This bowl is a classic incised piece by Tomasita Montoya.  The rim and base are fully polished red.  The body of the bowl is incised with interlocking vertical and angular designs.  The lines are very precise and symmetric. The incised area was also slipped with mica.  What is unusual about this piece is the tan polished interior, which she did not do very often.  It adds to the overall appearance of the piece.  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tomasita Montoya”.

Tomasita Montoya was one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery.  She was one of the original Eight San Juan potters who revived the art form in the 1930s.  The Pueblo was renown for their pottery but by about 1890 there were no potters left. In 1930 Regina Cata organized a pottery study group at San Juan Pueblo with the intent of revitalizing pottery production. The group studied ancient potsherds of wares made at San Juan in earlier times and selected Potsuwi‘i Incised Ware (1450-1500) as a basis for a contemporary pottery type.

“Revival Rising” Ohkay Owingeh Pottery 1930s-60s

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