This is a very unusual bowl by Desideria Montoya Sanchez.  She was a sister of noted potter Maria Martinez.  Desideria was known for her traditional pottery and use of both classic and innovative designs. This is one of her few redware pieces.  While the black-on-black style originated around 1920, it was not until around 1925 that potters at San Ildefonso began to create red-on-red or buff-on-red painted bowls.  This bowl is a form for which she is famous, an undulating bowl.  It is fully polished on the inside. The back is matte.  The inside has rain designs on the rim and the center has rain and lightning patterns.  Together with the form, they have the impression of a flower.  The piece was fired red.  It is signed in the clay, “Desideria”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.   Interestingly, this is only the third redware piece I’ve had by Desideria in the gallery in 27 years!

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940