This is an exceptional carved bowl by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian.  Maria would make the pottery and Julian would paint, or in this case, carve, the design.  While he did a variety of carved pieces, this is one of the only ones we have seen with a water serpent (avanyu) as the design! The avanyu encircles the shoulder of the bowl.  Note how it is carved into the negative space, while most other potters carved away around the avanyu, leaving it the polished relief section.  The bowl is from the 1930’s and it is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Marie + Julian”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

To learn more about Maria’s signatures, click here.