primarily made the pottery and polished it this was fitting with the other pieces of her career.  This round bowl is fully polished and fired to a near gunmetal appearance.  The gunmetal shine was achieved by the heat of the firing.  The bowl is signed in the clay, “Maria Poveka”.  This is a combination of her Anglo and Tewa names.  Her name, “Poveka” means “Water Lilly”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.