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. 

This bowl was made by Tomasita and polished by her daughter, Dominguita Sisneros.  This bowl is coil built and the top rim is created in an undulating manner with four sides pushed downward.  It is one of the few times we have had all red pieces from Tomasita and Dominguita.   It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tomasita Montoya, Dominguita Sisneros”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.