Tonita Roybal remains one of the great innovative names in San Ildefonso pottery.  This jar reflects the exceptional nature of her pottery designs, shapes, and firing.  The piece is from the 1930s and it was made and polished by Tonita and painted by Juan Cruz Roybal.  The jar is one of Tonita’s classic shapes with a sharp shoulder and sloping side.  The designs are a combination of bird wings and clouds.  Take a moment to check out the design.  Juan is considered one of the great pottery painters of the 20th century and note how the design combines lots of open space and interlocking patterns.  He had an artistic sense of how to paint on a three-dimensional surface and it shows on this piece! It is fired to a nearly silvery black coloration. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed, “Tonita + Juan” in the clay on the bottom.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940