Black-on-black Jar with Wide Feather Designs, signed “Marie & Julian” c.1930 [SOLD]

This elegant Black-on-black jar, signed Marie & Julian, represents the collaborative artistry of Maria (Marie) and Julian Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo. Dating to circa 1930, the jar features a wide feather motif encircling above its shoulder — an iconic design element that bridges ancient tradition with early 20th-century innovation. The piece is in excellent condition, showcasing the refined surface polish and matte-painted design that made their work world-renowned.

Julián Martinez (1885-1943) Pocano - Coming of the Spirits, a gifted painter, played a pivotal role in the revival of Pueblo pottery alongside his wife, Maria Montoya Poveka Martinez (1887-1980) Pond Lily. Together, they revolutionized Native American ceramics by reintroducing the Black-on-black technique, in which a matte design is painted over a polished surface and then fired in a reduction atmosphere to produce a deep, lustrous black finish.

The wide feather design seen here is inspired by motifs found on ancient Mimbres pottery. Julian adapted these ancestral forms to contemporary pottery, carefully interpreting and modernizing them without losing their symbolic resonance. His innovative eye, paired with Maria's flawless forming and polishing, produced works that elevated Pueblo pottery to fine art and brought international recognition to San Ildefonso traditions.

This jar stands as a superb example of their early collaborative work — both a technical achievement and a cultural legacy.

Learn about the changing signature of Maria Martinez in her biography.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Black-on-black Jar with Wide Feather Designs, signed "Marie & Julian" c.1930 is from a collector in Kentucky.

Reference and Recommended Reading:

- The Living Tradition of Maria Martinez by Susan Peterson

- The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez by Richard L. Spivey.

TAGS: Pueblo Pottery, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Popovi Da, Santana and Adam Martinez, Julian Martinez, Maria Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter