San Ildefonso Black-on-black Jar signed Marie and Julian [SOLD]

Maria Poveka Martinez (1887-1980) and Julian Martinez (1885-1943) worked together producing pottery from the early 1900s—she making the beautiful Tewa shape vessels and he painting beautiful designs in traditional Polychrome style.  Because Maria was considered the best potter at San Ildefosno, she was selected to experiment on reproducing the prehistoric wares being excavated.  She and Julian worked diligently for several years to recreate the earlier pottery and Julian painted designs in the traditional Polychrome style.  It was not until around 1912, that they became interested in experimenting with the blackware of previous periods.  It was another 10 years before they achieved satisfactory results.

Maria made the vessels and Julian applied the designs in a matte finish.  Her exquisite vessels with beautiful polished surfaces were perfect canvases for the artistic talent of Julian.  Maria started co-signing Julian's signature around 1925 so it is known this jar was made between 1925 and 1943, most likely in the mid- to late-1930s.  The feather design is the one Julian captured from the Mimbres pottery in a Santa Fe museum.  The jar is signed Marie & Julian.

Condition: structurally in excellent condition but does have some scratches and minor pitting.

Provenance: from a gentleman in Escondido, California

Recommended Reading:  The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez by Richard L. Spivey.