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Martinez, Maria – Red-on-Red Bowl with Avanyu (1930’s)
7"w x 5"h
$ 4,000.00
This is an unusual bowl by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian. Maria would make the pottery and Julian would paint the design. The bowl is highly polished and painted with a classic avanyu (water serpent) design. The avanyu is tightly painted and note the little dots on the horn! What is unusual for this piece is the coloration. It is red instead of the usual black. It was only after 1925 (later than the black-on-black) that potters at San Ildefonso began to create red-on-red pieces. The coloration is striking and there are color variations on the surface from the outdoor firing. Why are there fewer red pieces by Maria Martinez? Red-fired pottery is always more difficult as it shows color variations on the surface from the firing. This bowl also has a fascinating history. It came from an old farmhouse in Indiana that was being demolished on the inside and the owners noticed the piece and saved it from the “junk” pile! The jar is not just a great coloration but is in amazing condition for its age. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Marie + Julian”. It is most likely from the late 1920s or early 1930s considering the precision and creativity of the design along with the coloration of the red. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
Maria Martinez Signatures
Out of stock
Description
This is an unusual bowl by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian. Maria would make the pottery and Julian would paint the design. The bowl is highly polished and painted with a classic avanyu (water serpent) design. The avanyu is tightly painted and note the little dots on the horn! What is unusual for this piece is the coloration. It is red instead of the usual black. It was only after 1925 (later than the black-on-black) that potters at San Ildefonso began to create red-on-red pieces. The coloration is striking and there are color variations on the surface from the outdoor firing. Why are there fewer red pieces by Maria Martinez? Red-fired pottery is always more difficult as it shows color variations on the surface from the firing. This bowl also has a fascinating history. It came from an old farmhouse in Indiana that was being demolished on the inside and the owners noticed the piece and saved it from the “junk” pile! The jar is not just a great coloration but is in amazing condition for its age. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Marie + Julian”. It is most likely from the late 1920s or early 1930s considering the precision and creativity of the design along with the coloration of the red. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
Learn More
Maria Martinez is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most influential Native potters of the 1900s. She became famous for her creative pottery and traveling to museums, World Fairs, and other events throughout her lifetime.
Maria learned to make pottery from her aunt Nicolasa Montoya. Around 1919-1920, Maria and her husband, Julian Martinez, created the "black-on-black" style of pottery. This unique process allowed matte designs to be painted on a stone-polished surface, a stone-polished piece fired black. At the time, this unique and distinctive style of pottery quickly became a success, and by 1922, it was made by nearly every potter at San Ildefonso Pueblo. It helped to change the economy of Pueblo as pottery became a successful career.
Maria worked with Julian until he died in 1943. She then worked with her daughter-in-law, Santana, who married her eldest son, Adam. Again, she made the pottery, and Santana painted the designs. In the 1950s, Maria made plain pieces and signed them with her Tewa name, "Pove-ka," which means "Water Lilly."
In 1956, Maria started working with her son, Popovi Da. Maria made the pottery, and Popovi painted the designs. These are often considered among the best of her career after her early work with Julian. Popovi Da worked to revive polychrome pottery, created the sienna (double-fired) coloration, and made redware vessels. Maria also made a few pieces with her grandson, Tony Da, whom she taught to make pottery. Tony was one of the first male potters at San Ildefonso and had an exceptional career in ceramics and paintings. He was the subject of a book, "The Art and Life of Tony Da" by Charles S. King and Richard Spivey.
Maria Martinez was the subject of several books during her career. Alice Marriot wrote the book "Maria: The Potter of San Ildefonso" in 1948. Richard Spivey also wrote a book on her entitled "Maria." Both were essential additions to the collector's knowledge of this vital potter. Maria was also the subject of numerous museum exhibitions. Her pottery can be found around the world in various permanent museum collections.
Today, Maria's descendants include Barbara Gonzales, Cavan Gonzales, and Marvin Martinez, who all continue to make traditional San Ildefonso pottery. In addition, Jarrod Da is known for his modernist paintings.
Brand
Martinez, Maria (1887-1980)
Maria Martinez (1887-1980)
Maria Martinez is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most influential Native potters of the 1900s. She became famous for her creative pottery and traveling to museums, World Fairs, and other events throughout her lifetime.
Maria learned to make pottery from her aunt Nicolasa Montoya. Around 1919-1920, Maria and her husband, Julian Martinez, created the "black-on-black" style of pottery. This unique process allowed matte designs to be painted on a stone-polished surface, a stone-polished piece fired black. At the time, this unique and distinctive style of pottery quickly became a success, and by 1922, it was made by nearly every potter at San Ildefonso Pueblo. It helped to change the economy of Pueblo as pottery became a successful career.
Maria worked with Julian until he died in 1943. She then worked with her daughter-in-law, Santana, who married her eldest son, Adam. Again, she made the pottery, and Santana painted the designs. In the 1950s, Maria made plain pieces and signed them with her Tewa name, "Pove-ka," which means "Water Lilly."
In 1956, Maria started working with her son, Popovi Da. Maria made the pottery, and Popovi painted the designs. These are often considered among the best of her career after her early work with Julian. Popovi Da worked to revive polychrome pottery, created the sienna (double-fired) coloration, and made redware vessels. Maria also made a few pieces with her grandson, Tony Da, whom she taught to make pottery. Tony was one of the first male potters at San Ildefonso and had an exceptional career in ceramics and paintings. He was the subject of a book, "The Art and Life of Tony Da" by Charles S. King and Richard Spivey.
Maria Martinez was the subject of several books during her career. Alice Marriot wrote the book "Maria: The Potter of San Ildefonso" in 1948. Richard Spivey also wrote a book on her entitled "Maria." Both were essential additions to the collector's knowledge of this vital potter. Maria was also the subject of numerous museum exhibitions. Her pottery can be found around the world in various permanent museum collections.
Today, Maria's descendants include Barbara Gonzales, Cavan Gonzales, and Marvin Martinez, who all continue to make traditional San Ildefonso pottery. In addition, Jarrod Da is known for his modernist paintings.
Martinez, Maria (1887-1980), Signature "Marie + Julian", 1925-1943
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