This is a large jar by Tomasita Montoya and her daughter, Dominguita Sisneros.  Tomasita was one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery. This tall jar was made by Tomasita and incised by Dominguita.  The style was inspired by the historic Posuwi’i incised wares.  The early innovation in San Juan pottery was this style, although typically with a red rim and base.  The central band is matte and incised with designs.  There is a horizontal rain band.  Below are designs representing the mesas and clouds. The incised areas are slipped with mica.  It is signed on the bottom, “Tomasita Montoya and Dominguita Sisneros”.  The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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.