This is a striking kiva bowl by Tomasita Montoya.  She was one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery. This large bowl has kiva step or cloud designs on the rim of the bowl.  There are three deeply carved cloud designs on each side.  The remainder of the bowl is matte.  The bowl has white, red, and tan colorations. The incised style began in the 1930s with the revival and the deeper carving came along later.  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed, “Tomasita Montoya”.  

Tomasita was one of the original seven 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