This is a round bowl by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da.  Maria made and polished the jar while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da  (1923-1971). The bowl is highly polished and has the classic water serpent (avanyu) painted around the shoulder.  The bowl is fired a gunmetal coloration, for which Popovi was famous.  There are additional small areas of coloration from the ash and manure touching the vessel while hot with one vertical area just below the head of the avanyu.  The gunmetal or silvery appearance is a style of firing made famous by Maria and Popovi Da.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria Popovi 870“. The signature indicates that it was made in August 1970.  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Maria Martinez Signatures