This is stunning sienna bowl by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the jar while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da  (1923-1971). The bowl is highly polished and has a feather pattern as the main design.  It is unusual, however, as it is sienna in coloration. The sienna coloration is some of the rarest of the various colorations which Popovi Da created.  I think this is the first sienna piece we have had in the gallery in four years!  To achieve this coloration, the piece is first fired black and then it is re-fired a second time to burn off the black and create the sienna.  This increases the risk of it breaking in the firing.  Today, there are no potters who are double firing their entire piece to create the sienna coloration!  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria Popovi 265“. The signature indicates that it was made around in February 1965.   The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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