Polished Black Undecorated Bowl by Maria Poveka Martinez [SOLD]

Some of the most beautiful pottery vessels made by Maria are the plain, polished and undecorated bowls and jars. Their beauty is in the shape and burnish, and decoration is unnecessary. This is superb example of San Ildefonso blackware, created by Maria. Without some of the visual excess of the painted works, these late blackware pieces can be truly appreciated from a more minimal, formalist stance. In this late work, proportion, scale, and excellence of polish are the key factors.

This jar has a flawless burnish and an excellent firing. It is beautifully black throughout and approaches a true gunmetal finish. It is signed Maria Poveka on the underside. The jar is in excellent condition. It dates to 1959.

Provenance: Maria was invited to demonstrate pottery making at a design workshop for students from the University of Colorado when they were visiting Santa Fe in 1959. This piece was made during the demonstration and purchased that day. It has been in the same collection since.