San Ildefonso Black-on-black pair of Candlesticks [SOLD]

Maximiliana Montoya Martinez, or Anna, as she was known, was the eldest sister of Maria Martinez. She was an early maker of Black-on-black as well as Polychrome pottery. Her shapes were refined and her burnishing was excellent. In addition to painting designs on her pottery, she also assisted Maria by painting some of her pottery. Maria stated that Anna would assist her when the men were out in the fields.  Anna's husband, Crescencio Martinez (1879-1918), painted some of Anna's pottery and it is known that he, too, painted designs on some of Maria's pottery before Julian started assisting Maria.

This pair of candlesticks has a graceful appeal in the manner in which Anna built the stem up from the dish and flared it outwardly as it rose upward.  Her burnishing on each of the candlesticks is flawless and the matte black design around the rim area and on the edge of each dish was applied with utmost care and detail.  Take notice of each individual black dot below the downward black triangles pendant at the rim.  Each of the candlesticks is signed Anna.

Condition:  very good condition with only one minor chip on the edge of the dish on one of the items.

Provenance:  from the collection of an Albuquerque family.

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