This is an unusual 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.  Much of the carved pottery they created was in the early 1930’s.  It is “negative space” carving, as opposed to the linear carving later from Santa Clara.  As well, there is definitely a visual difference between their carved pottery and that of others from the same period.  This bowl has a rain and cloud or thunder pattern carved into the clay.  In the background area where the clay has been carved away the same red slip was applied but left matte.  For Maria and Julian, the carved pottery was never as popular as the painted ware and was also more time consuming.  They made them for a very short period and there remain very few in existence.   This bowl is from the 1930’s and it is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Marie + Julian”.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely a unique piece of history by these exceptional artists!

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