It is very unusual that we come across a black-on-red piece by Tonita Roybal.  This bowl is an early piece from the 1920’s.  Tonita and her mother, Dominguita Pino, were both very well known for their black-on-red pottery before the advent of the black-on-black pottery in 1920.  While numerous potters were making black-on-red pieces before 1920, Tonita was certainly among the best and her signed pieces in this style remain classics.  This bowl is fully designed with some of Tonita’s classic imagery. There are cloud, rain, lightning and other designs.  There are also striking areas of hatchwork patterns.  The black is painted onto the red clay surface.  The bowl is signed, “Tonita” on the bottom.  This is her earliest type of signature, with the very tightly written name.  It is an important and striking piece of her pottery both in terms of coloration and design.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940