In the 1950s Maria Martinez created a series of pieces that were simply stone polished with no design.  As she primarily made the pottery and polished it this was fitting with the other pieces of her career.  This wide bowl is very highly polished.  It is fired a dark black but with a glassy surface in the light.  The bowl is signed in the clay, “Maria Poveka”.  This is a combination of her Anglo and Tewa names.  Her name, “Poveka” means “Water Lilly”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is an original price tag on the bottom from San Ildefonso Pueblo.  The piece has a date on it from 1963 and has the original price of $17.50.

Maria Martinez Signatures