San Ildefonso Black-on-black Decorated Jar [SOLD]

Santa Fe dealer and collector Richard M. Howard was probably the single-most enthusiastic admirer of pottery by Tonita Roybal.  He believed she was probably the finest potter at San Ildefonso in the first half of the 20th century but was overshadowed by fame bestowed on Maria Martinez.  Over a number of years, he put together a collection of perhaps a hundred pottery vessels by Tonita and his collection was displayed and sold by Nedra Matteucci Galleries in Santa Fe in 2007 just shortly before Mr. Howard passed away.

This jar has a small paper label on the underside with the inventory number assigned by Dick Howard.  It is positive identification that the jar was in his collection.

This jar was most likely painted by Tonita herself.  She was not only an excellent potter, she was also a very accomplished designer and painter of pottery.  Tonita had married Juan Cruz Roybal in 1916, after the death of her first husband, Alfredo Montoya in 1913.  Alfredo passed away after they had been married only 3 years.  Juan was an excellent painter of pottery and painted for his wife for many years, however, she also painted for herself sometimes.  There are ones signed Tonita and Juan and some signed only Tonita, so it is assumed that she signed only her name to those items that she herself painted.  This jar is signed with only the name Tonita.

An interpretation of the design could be that the main element is a stylized butterfly.  Of course, Tonita is the only one who knew what she had in mind when she painted the jar but we always tend to define the design and outguess the artist’s intent.

Condition: very good condition with very minor scratches

Provenance: from the collection of dealer and collector Richard M. Howard, Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf