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 plate is one of her classic incised pieces.  The rim and back fully polished red.  The center of the plate is incised with a rising sun design.  The triangular design is a mountain.  After the lines were incised they were slipped with mica, so there is just a bit of “shimmer” from the mica.  This plate is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tomasita Montoya”.

“Revival Rising” Ohkay Owingeh Pottery 1930s-60s

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