This is a classic bowl by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the plate while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da  (1923-1971). The bowl is highly polished and has an avanyu (water serpent) encircling the piece.  The bowl is highly polished and fired to a glassy, almost gunmetal black.  This piece has a great provenance story. The original owner was friends with Alice Marriot (who wrote the book Maria The Potter of San Ildefonso).  In 1960 he went with Alice to meet Maria at San Ildefonso and purchased this bowl and a feather plate.  There is a photo of both pieces, along with some other pieces (see last photo). The photo has a date of 1961.  It is definitely a classic piece of their work!  It is signed on the back in the clay, “Maria Popovi“. The signature indicates that it was made around 1956-9.   The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Maria Martinez Signatures