Black-on-black Jar with Eagle feather Designs by Desideria

At first glance, you might think this jar was made by the renowned potter Maria Martinez and painted by her husband, Julian. It certainly has the hallmarks of their work: the classic jar shape Maria was known for and a feather design that Julian often used. However, this beautiful piece was actually made by Desideria Martinez Sanchez, Maria Martinez's sister.

It's a common story for great talent to be overshadowed. San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Desideria Montoya Sanchez (1889-1982), along with her sisters Maximiliana, Juanita, and Clara, were all accomplished potters in their own right, but are often remembered only for their contributions to Maria's success. This jar, with its truncated upper section and carefully outlined parallel feathers, is a clear example of Desideria's own fully developed skill and unique artistic vision.

Desideria's status as a master potter was recognized during her lifetime. As early as 1909, she demonstrated her craft at the Museum of New Mexico alongside other prominent potters, including her sister Maria. Her work was also featured in the landmark 1974 exhibit "Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery" at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, and she has been included in numerous books and articles.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Black-on-black Jar with Eagle feather Designs by Desideria is  from a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: 

- Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

- Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

- The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez by Richard Spivey, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, 2003

TAGS:  San Ildefonso Pueblo, Maria Martinez, Maximiliana (Anna) Montoya, Clara Martinez, Southwest Indian Pottery, Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, Tonita Roybal, Rick Dillingham, Desideria Montoya Sanchez