This is a very unusual piece 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 few we have seen with a water serpent (avanyu) as the design! The avanyu encircles the top shoulder of the bowl.  The avanyu, the neck, and the base area are all fully polished. They would have been polished after the piece was carved.  The eye and mouth are painted in Julian’s typical style. The jar is from the 1930s, and it is the carving and the brief period of making carved pieces, as well as the size and condition, that make this piece so unusual!  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Marie + Julian”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Maria Martinez Signatures