Roybal, Tonita – Black-on-Red Jar (ca 1910)

Tonita Roybal (1892–1945) was a daughter of noted potter Dominguita Pino.  Tonita became as well known as her mother, first for her black-on-red pottery and later for her polychrome vessels. Tonita’s brother, Crescencio Martinez (1879–1918), and her first husband, Alfredo Montoya (1892–1913), were both sought after for their exquisite and creative painting. It may well be that their creativity opened the door for Tonita, as she painted her pieces from the mid-1910s through about 1925, when her second husband, Juan Cruz Roybal, began to more consistently paint the exterior of her pottery.  This jar is has a round body and short neck.  It is shape that creates a lot of space for painted designs. The jar was painted by Tonita’s brother, Cresencio.  It is a complex and fluid series of designs. It is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration, or repair. 

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