Montoya, Tomasita – Carved Polychrome Jar with Cloud and Rainbow (1960’s)

7"w x 6.75"h

$ 475.00

This is a classic carved jar by Tomasita Montoya.  She was one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery. This jar is both incised and carved.  The rim and base are fully polished.  The design has carved rainclouds and a rainbow.  There are lighter incised areas connecting the more deeply carved imagery.  The deeper carved designs became more prominent in the late 1940s and ’50s.  The jar is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed, “Tomasita Montoya” on the bottom, although it is somewhat worn away. 

Tomasita was one of the original Eight San Juan potters who revived the art form in the 1930s.  The Pueblo was renowned 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