San Ildefonso Pueblo Matte Red on Polished Red Jar by Tonita Roybal [SOLD]

Special Value Offer: The consignor of this jar has authorized us to reduce the price by 20% from the original price of $5500 to a new price of $4400.

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 pots 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.

As did Maria Martinez, Tonita Roybal produced the majority of her pottery as blackware.  That was what collectors demanded.  It is rare and beautifully so to see a matte red on polished red jar by Tonita.  The red clay slip is a beautiful color and the matte red design stands out in contrast to the exquisitely burnished red of the overall vessel.  This jar provides testimony to the talents of Tonita in vessel formation, surface burnishing and design application.

Blackware and redware pottery of this style was just maturing as collectibles about the time Tonita passed away in 1945.  Even though pottery was more of a souvenir than a serious collectible, Tonita spent the effort to produce masterpieces such as this one.  She and Maria Martinez deserve credit for bringing pottery to its highest level of perfection and beauty and the two potters will always be remembered for doing so.

Condition: one hairline crack has been stabilized.

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

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