San Ildefonso Pueblo Black-on-black Jar by Tonita Roybal [SOLD]

Tonita Martinez Roybal (1892-1945) Antonita has been called one of the finest potters at San Ildefonso Pueblo. She was easily equated to Maria Martinez. Tonita consistently produced the finest blackware, with high burnish, deep color, and impeccable construction.

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 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 visual proof of her talent in vessel construction, burnishing, painting and firing.  The vessel shape is one of the most pleasing in blackware jars.  The mid-body bulge provides for a large upper-body surface on which to paint a design. 

It is interesting that Tonita produced such magnificent pottery at a time shortly after the introduction of Black-on-black and before there was general interest in pueblo pottery.  She passed away in 1945, long before there was national interest in collecting pueblo pottery, yet she produced some of the finest blackware between 1930 and 1945 that exists today.  She and Maria Martinez deserve credit for bringing blackware to its highest level of perfection and beauty and the two potters will always be remembered for doing so.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Scottsdale, Arizona 

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