Martinez, Maria – Wedding Vase with Cloud and Mountain Designs “Marie + Julian” (1920’s)
$ 2,500.00
This is an unusual early wedding vase by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian. The wedding vase was made and polished by Maria and then painted by Julian. It was in the 1920s-30s that the “wedding vase” became a novelty and a new shape in Pueblo pottery. This wedding vase has a round body with elongated spouts. The entire surface, even the handle, is fully polished. The vase has a tiny cloud design on each side. There are additional fine-line mountain patterns on the opposite side. The use of the lines makes one think it is a late 1920s piece rather than 1930s. They are traditional designs in a “modern” style of vessel. The piece was traditionally fired a deep black coloration. The piece is signed in the clay, “Marie + Julian”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. There are some minor rubs on the surface.
In stock
This is an unusual early wedding vase by Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian. The wedding vase was made and polished by Maria and then painted by Julian. It was in the 1920s-30s that the “wedding vase” became a novelty and a new shape in Pueblo pottery. This wedding vase has a round body with elongated spouts. The entire surface, even the handle, is fully polished. The vase has a plant design on the front and back and mountain designs on the sides. They are traditional designs in a “modern” style of vessel. The piece was traditionally fired a deep black coloration. The piece is signed in the clay, “Marie + Julian”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
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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
