This is a classic carved bowl by Tomasita Montoya.  She was one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery. This jar is both incised and carved.  The neck and base are fully polished red. There are deeply carved clouds extending down from the rim.  The mountain designs in tan and outlined in white extend up from the base.  The mountains have additional incised designs in the tan areas.  The colors are tightly painted to draw the eye to each image.  Definitely a striking piece by Tomasita!  The deeper carved designs became more prominent at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo 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. 

Tomasita 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.

https://kinggalleries.com/revival-rising-ohkay-owingeh-pottery-1930s-60s/