In the 1950s Maria Martinez created a series of pieces that 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 jar is striking in both shape and polish.  It has a rounded shoulder with an elongated neck and a turned-out rim.  It is a form that is readily recognizable as one of her iconic shapes.  The jar is fully polished and fired to a silvery, gunmetal appearance. The jar is more silvery in coloration above the shoulder, and more black below.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay,  “Maria Poveka”.  This is a combination of her Anglo and Tewa names.  Her name, “Poveka” means “Water Lilly”.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

https://kinggalleries.com/maria-martinez-signatures/