Maria Montoya Martinez (Pueblo de San Ildefonso, 1887–1980)
Popovi Da (San Ildefonso, 1923–1971)
San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico
Jar with Feather Motif
INV-5940
Maria Montoya Martinez (Pueblo de San Ildefonso, 1887–1980)
Popovi Da (San Ildefonso, 1923–1971)
San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico1956–71
Jar with Feather Motif
Maria Montoya Martinez (Pueblo de San Ildefonso, 1887–1980) Popovi Da (San Ildefonso, 1923–1971) San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico →san ildefonsopueblonative americanamericasblackware (black basaltes)earthenware
Date
1956–71
Medium
Earthenware and slip
Dimensions
22.9 × 22.9 cm (9 × 9 in.) (at widest point)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Edward H. Weiss
In the early 20th century, Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian, revived an ancient Puebloan tradition of making all-black pottery. These works were markedly different from ceramics then being created in San Ildefonso and elsewhere in the Southwest. Martinez polished the clay surface to a high shine and painted matte designs over it. Her vessels were then fired through a technique called “reduction firing,” which causes the clay to turn black. These blackware vessels earned Martinez international acclaim.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
Comanche Dance, San Ildefonso
William Penhallow Henderson American, 1877-1943
Plate with Four-Part Geometric Pattern
Maria Montoya Martinez (Pueblo de San Ildefonso, 1887–1980) Julian Martinez (San Ildefonso, 1879–1943) San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico
Eagle Dance, San Ildefonso
William Penhallow Henderson American, 1877-1943
