Martinez, Maria – Gunmetal Fired Bowl “Maria Popovi 1069”

4"w x 3.25"h

$ 2,000.00

This gunmetal fired bowl is a classic piece by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the bowl and it was fired by her son, Popovi Da  (1923-1971). Popovi focused on both the painted surfaces of the pottery as well as the firings.  This bowl is a spectacular gunmetal coloration with a metallic appearance across much of the surface.  There is some color variation from the firing, but overall it has a nearly even tonality and a very silvery appearance!  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria / Popovi 1069”.  The firing date is when the pottery was made, so this bowl was from October 1969. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Great gunmetal fired pieces by Maria and Popovi with such high polished surfaces are always stunning and a great addition to any collection!

“[The gunmetal], you have to know just when to cut the oxidation. When to do certain things, when to stop it and when to remove the ashes. When to smother it with manure and when to uncover it.”  Anita Da on Popovi Da Gunmetal Firing, Spoken Through Clay

“Our values are indwelling and dependent on time and space unmeasured. This in itself is beauty. Our first great value is our trusteeship of nature, and this is beauty also. Then there is an order and direction of our lives, a unity, the ability to share the joy of sharing, creativeness, and minimum competition. This too is beauty.”  Popovi Da, 1970 Spoken Through Clay

Maria Martinez Signatures