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 bird wing designs on the sides.  They are traditional designs in a “modern” style of vessel.  The piece was high-fired, and interestingly, one side is deep black, and the other is gunmetal!  This was a result of where the piece was in the firing and it got hotter on one side than the other.  The piece is signed in the clay, “Marie + Julian”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Maria Martinez Signatures