This is a classic red-on-red and white jar by Tonita Roybal.  This pieces is from the 1930’s and it was made and polished by Tonita and painted by her husband Juan. The jar is a deep red coloration and the design is painted with a red clay slip, creating the red-on-red style.  There are areas which are highlighted with an additional white clay slip.  The design is a mountain pattern, with rain, snow and cloud designs.  It is an interesting combination of design patterns which encircles the piece.  Juan Cruz Roybal was known as one of the masterful pottery painters and one of the “signatures” of his work was the use of the white clay slip.  Here he has used it as an accent to the design in the little “dots”.  The result is a piece that seems to fit somewhere between art deco, moodernism and traditionalist designs.  Extraordinary!  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tonita + Juan”.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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