Vigil, Albert & Josephine – Red Jar with Avanyu (1980s)

8"w x 3.5"h

$ 700.00

Albert and Josephine Vigil were famous for their traditional San Ildefonso red-ware pottery.  Albert Vigil (1927-2009) was the son of painter Romando Vigil, one of the members of the San Ildefonso School of watercolor artists.  He was also a nephew of Maria Martinez. His wife was Josephine Cordova Vigil (1927-2001) from Taos Pueblo. She moved to San Ildefonso when she married Albert. Josephine learned pottery making by watching her aunts-in-law Maria Martinez and Clara Montoya. Maria taught her how to shape the clay and Clara taught her how to stone polish the surface.  They began making pottery in 1945.  This wide shoulder jar has a short neck and it is fully polished red.  The jar is painted cream-on-red and traditionally fired.  The avanyu encircles the bowl and note the clouds around the rim above the water serpent.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Albert + Josephine”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.